Ambassador Moriarty Welcome Remarks For Black History Month Screening and IVAAN Reception

Mr. Regmi, Ms. Vishwakarma, IV Alumni,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

On the occasion of Black History Month, I am pleased to welcome you to Kamal Kunj for a special screening of a documentary film on Rosa Parks. To celebrate this female pioneer in African-Americans’ struggle for civil rights is reason enough for us to gather. But I have an ulterior motive. The guest list this evening, as you all can tell, is comprised almost exclusively of alumni of the International Visitors Leadership Program. Not only do we think you will appreciate the film in the context of your own experience in the United States, we are pleased to introduce you to the newly formed International Visitor Alumni Association Nepal.

 
First, the film. I am glad you could join us for a celebration of Black History Month, in which we mark the achievements of African-Americans in our country’s history. When Black History Month began 80 years ago, it was based on the belief that if African-Americans were to take their rightful place in American society, Americans of all races should learn about black contributions to our history. That conviction is every bit at true today as it was in 1926. Generations of African-Americans have added to the unique character of our society. Our nation is stronger and more hopeful as a result of those contributions. In my lifetime, America has dismantled a “separate-but-unequal” system that legally discriminated against Americans because of the color of their skin.  While racism is occasionally found in parts of my country, it is not supported by law. On the contrary, our laws now enforce equal opportunity for all Americans, regardless of their race, belief, or gender.  As I am sure Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice – the first and second black Americans to serve as Secretary of State – would affirm, America has made great strides in race relations in recent decades. 
 
The film we are screening tonight is made more poignant when we remember that Rosa Parks died only this past year. Mrs. Parks helped set in motion a national movement for equality and freedom when she refused a bus driver’s order to give her seat to a white man. Most of you know what happened next, but if not, then I won’t spoil the film for you.

Before we get to the film, I will invite our other speakers to step forward. Mr. Raghav Regmi is the General Secretary of the International Visitor Alumni Association Nepal, and Ms. Prava Vishwakarma, who will introduce our film, went on an IV program geared toward dynamic youth leaders just this past January.

The purpose of the IV Alumni Association is to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Nepal. We have sent more than 500 Nepalis on three-week tours of the United States for more than five decades. You are leaders, educators, activists, artists, writers, and politicians. You have enormous and diverse talent, which we hope can help further democracy, peace, and prosperity in Nepal.

We also hope that, because of your experience in the United States, you can help your colleagues and friends better understand American society and policies.

The IV Alumni Association of Nepal is part of a larger U.S. government effort to keep in touch with alumni from all U.S. government exchange programs, such as Fulbright and Humphrey. Representatives from those alumni association in Nepal are here tonight as well. All of you are welcome to join the State Alumni Website -- at www.alumni.state.gov -- and to be a part of this worldwide community of exchange participants. There are networking, grant, and academic opportunities available to all alumni on that website. I hope you will take a look at the fliers on our information table. This new alumni initiative has allowed the Embassy to grant more than $5,000 dollars to help form the International Visitor Alumni Association in Nepal, so you can see we mean business.

With that brief introduction, I would like to turn the floor to Mr. Regmi, who can give you more detail about the new IV Alumni Association – and, I hope, get you to join it. Through networking with each other, you will see the power you have as a group for positive change.

Welcome once again, and please enjoy the film.