Iran and America Day in Michigan - 2002-03-20

On Wednesday, March 20, 2002, corresponding to Farvardin 1, 1381, was declared as 'Iran and America Day' in the state of Michigan. Considering that the history of Iran dates back to three thousand years before Christ, the people of Iran have been celebrating Nowruz and their New Year on the first day of spring for thousands of years. Because Iranians have a long-standing tradition of tolerance for differing opinions and respect for human rights, they established one of the first democratic monarchies under the leadership of Cyrus the Great 550 years before Christ, who freed the Jewish people from tyranny in Babylon, issued the first declaration of human rights, abolished slavery, guaranteed freedom of expression, and declared discrimination against all races and religions illegal. Given the fact that Iranians have made significant contributions to art, science, and philosophy throughout their long history, including the works of Omar Khayyam and Rumi, the contributions of Avicenna to medical science, the advancements made by Al-Razi in chemistry, and the establishment of algebra by Iranians, and considering that the Iranian community in America has greatly contributed to the economy, cultural richness, and civil diversity of the state of Michigan, and that they are a highly educated community that has preserved and safeguarded their rich national culture and heritage while serving in professions such as medicine, law, engineering, business, and academia in Michigan, the U.S. House of Representatives, by this resolution, declares Wednesday, March 20, 2002, corresponding to Farvardin 1, 1381, as 'Iran and America Day' in the state of Michigan.