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Thank you Bob (Brahmatirtha). It really is a delight to join you all and Mayor Poe in celebrating 50 years of the Hare Krishnas in our community of Gainesville and 50 years here at the University of Florida and 50 years here on the plaza. I understand indeed that nearly 3 million meals have been served here at the University of Florida by you all brothers and sisters in the Hare Krishna and I wanted to say that universities have traditions that their alumni remember, we have mister Tots which is an important tradition at the University of Florida for about 50 years but we also have, as you have heard from Mayor Poe and you all know the tradition of the Krishna Lunch which indeed has nourished bodies as well as souls nearly 3 million meals that have span many university presidents and generations after generations of University of Florida graduates. As you all know, a contribution was made a significant contribution to making this Plaza even more beautiful and you all can see what that is today and I’m so grateful to you all members of the Hare Krishna community for donating back this Plaza. That is your Plaza that is shared by every member of our community where the lunches are served and I’m so grateful that you all have done that and made it a beautiful environment for lunches, for discussions about theology or discussions about politics, or just being together with one another and loving one another. I’m public about my personal faith and I encourage our students. I encourage our faculty to do the same to celebrate not only their own faith but to think about others to understand other faiths, to explore other faiths both in understanding but also in practice. And you, Hare Krishnas, as you all contribute to that as our university and make our University stronger by your visible presence and by the fact that you are here and our students get to know and learn about you. Well, some of them study, some of them are a part of your community but whether they’re just eating a lunch or whether they’re in the seminary, you will make us stronger and I’m just so grateful for that and as the mayor said, we’re looking forward to the next 50 years. Congratulations for the past 50 years. Thank you so much for the way you contributed to the University of Florida, to the city of Gainesville in our community and indeed, we look forward to the next 50 years. Thank you all. Congratulations.
Kent Fuchs
President of the University of Florida
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=95994
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