The Rockaway Republicans shared with some 200 Queens Republicans a great afternoon and wonderful tribute to America’s 16th President. This was the 138th such Lincoln tribute here in Queens, sponsored – as always – by the Queens Village Republican Club. Here’s a quick rundown of QVRC’s extraordinary guest speakers.
No better perpetuation of Lincoln’s ‘better angels of our nature’ can there be without a strong and solid K-12 education and Maspeth High’s Principal, Khurshid Abdul-Mutakabbir, described to us the classical education and curriculum he has instituted. He took the same education in Boston beginning at St. Mary’s, the very same grade school his mother and grandmother attended, and pitched the idea to NYC’s Board of Education and was chosen to run the new Maspeth High…awesome stuff for a school of immigrant and naturally born kids: our better angels.
Lincoln ended his 2nd Inaugural with these words…
‘With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.’
Special guests of honor Pamela Geller and Greg Buckley both forcefully & passionately echoed Lincoln last Sunday. Pam is a tireless defender against Islamic fanaticism using her website, subway campaigns, media exposes and public demonstrations to (a) defend young girls seeking America’s liberties; (b) justice @ Fort Hood and wherever fanatics strike; and (c) was hugely instrumental in stopping the proposed 15-story victory center downtown to overshadow the WTC. She is quick-witted and enormously persuasive!
Greg Buckley passionately eulogized his son – 21-year old Lance Corporal Greg Buckley Jr – who was assassinated August 10th on his base in Afghanistan by an Afghan police officer in uniform. Buckley wants justice for his son…that is, for the perps (and there were at least 2 he insists) to be tried in a military court on US soil. DOD is not cooperative and Greg asks-seeks-implores-begs everyone to visit his facebook page.
Raj Mehta, a penniless immigrant to Queens in the ’70’s who now runs Infosys International (‘building tomorrow’s enterprise’), presently employs 155,000 people worldwide and spoke to the hard work and unlimited opportunity that America offers to the world.
Dan Halloran (Councilman, Bayside) hosted the day’s Lincoln tribute and did an outstanding job. Bob & Peggy Turner were all smiles and enthusiastic attendees as was former State Senator Frank Padavan. ‘Schmoozing’ the rooms – cocktails first, dinner second – were candidates for mayor, Joe Lhota, John Catsimatidis and George McDonald, and we hope to have them as special guests at our up coming RR meetings. Finally, Craig Caruana who seeks to topple the Joe Crowley hegemony in Queens by beating his niece Liz Crowley in this year’s Maspeth City-Council race, also joined the Rockaway Republicans.
