Bill Text: NJ AR92 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Calls on Empire State Building Lighting Partners to honor Mother Teresa on August 26, 2010, the 100th anniversary of her birth.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State Government Committee [AR92 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR92-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JAY WEBBER
District 26 (Morris and Passaic)
Assemblyman PETER J. BARNES, III
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblywoman CAROLINE CASAGRANDE
District 12 (Mercer and Monmouth)
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Peterson
SYNOPSIS
Calls on Empire State Building Lighting Partners to honor Mother Teresa on August 26, 2010, the 100th anniversary of her birth.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution calling on the Empire State Building Lighting Partners to honor Mother Teresa on August 26, 2010, the 100th anniversary of her birth.
Whereas, Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, exemplary humanitarian and founder of the Missionaries of Charity congregation, which ministers to the poorest of the world's poor, was born on August 26, 1910, one hundred years ago this year; and
Whereas, For decades, the Empire State Building has used the colors of its three-tiered floodlights to commemorate religious and civic holidays, anniversaries, current events, humanitarian causes, and prominent people; and
Whereas, Recently an application was submitted to the Empire State Building Lighting Partners requesting that the tower lights feature blue and white, the colors of Mother Teresa's congregation, on her centenary, but the application was denied without explanation; and
Whereas, In the last year, the Lighting Partners have honored organizations devoted to fighting hunger, leukemia, and animal cruelty, as well as the anniversaries of Cambridge University, the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, the NAACP, and the river expedition of Henry Hudson; and
Whereas, In the Fall of 2009, the Empire State Building shone in red and yellow lights to honor the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Communist revolution; and
Whereas, It is absurd and beyond belief that the Empire State Building would honor an oppressive Communist regime defined by terror and tyranny, but refuse to honor a life-saving Catholic woman defined by compassion and caring; and
Whereas, Mother Teresa received hundreds of the highest civic awards from around the world, including a Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Medal of Freedom; and
Whereas, On August 26, 2010, the United States Postal Service will issue a stamp in honor of Mother Teresa for her compassion towards the poor and suffering while serving "the sick and destitute of India and the world for nearly 50 years," and for "her respect for the innate worth and dignity of humankind," which has "inspired people of all ages and backgrounds to work on behalf of the world's poorest populations"; and
Whereas, Outside Calcutta, few places have been touched more by Mother Teresa than our metropolitan area, where her Missionaries of Charity minister to the poor in the Bronx and across New Jersey, from Newark to Plainfield to Asbury Park; and
Whereas, The New York City skyline is a treasured part of daily life for millions of New Jerseyans, many of whom have been aided or inspired by the heroic life of Mother Teresa; and,
Whereas, A tribute in lights from such a powerful icon would be a fitting way to honor this great saint who brought the light of love to so many suffering in darkness; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully calls on the Empire State Building Lighting Partners to honor Mother Teresa on August 26, 2010, the 100th anniversary of her birth, by illuminating the Empire State Building in blue and white, the colors of her congregation, the Missionaries of Charity.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Empire State Building Lighting Partners, and to the Bishops of each of the Roman Catholic Dioceses in New Jersey, in Camden, Metuchen, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution calls on the Empire State Building Lighting Partners to honor Mother Teresa on August 26, 2010, the 100th anniversary of her birth. Recently an application was submitted requesting that the tower lights feature the colors of Mother Teresa's congregation in honor of her selfless contributions to the destitute of Calcutta, as well as in recognition of her founding of the Missionaries of Charity, which ministers to the needs of the poor in New Jersey and the rest of the metropolitan area as well as around the world. Such a tribute in lights would be fitting for a woman who brought the light of love to so many suffering in darkness.
