Dear National Council Members and Fellow Community Members,
Since my last letter to you requesting your support and blessing for my candidacy as KCCNA General Secretary a lot of events have unfolded. The recent events have strengthened my resolve to commit myself to the cause of KCCNA and our community’s future in North America. At this time in our history, we all can agree that each and every responsible official of KCCNA must have the utmost loyalty to our causes and the courage to stand up to face all adversities facing our community I truly I believe I can make a difference as your General Secretary of Knanaya Catholic Congress of North America.
Though I am relatively young and filled with energy and passion, I am only one of the thousands of Knanaites living in North America with a dream for our Community. I do not want to promise you that if elected to the position of General Secretary of KCCNA, I will be able to perform miracles, nor all the problems we are facing now will magically vanish within the next two years. However, I am confident that I can help clarify and prioritize the challenges so that we stay together as one community focused on our goals. As an important and persuasive presence in the executive committee I can provide the energy that is needed to transform some of our dreams into reality. I am confident that with your help, the executive committee I will be part of, we can create the necessary momentum for the Community to move forward, with a clear direction that is focused on:
1. Ways to sustain the momentum and trust created among our young generation in KCCNA and
2. Adopt “whatever it takes’ approach and steps to safeguard the ethnic identity of the community within all “Knanaya” entities.
Over the last few years we all have learned ample lessons and it is now time to declare, "Enough is enough". We all live in a country where everyone is equal before the law of this great nation. No authority can discriminate against a minority community or have the right to rewrite the history, identity and traditions of a community. Hence, I see no need to surrender to anyone. I can commit that the executive committee, I will be part of; will be in the forefront to lead the community out of this mess. I assure my community members that I can withstand pressures and demands from any quarters that questions or weakens our Community's values, traditions and ancestral rights, of which endogamy is the cornerstone. With a high possibility of further unfavorable directives and announcements in the near future, it is my earnest pledge to my fellow NC members that I will vigorously defend our rights and be your voice and soldier.
As you all know, I started my campaign rather late and without the backing or blessing of a panel. My strong conviction in our values and the delicacy of the current situation challenged and encouraged me to offer my services and abilities to our community. Initially, I only had the support and blessings of my home Unit, Detroit. Since my announcement, I feel blessed and thrilled to receive support, encouragement and advice from so many community members as well as National Council members. I am also humbled by the guidance from the senior leaders of our Community as well as the support and encouragement of the youngsters who are the future of Knanaya community in North America.
I am also honored that recently Mr. Tomy Myalkarappurathu, has endorsed my candidacy. It gives me pride and enthusiasm that Mr. Myalkarapurathu has welcomed me to his Team. I do appreciate his wisdom and I am certain that he is capable of taking the right decision at the right time. He understands the need of the hour and the pulse of the community members. I sincerely hope many of you have seen the commitment Mr. Tomy Myalkarapurathu have for the community and KCCNA during the convention in Orlando and how he worked hand in hand with his fellow convention leaders from Tampa and KCCNA. I do appreciate his practical approach to problem solving and I am certain that he is capable of taking the community forward. I am hopeful that you will bless me with the opportunity.
As I stated earlier, I will not promise you the miracles. However, with your support, encouragement and counsel, I will work tirelessly to achieve or make progress at least in the following areas:
1. Demand transparency to ensure that we are no more misled and tricked into accepting or agreeing to any structures that will undermine the community’s identity and continuity.
2. The ecclesiastical and laity sides deal with each other with mutual respect, in an equal footing. I will not allow the community and its interests to be taken for granted.
3. Stand up to the aggression and threat posed by the authorities to our community members or the community as a whole.
4. Get the community members and particularly the youngsters involved in the decision making process so that the community can regain the trust in laity and ecclesiastical leaders.
To paraphrase the immortal words of Robert Kennedy, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance”. I believe that together we can build the current that will sweep the walls of oppression that our community faces. I hope you will consider me worthy to be your general secretary that can send forth the tiny ripple of hope for you.
Humbly Yours,
Anto Simon Kandoth
(248) 320 0693
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