The Invitation letter is shown as followed....
University of San Francisco
Office of the President
October 23, 2007
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
Tel 415 422 0762
Fax 415 422 2303
Ma Soe Yein Sayadaw U Kavida
3231 E15th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11238
Dear Sayadaw U Kavida
It is my honor to extend an invitation to you from our Board of Trustees to accept an honorary degree on behalf of the Burmese Buddhist monks. We would like you to accept the degree from the University of San Francisco (USF) not in your own name, but on behalf of these thousands of the courageous monks for their nonviolent demonstration against the repressive Burmese military regime. We also ask you to "give voice" to these monks by delivering a Commencement Address to our graduate students who are receiving their degrees on Friday, December 14, 2007, at 3:30 pm in Saint Ignatius Church on the USF campus.
Nearly twenty years ago next month, six members of the Society of Jesus were killed in El Salvador for their similarly courageous denunciations of a repressive government. As we have honored our Jesuit brothers, so would the Jesuit University of San Francisco honor the monks of Burma for their courage, compassion and commitment to securing the human and democratic rights of the people of Burma in the face of a harshly repressive military dictatorship.
The University mantra is educating minds and hearts to change the world. The Buddhist monks of Burma serve as a most inspiring role model for our students. They embody the ideals that guide our educational efforts. The chant of "Do-aye" ("It is our task"), a slogan of determination heard on audio recordings from Burma during these protests, is the passion we hope will fire our students as they accept their task to right the world's wrongs.
In 2003, the University honored His Holiness the Dalai Lama with an honor degree and welcomed him into Jesuit community for three days. His presence among us was a great gift and his message of universal compassion was well received. Similarly, the University community now wants to honor the Buddhist monks of Burma and receive from you a message from them.
The University will provide the necessary resources for your travels to San Francisco. The USF Jesuit community would be honored if you would reside with them during your visit. We ask that the Commencement Address not exceed 12 minutes.
I hope you are able to accept this honorary degree that honors your brother monks of Burma for having the courage of their convictions. We also hope that the honor will call continuing public attention to the repressive military regime's continuing and brutal anti-democratic efforts. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Stephen A. Privet, S. J.
President
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