Washington (Sunatimes) Diplomats, entrepreneurs and future leaders joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the U.S. State Department's annual iftar dinner in Washington on September 7.

Secretary Clinton praised 70 young American Muslim leaders who attended the iftar, as well as an event earlier in the evening, called Generation Change. Generation Change gave the young leaders an opportunity to network and to discuss issues important to their communities.

"Our embassies now are sponsoring more events like Generation Change in order to listen to young people, and to help connect young people across the globe, to connect them with other change-makers," Clinton said.

The young Muslim leaders who attended the iftar are making a difference at home and abroad. Among their achievements is a program to keep Pakistani girls from dropping out of secondary school, a soccer league created for Afghan girls, and an effort to bring wounded Iraqi children to America for medical treatment.

SomaliCAN, a community based organization led by Jibril Hirsi, one of the members of Generation Change, works to prevent radicalization of Somali youth by creating opportunity and promoting education. Jibril hopes that his work will be replicated in Somali communities throughout the world.

Other young leaders use movies and blogs, music and novels and comedy and art to explore what it means to be an American Muslim. Such efforts have sparked discussions about identity and belonging.

"This kind of engagement in my view is really a form of diplomacy and so all of you are unofficial ambassadors on behalf of our country, our values and our communities as well as yours," Clinton said.

In the spirit of respect for Islam, Clinton noted broad American condemnation of plans by a church in Florida to burn a Quran on September 11.

"I am heartened by the clear, unequivocal condemnation of this disrespectful and disgraceful act that has come from American religious leaders of all faiths, from Evangelical Christians to Jewish rabbis, as well as secular U.S. leaders and opinion makers," she said, adding that religious tolerance is rooted early in America's history. "Many of you know that in 1790, George Washington wrote to a synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that this country will give to bigotry no sanction, to persecution, no assistance."

Regarding the recent resumption of Middle East peace talks, Clinton said progress must always be a possibility, in spite of difficulty.

"In the weeks and the months ahead, President Obama and I will do everything we can to help advance the cause of a comprehensive peace, not only in the Middle East, but across the world and inside the hearts and minds of our fellow Americans," Clinton said.

Clinton discussed an initiative launched in April called Partners for a New Beginning, chaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Partners for a New Beginning will advance opportunities in Muslim communities around the world in several key areas: entrepreneurship, science and technology, education and exchanges.

Rashad Hussein, the U.S. envoy to the Organization of Islamic Conference, and Precious Muhammad, a highly regarded historian, were singled out for praise by Clinton. Muhammad is writing a chronicle of Islam in America for the State Department.

"And it is indeed a rich history that extends back hundreds of years," Clinton said.

Clinton said that an iftar can be a time of reflection on how to build a better future.

"I hope that we, at these tables, and at similar tables everywhere, where people are meeting in the spirit of Ramadan to break fast, we will reflect on how each can demonstrate that a different future is possible, a future built on the universal human values of mutual respect and inclusion."

By M. Scott Bortot