Obama Praises Muslims at Ramadan Dinner

President Hosts Iftar in Honor of Islam's Holy Month

(AP)  President Barack Obama on Tuesday praised American Muslims for enriching the nation's culture at a dinner to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"The contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country," Mr. Obama said at the iftar, the dinner that breaks the holiday's daily fast.

The president joined Cabinet secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps and lawmakers to pay tribute to what he called "a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress."

Attendees included Congress' two Muslim members - Reps. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and Andre Carson, D-Ind., as well as ambassadors from Islamic nations and Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.

Mr. Obama shared the story of Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, another invited guest, who broke a state record for most career points as a Massachusetts high school basketball player.

"As an honor student, as an athlete on her way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not simply to Muslim girls - she's an inspiration to all of us," he said.

Mr. Obama also noted the contributions of Muhammad Ali, who was not in attendance, though the president borrowed a quote from famous boxer, explaining religion.

"A few years ago," Mr. Obama said, "he explained this view - and this is part of why he's The Greatest - saying, 'Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams - they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do - they all contain truths."'

Ramadan, a monthlong period of prayer, reflection and sunrise-to-sunset fasts, began Aug. 22 in most of the Islamic world. It is believed that God began revealing the Quran to Muhammad during Ramadan, and the faithful are supposed to spend the month in religious reflection, prayer and remembrance of the poor.

White House dinners marking the holy month are nothing new. Former President George W. Bush held iftars during his eight years in office.

Mr. Obama has made a special effort since taking office to repair U.S. relations with the world's Muslims, including visits to Turkey and Cairo. In a June speech at the Egyptian capital, as well as in one to another important Muslim audience, in Turkey, Mr. Obama said: "America is not - and never will be - at war with Islam."

Mr. Obama also released a video message to Muslims before the start to Ramadan. In the video, he said Ramadan's rituals are a reminder of the principles Muslims and Christians have in common, including advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.

[vuenbelvue]

Why don't articles ever mention over population. These third world people live in countries that have no control over how many children each family has. The children of the children of the children then decide that they want a better life and migrate to countries that are not of their religion. This includes Islam, Hindu and Budhism among others. They are then still having families of four times the birth rate of the countries that allow them entry and even want their relatives to join them. They then expect social services to pay for their large familes medical, education, housing, etc. They then are forcing out the culture of the countries they are allowed into. This is BS. This is not diversity and oh so nice. We love each other and isn't everything nice and swell. This is encrochment and an attack. Print your nice little list of rich Muslin converts. Can these people live in the sand or squalid conditions in Indonesian. No, they live in several mansions and pet themselves on the back on how good they are. Are there muslins with scarves, burka's and white pant suits watching them play in a "Game". No. Only Faux muslims. They are no others to be seem anywhere.
Europe will become a muslim dominated country in less than twenty years because of the over population of the immigrants. I don't want this for my children and their children in America. Muslims go HOME. Go to your birthplace and let us be. Many of you are good people and we are not saying your not. Millions of us just don't want you here, grinding in the background for a takeover of our culture in a certain number of years. We want our culture, the work of our lives to continue in perpetuity. Can the sands of the middle east, the never ending problems of Africa or the islands of Indonesia support the population growth of the humans who decide they are muslim? If it can't, work on changing it so it will support your growth rate or work on reducing your growth rate

[jjreding-2009]

Evan - one more thing:

Afghanistan - <1% Christian, Benin - 15%, Brunei - 8%, Burkina Faso - 10%, Cameroon - 33%, Chad - 25%, Djibouti - 6%, Egypt - 6%, Eritrea - 50%, Ghana - 24%, Iran - <1%, Iraq - 5%, Israel - 2%, Jordan, 8%, Lebanon - 30%, Lesotho - 80%, Liberia - 10%, Myanmar (Burma) - 4%, Pakistan - 1.6%, Qatar - <8%, Sierra Leone - 10%, Syria - 10%, United Arab Emirates - <4%.

I will grant you Saudi Arabia, but the rest of these countries DO have Christian populations, even if they are microscopic. So, 1 out of 23 (plus Israel) - not very good odds. You'd flunk the test.

[jjreding-2009]

Evan - one more thing:

Afghanistan - <1% Christian, Benin - 15%, Brunei - 8%, Burkina Faso - 10%, Cameroon - 33%, Chad - 25%, Djibouti - 6%, Egypt - 6%, Eritrea - 50%, Ghana - 24%, Iran - <1%, Iraq - 5%, Israel - 2%, Jordan, 8%, Lebanon - 30%, Lesotho - 80%, Liberia - 10%, Myanmar (Burma) - 4%, Pakistan - 1.6%, Qatar - <8%, Sierra Leone - 10%, Syria - 10%, United Arab Emirates - <4%.

I will grant you Saudi Arabia, but the rest of these countries DO have Christian populations, even if they are microscopic. So, 1 out of 23 (plus Israel) - not very good odds. You'd flunk the test.

[jjreding-2009]

Evan,

Islam's problems with the West started centuries ago, when the Catholics sent the Templars into Morocco and other parts of the Middle East to destroy it. It has been the same way with Christians and Jews ever since. I suppose it was alright for the Israelis to illegally annex parts of the Palestinian territories. And the US has always sided with Israel - which is the whole reason that the militants hate us. Israel continues to build on the West Bank, they stopped hundreds of Palestinians from coming into East Jerusalem - which is Palestinian controlled - to celebrate their holiday. We all know what would happen if Palestinians prevented Israelis from celebrating Yom Kippur.

I also suppose that all those football and basketball players are terrorists too. Or the former Catholics and Protestants.

There is just nothing that is going to convince you xenophobic bigots. As for this business about 'allowing thousands to immigrate to America', after the Viet Nam war, thousands of Viet Namese refugees, called 'boat people' were allowed into the United States as well. It has always been this country's policy to grant political asylum to those who seek it and to provide comfort to the maligned and disenfranchised of the world. After BOTH world wars we went into Germany and helped reconstruct what was damaged during wartime. We've also made peace with the Japanese who we mercilously bombed to end WWII. Same with Korea - after our involvement in the Korean Conflict, thousands of Koreans came to America. And you know what? All of these foreigners have given great advances to our culture and our country. I suppose we should ship all the Arab and Egyptian doctors back to their own countries?

I'm sick of you people and I'm not going to waste my time battling with a bunch of hard-headed bigots any more.

[CommentMaker]

Everyone has the right to practice their religion, but we don't need the President of the United States endorsing it. He speaks for all Americans and there are more that would not have said that than would. Obama, please do something a little more respectable next time. Ha, what's the chances of that!

[jjreding-2009]

What has Obama done that's evil???????? Jump started an economy devastated by George Bush's policies? Added money for treatment for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to get treatment for PTSD and other horrendous injuries like brain trauma? Traveled around the world trying to make amends for Bush's indiscretions against other countries? Saved American automakers from collapsing and completely destroying what shreds of the economy still existed at the beginning of this year? Passing legislation for children's health care (SCHIP)providing guaranteed health care to 4 million children who didn't have it? Passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for employees to fight for equal pay? Stopping illegal torture of detainees? Yeah, that's really evil stuff there.

But Bush's lies, illegal wars, illegal wiretaps, illegal spying on US citizens, tax cuts for cronies and the rich, torture, illegal renditions, making us citizens disappear for years on end without access to lawyers, blowing a hole in the economy, gutting restrictions and regulations on industries (particularly the oil and energy industries) aren't wrong or evil or anything out of place, huh?

What the hell happened to my country to make it so hateful?

[vuenbelvue]

From another CBS article 9/2/09
(AP) A Berlin court has upheld rulings in favor of parents who sought to name their son Djehad, a variation on the Arabic "jihad," or holy war.

The superior court upheld two lower court rulings allowing the name on grounds that it is recognized for males in Arabic-speaking countries.

German authorities who register births had objected to the name, saying it could be harmful for the child given the associations with Islamic terrorism.

But the court said in a ruling Tuesday that the name's meaning is rooted in the requirement to spread the Muslim faith, although it has recently become linked _ especially since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks _ with radical Islam.

German law restricts parents from giving their children names that could be interpreted as harmful.

[jjreding-2009]

by evanl802 September 2, 2009 1:45 PM EDT
Barksdale4 , yes, that 9-11 contribution from Islam was very nice.
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It wasn't a 'contribution from Islam'. It was a horrible act of terrorism BY A SMALL GROUP OF FANATICS, sponsored by a large group of fanatics that George Bush stopped chasing so he could go to war to satisfy a vendetta.

By your reasoning, Bush's invasion of Iraq was a 'contribution from Christianity'. See how stupid that statement is?

[jjreding-2009]

by Acehacker1 September 2, 2009 10:37 AM EDT
"For the first time in my life, I am not proud of my President!"
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So, what you're saying is that you WERE proud of Bush's lies, illegal wars, illegal wiretaps, illegal spying on US citizens, tax cuts for cronies and the rich, torture, illegal renditions, making us citizens disappear for years on end without access to lawyers, blowing a hole in the economy, gutting restrictions and regulations on industries (particularly the oil and energy industries) ...

[jjreding-2009]

by IndepTex14 September 2, 2009 10:29 AM EDT
I wonder what celebration is planned at the White House for Kwanzaa?
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Do you even know what Kwanzaa is? At least you spelled it right. Kwanzaa is NOT an Islamic holiday - it's a black holiday to celebrate their roots. If this is a problem for you, join the KKK bigot.

[jjreding-2009]

Actually, Patrick, you CAN go to Saudi Arabia and practice Christianity. EVERY Muslim country has a Christian population - even Syria and Iran. It's obviously not the official religion, but it's accepted in most cases. Are there problems with some Muslim fundamentalists? Of course. There are HUGE problems with CHRISTIAN fundamentalists in THIS country. As long as time and religion have existed, people have been persecuted for practicing THEIR beliefs - THAT is why the Freedom of Religion guarantee is in the Constitution - to make sure that people in THIS country can freely practice WHATEVER religion (or NON-religion) they choose, without the government mandating any particular one - INCLUDING CHRISTIANITY on anybody.

[jjreding-2009]

IGNORANCE IS THE GREATEST EVIL. It's through ignorance that the worst prejudices and bigotries arise. It's through ignorance that intolerance arises. It's through ignorance that many wars begin. It's through ignorance that people get killed. And it's through ignorance that our civilisation will ultimately end.

[jjreding-2009]

You bigoted, xenophobic morons don't even know what Ramadan is. All you know is that it's an Islamic thing and that automatically makes it evil in your stunted retarded little minds. Well, here's a little education for you.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world take a step back from their daily routines and focus on community, charity, fasting, and prayer.

Reach Out to Those Around You: Is there a family in your neighborhood that you haven't seen in a while? A student in a strange new city? A new Muslim who is fasting for the first time? An elderly couple who can't get to the mosque? Why not take a few minutes to make a phone call, drop in for a visit, or invite someone to iftar (dinner to break the daily fast). Even the smallest gesture of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life.

Help Those in Need: All around the world, and even in your own backyard, there are people who are suffering from illness, hunger, or desperation. "Those who spend their wealth by night and day, in secret and in public, shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve" (Qur'an 2:274). "By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give freely from that which you love. And whatever you give, Allah knows it well" (Qur'an 3:92).

Volunteer Your Time: Even more valuable than money is a gift of your time. Is your local mosque hosting iftar dinners? Why not help with the planning or clean-up? Is a local charity raising funds for humanitarian aid? Is there a local Islamic school that needs guest teachers? Find out what you can do to help.

Pray for Others: "When My servants ask thee about Me, I am indeed close to them. I respond to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me. Let them also, with a will, listen to My call, and believe in Me, that they may walk in the right way" (Qur'an 2:186). Most importantly, during this very special month, take the time to pray for others - your family, your loved ones, those who are ill, those who live in fear, those who go hungry, those who walk in darkness.

Gee, sounds a hell of a lot like Christianity to me. Or Judaism. Did you know that Muslims trace their heritage to King David - the SAME King David that Jews trace THEIR heritage to?

[jjreding-2009]

Then there are these WHITE Muslims: Colonel Donald S. Rockwell (Poet and Author), Lord Headley al-Farooq (British Statesman, Lt. Colonel, Ed. of Salisbury Journal), Gen. Charles William Buchanan Hamilton (Royal Navy, nephew of former US President James Buchanan), Muhammad Asad Leopold Weiss (Austrian journalist, statesman, and one of the leading Muslim scholars of the 20th century), Marmaduke Pickthall (Bristish Muslim and Translator of Qur'an into English), Muhammad Alexander Russell Webb (19th century Journalist/former US Diplomat to the Philippines)
Brother Webb is said to be the first white American convert to Islam, Dr. Murad Wilfred Hofmann (Former German Ambassador, Director of Information NATO), Yusuf Islam (formerly known as Cat Stevens), Dr. Gary Miller (former CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY, mathematician, theologian, and writer), Nancy Ali (Former ROMAN CATHOLIC Nun), Joe Ahmed Dobson (son of British Secretary of State for Health, chairman of the Muslim Council of Britain's Regeneration Committee), Khalid Blankinship (Chairman of Religion Dept. at Temple University), Viacheslav Polosin (former archpriest of the RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH), Khadijah 'Sue' Watson (Former FUNDAMENTALIST PROTESTANT pastor), Eric Shrody, aka "Everlast" (Musician), Charles Yarborough (the current Earl of Yarborough), Jonathan Birt (the son of former director of the BBC, John Birt), Charles Le Gai Eaton (former British diplomat), Alija Izetbegovic (the former president of Bosnia, led Muslim resistance against Slobodan Milosevic, and author), Amherst Tysson (British writer and poet, lawyer), Yvonne Ridley (British journalist, formerly HELD CAPTIVE BY THE TALEBAN),

[jjreding-2009]

by sundre6 September 2, 2009 7:58 AM EDT
"The contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country," Really Mr Obama. If there are so many then you should have been able to name one.
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Can't you read? He named two - one a high school girl and the other MUHAMMAD ALI - or don't you think that he's ever done anything for this country? Did you know that he is currently in Ireland visiting his ancestral home? That's right, his great-grandfather was Irish (White).

Well, how about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar? Not good enough? Yarrow Mamout, an African Muslim slave, is set free in Washington DC, and later becomes one of the first shareholders of the second chartered bank in America, the Columbia Bank. Yarrow may have lived to be more than 128 years old, the oldest person in American history. Timothy Drew (Noble Drew Ali) establishes an organization in Newark, NJ, known as the Moorish Science Temple of America (MSTA). Drew Ali reportedly was commissioned by the Sultan of Morocco to teach Islam to Negroes in the United States. The MSTA is also responsible for many of today's African-American converts to Islam. The Red Crescent, a Muslim charity modeled after the International Red Cross, is established in Detroit - it is now international. Mos Def. Dave Chappelle. Jermaine Jackson. Lupe Fiasco. Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest). Supermodel Yasmeen Ghauri. Ahmad Jamal (regarded by many as one of the greatest jazz pianists ever). Nihad Awad (National Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations). Dr. Robert D. Crane (former foreign policy advisor, author). Keith Ellison (First Muslim congressman - Minnesota). André Carson (Congressman from Indiana).
Ibrahim Hooper (National Communications Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)). Zalmay Khalilzad (Former US Ambassador to the United Nations. Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan and to Iraq). James Yee (former US Army captain, CHAPLAIN). Elias Zerhouni (Director, National Institutes of Health). C. Jack Ellis (Former mayor of Macon, Georgia). Akon. DJ Khaled. Ghostface Killah. Ice Cube. Yusef Lateef. Bustah Rimes. Beanie Seagal. T-Pain. Tariq Abdul-Wahad (Former French basketball player, formerly Olivier Saint-Jean). Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (Former player for Denver Nuggets, formerly Chris Jackson). Shareef Abdur-Rahim (Retired player, named NBA All-Star in 2001-02 season). Larry Johnson (Retired player, played for the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks). Nazr Mohammed (Player for the Charlotte Bobcats, devout Muslim). Shaquille O'Neal (Player for the Cleveland Cavaliers).
Hakeem Olajuwon, Rasheed Wallace (Center/power forward of the Detroit Pistons). Hidayet Türko?lu (Turkish player for the Orlando Magic). Ryan Harris (Denver Broncos). Hamza Abdullah (Cleveland Browns). Husain Abdullah (Minnesota Vikings). Kareem Brown (New York Jets). Ahmad Brooks (San Francisco 49ers). Az-Zahir Hakim (former St. Louis Rams). Ahmard Hall (Tennessee Titans). Abdul Hodge (Cincinnati Bengals). Ahmad Rash?d (Former Minnesota Vikings, award winning sports-caster (converted in 1972)). Ramzee Robinson (Detroit Lions). Ephraim Salaam (Detroit Lions). Usama Young (New Orleans Saints). Bernard Hopkins (10yr Middleweight world champion). Hasim Rahman (Former Heavyweight champion). Mike Tyson (Undisputed heavyweight champion). Fazlur Khan (Structural engineer designed the Sears Tower, John Hancock Center). Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan (United States Army Soldier killed in Iraq PROTECTING YOUR SORRY *****). Eric Carlson (Blind Native American Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives). Art Blakey (Abdullah Ibn Buhaina - jazz musician/bandleader). John Coltrane (VERY influential jazz musician). Omar Sharif (Academy Award winning actor). Richard Thompson (musician). Salif Keita (jazz musician). Youssou N'Dour (VERY influential African musician, collaborator with Peter Gabriel). Farooq Kathwari (multi-millionaire owner of the Ethan Allen furniture company - one of America's most respected, premier furniture lines). Bijan (high-end men's clothing). Rashid A. Chaudhry (personal care products). Ayhan Hakimoglu (armaments). Yusef Haroon (consulting and managerial services). Mansoor Ijaz (investment management). Nemir Kirdar (venture capital). Safi Qureshey (computers). The wealthiest Muslim American appears to be a software engineer of Turkish origins, Kenan Sahin, who in 1999 netted $1.45 billion when he sold his company, Kenan Systems, to Lucent Technologies.

[element51]

myristic....Your statement about killing off the Taliban is way off track. It is not Obama who is running the war it is the generals and our troops are following orders. It is an insult to our troops to make a statement like that. You are saying that their efforts are "pitifully modest" when they are doing all they can to kill the enemy. In August 49 of our brave troops gave their lives so do yourself a favor and think before you shoot your mouth off. If you want to insult Obama go ahead but back off our troops.

[element51]

hungry1968....You know that we are fighting a losing battle here, don't you. There is no way to reason or to have any meaningful dialogue with these people who cannot tell the truth from the lies. Like you, I come on here hoping to have civil discussions but I always leave shaking my head and wondering how most of these people manage to tie their shoes. I did not realize that there were so many mentally challenged people out there. It isn't so much a matter of being a democrat or a republican as it is watching a man attacked over things that are just made up on the spot or heard on Rush Limbaugh. When someone stands up in public and declares that he wants to see Obama fail it's a pretty good indication that you won't hear any truth from him. One last thing...I attended a town meeting on Monday and everytime someone tried to ask a question the republican side screamed any yelled so loudly that no one could be heard. I have never seen such rudness in my life. I finally just left as there was no point in being there.

[element51]

It is interesting to see that the posters on here who are blasting Obama are making statements that are just simply not true. One says that Obama has ruined the country in less than a year. Tell me how has he done that. Be specific. Another says Obama should be impeached. For what? What has he done that is an impeachable offense? Every year for eight years Bush attended the same function and none of you had a problem with that. Why is Obama any different? And some of your stuff is just comical. "National Pray Day." Never heard of it. And Acehacker1, do you really expect us to believe you voted for Obama? Come on now, don't insult our intelligence. And finally, Obama has never attacked the US when giving speaches in other countries. Show me one speach, just one, where he has done that. It amazes me that so many of you want to see the US damaged because when you wish the president to fail you are wishing the country to fail. You hate Obama so much that you want him destroyed and you don't care if the country goes down too. I can't believe that I gave 18 months of my life fighting in a war so you jackazzes would have the right to try to destroy what I was fighting for.

[hungry1968-16]

by Acehacker1 September 2, 2009 10:34 AM EDT
This whole administration just makes me want to puke! Can I get my vote back? I have a severe case of buyers remorse. The teleprompter in chief has ruined our country in less than a year. He must be a legal citizen of the U.S.- He is Jimmy Carter's stupid little brother.







Uh huh.

You sure don't sound like an "Obama voter".

[hungry1968-16]

by bcpats September 2, 2009 10:34 AM EDT
He praises the muslims here in the US - - and when he is out in other countries, he derides and criticizes the US and even apologizes. In his speech, I wonder if he praised this wonderful country for giving the muslims the opportunity, freedom and privilege of practicing their beliefs here. Americans can't practice Christian beliefs in muslim countries - - well, at least not for very long.







He never derided or criticized the US.

He apologized for the horrible, awful, and incompetent administration, and the unbelievably stupid decisions they made.



You're confusing "deriding and criticizing Bush and Cheney and their awful policies", with "deriding and criticizing, and then apologizing for the US".

There's a BIG DIFFERENCE between the two, because Bush and Cheney represented conservatism - NOT America.