Barack Obama issues special Ramadan message

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan, as provided by the White House

On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I want to extend our best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world. Ramadan Kareem.

Ramadan is a time when Muslims around the world reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another, and to God. This is a time when families gather, friends host iftars, and meals are shared. But Ramadan is also a time of intense devotion and reflection – a time when Muslims fast during the day and pray during the night; when Muslims provide support to others to advance opportunity and prosperity for people everywhere. For all of us must remember that the world we want to build – and the changes that we want to make – must begin in our own hearts, and our own communities.

These rituals remind us of the principles that we hold in common, and Islam’s role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings. Ramadan is a celebration of a faith known for great diversity and racial equality.  And here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country. And today, I want to extend my best wishes to the 1.5 billion Muslims around the world – and your families and friends – as you welcome the beginning of Ramadan.

I look forward to hosting an Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan here at the White House later this week, and wish you a blessed month.

May God’s peace be upon you.    ####

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Reuters (Obama greets the Saudi king, file).

Comments

[Seyed Fardeen Nezami]

islam means surrender to god and i hate people who say islam is bad because thats a lie ima musilm and i know that islam is the best religion in the world and about 2 bn. muslims are part of the religion, so we respect other religions but all you idiots who dont respect islam dont know anything about their own religion. islam will survive .. mark my words.. or else ... we respect all religions so then.. you must respect our religion.. . .. . .. is because of one crazy stupid mentally retarted racist christian who spread lies about islam that all this started. that mans name was Sarah Palin and the republicans hate islam except for george w. bush and george h.w. bush. they love islam and still some democrats hate islam but atleast not obama and clinton.

[arb]

"On behalf of the American people...."

This man shall *never* speak for me.

[Girl with the bushy armpits]

May the flees of a thousand camels infest your armpits!Such was the reply hurled at me after I dared ask an explanation about Islam's subjugation of women.Why would our president bow to the king of the most powerfull
kingdom espousing such revolting treatment of women ?Because,such it was
written by the prophet !I find it impossible to reconcile our commander in chief's ambivalent stand on homosexual marriage,DADT on one part and his
unwavering celebration of Islam wich often sees fit to execute gays and lesbians .While i do not condone homosexuality,I subscribe wholeheartedly to
pope John-Paul's teaching of :Forgive the homosexual but condemn their sin,as we are all sinners.

[judithod]

Since when has Islam "always been a part of America"? Does anyone at the White House ever fact check these statements? What hyperbole!

[Kingaire]

He is not my President. He should be ashamed. He puts down America way to often and sides with every foreign country.

I am sick of this man and his band of Chicago thugs in his admnistration.

[Terika]

Obama issues special Ramadan message...

and this Friday he can listen again to the "most beautiful sound" of the Muslim call to prayer. How does that go again, Barry? You know it by heart.

In case you missed it -
GW Bush was busy greeting our troops. Not a teleprompter or choreographed news team in sight.

I think you and yours would refer to such as a "teachable moment".

Have a beer on us.

[Infidel Jones]

Obama does not speak for me!!! On a purely secular note, I've lost too many buddies to "the religion of peace" to count. My Christian faith not withstanding, I will not be engaging in any special ramadan dinners, pagan worship, or godless activities of any sort. When is the last time our empty suit Manchurian president gave so much as lip service to God fearing Christians? Last time I remember was his snarky "clinging to guns and their religion" remark during the campaign. 2012 will not come soon enough. Obama is no friend of America.

[Jean]

Islam has always been a part of America??? Since when??!!!

[Kal]

@ judithod - Islam was part of America back in the 1780s, when the MUSLIM Berbers enslaved approx 1 million white, European/American Christians. When Thomas Jefferson (then an Ambassador) asked the mufti of Tripoli (now Libya) why the US was attacked, he was told it was because the US was guilty of not accepting islam, and its prophet, the pedophile Muhammad. So in a way islam HAS been part of America since its inception. It has ever been the enemy of liberty.

[Elwood]

Since at least the Treaty of Tripoli.

[astral7]

Isn't it odd that obama fails to give such *attention* to his so-called 'Christian' faith? Afterall, didn't he say he was a Christian?
Seriously, obama is no more a Christian as osama bin laden.
Osama / Obama - same church - different pew.
It's beyond me as to WHY the other politicians in Washington, DC don't SEE what WE are SEEING!
I've been following the accounts of various people insisting that obama reveal his history to the American people; birth, school, and medical records.
It boggles the mind that a man can spend more than a million dollars on attorney fees to keep all of those 'details' on the hush. Strange, isn't it?
I just hope that we make it to the November elections, in one piece, and without Martial Law having to be declared.
BTW, I'm near 60 years of age and have NEVER heard of ramadan being celebrated, or that *belief playing any great role in the USA. Again, very strange.
Yeah; happy ramadan, mr president. Enjoy your holiday.

[caligirl316]

With all due respect to everyone out there but islam as well as muslims has been a part of the united state for quite sum time noe accept it or nt that's ur prob but we have been in this contry for generations and have contributed as any other american cud towards the country.. and @ the girl wid hairy armpitts I really pitty u since u knoe so little of islam and base ur judgments according to the rumours and lies u hear. I grew up in a moderate islamic background and there is no such thing as islam being harsh towards women it never has and never will it is a religion based on equality and those who judge tge religion over the taliban people then u shud also knoe that we muslims do not consider them muslim because taking innocent lives is not wht islam teaches us and especially the the holy month of ramadan is the month of blessings and tolerance and not violence!

[Barry Hussein]

President Obozo needs to go stay in Mecca and celebrate. Time to leave governing to those who are actual natural born citizens.

[Tet Vet 1968]

Hey Seyed Fardeen Nezami, the only reason there are 1.5 billion Muslims, your 7th century religion caters to the dumb and lazy who find praying five-times a day great since it takes them away from real work. That’s just right for those lazy scumbags who want to live by someone else’s hard work. Now tell me what is so great about burying a woman up to her chest and stoning her to death for adultery or hanging and beheading gays and preaching that all infidels must be killed. Or declaring a stupid and worthless Fatwa on anyone that writes an article about Mohammad the pedophile or draws a cartoon of that child molester.
Yeah that 7th century religion has really added a lot to America, they added 3000 more dead by the hands of those peaceful Muslims. So screw you and your Mohammad, I hope he likes pork chops.

[stan]

caligirl316 Please explain the treatment of women in Saudi Arabia. Please explain the persecution of Christians and the treatment of Jews. Please explain the various Suahs in the Koran that call for the death of the infidels Suah 2:98 and Suah 2:161 and Suah 2:191 which all speak about the treatment of "Infidels" (those who do not practice Islam) Thank you.

[LaVaEnRose]

judithod | August 11, 2010 at 08:29 PM

Islam was almost completely absent in the United States until the 20th Century. The oldest Muslim community to establish in the country was the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in 1921, which pre-dates Nation of Islam. Once very small, the Muslim population of the US increased greatly in the twentieth century, with much of the growth driven by rising immigration and widespread conversion.

The earliest documented case of a Muslim to come to the United States is Dutchman Anthony Janszoon van Salee, who was born and raised in Spain and Morocco as the child of a pirate turned local governor and admiral and a Muslim mother. Van Salee came to New Amsterdam around 1630 and was referred to as 'Turk' and a landowner on Long Island. A Koran remained long in the posession of his descendents, who apparently converted to Christianity.

There were two West African slaves: Ayuba Suleiman Diallo, who was brought to America in 1731 and returned to Africa in 1734, and Omar Ibn Said in the mid 19th century. There has been some speculation that a Moor slave Estevanico of Azamor, who had converted to Christianity 14 years before his arrival in North America in the early 16th century, was at least the first born Muslim to enter the historical record in North America. There is also a tradition of an Egyptian named Norsereddin who settled in the Hudson Valley during colonial times.

Found this data at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States

There is more on modern dates.

[LaVaEnRose]

Seyed Fardeen Nezami | August 11, 2010 at 04:42 PM
[ islam will survive .. mark my words.. or else ... ]

What do you mean in your statement 'or else'?

[To : la va en rose]

Hey pal,it's ''la vie en rose''with all due respect.I agree with your drift.

[zorbee]

Reading the comments from mr. Seyed F Nezami, I can only wonder how he demands respect while showing no respect himself towards others. The main issue most people have with their opposition of Islam is the fact that this religion forces itself on others by way of intimidation, death threats, murders, kidnapping, money laundering and a host of other vices such as stealing, cheating, lying, all in the name of Islam. If muhammed says so, then it must be true, kind of argument.

Jesus taught that the only way people can get closer to God is through him alone. He is the way, the truth and the life. Muhammad is a false prophet and a pedophile. Jesus taught to love your neighbors, do good to others, repay with good and not with evil. Muhammad teaches to kill christians and jews.

so there you have it. Religion by means of love for others as a show of devotion to a loving God (christianity) and a religion by means of harsh treatment of others for the sake of expanding global domination.

Take your pic.

[Mouhammad]

Thank you

[caligirl316]

All I am gonna say is u people have made ur decision and my argument here is pointless ur hatred towards islam is ur problem but if islam was such a barbaric and filthy religion why is it so that now islam is the fastest growing religion even wid all the terrorism attatched to it? Y do people keep on embracing religion if it teaches disrespect? U my friends are ignorant people who have made their judgements through the false rumors u hear. Islam has always taught respect for other religions there have never been any cases of forcefull conversions. And as for killing non muslims u misinterpret wht u read quran mentions that christians and jews are ihle kitab meaning they r our brothers by the book so plz do ur research first and then argue and for women and their treatment in saudia I have never met a single one of em who complains abt their living condition nor have I ever heard of any such complains from the saudi women. I have family their and they love it covering urself with loose clothings or wearing a head scarf isn't exactly torture!

[Crisp]

I like the picture of barry bowing to his leader.

[JonInVa]

Have to love Caligirls's defending of the indefensible. Why are there 1.5 billion Muslims? Because they are all in totalitarian, uneducated, tyranical societies that have no knowledge of what true freedom (or religion for that matter) means. When their government controls nearly every aspect of the means of communication and news, under threats of barbarous penalty, up to and including death, then what else is a person to do who has no self or historicaly ingrained desire for freedom to do or think? Nothing. They are sheep who spend their lives in a cage and they don't even know it.

I have to laugh as well at our POTUS's constant need to remind us of Islam's great "contributions" to our country. I've yet to see anything that has to do with Islam entering the lexicon of American governance or culture. So what exactly has Islam contributed? Again, nothing. Simply having people who "practice" Islam living amongst us is not a contribution to America. Where was Islam at the founding and during the past 2 centuries of growth from colony to world power? Nowhere. Muslims didn't even begin to get into mainstream society until late in the 20th century, and even today, there is nothing that their "religion" contributes to the betterment of America, as a society and nation.

The adherents may be wonderful people in many cases, but the consistently bad apples who perpetuate a state of constant death and terror around the world will forever continue to tarnish the name of Islam as anything other than the same barbaric, warrior political/religious entity it was since it's founding 1500 years ago. Nothing has changed except it's ability to kill more people, in more spectacular fashion.

Hatred of Islam has nothing to do with it. It is not a hatred of "people" or Muslims in general, as individuals, neighbors or friends. It is hatred of an ideal so incompatible with everything America was and is. And the continuted appeal to our "freedoms" to defend this insanity within our own country (the Trade Center Mosque being just one example) only drives the stake deeper into the hearts of Americans who truly wish they could live in peace with people of all religions, and generally do and have for over 200 years. But Islam is the religion that simply won't let it be, who kills its own in fratricidal bombings and murders. And they do it FOR Islam, not in spite of it.

This shameless pandering to a world view that despises America, its Christians and Jews, its values and ideals, is offensive to most Americans. If you took 100 polls and asked whether Islam and Judeo-Christianity equally contributed to America specifically, or Western Civilization in general, you would see the truth of how American's feel about this religion of "Peace". We don't need it, never wanted it, and until its adherents stop their nonsense, will never accept it as anything remotely meaningful or necessary to American society.

[T.R. Shields]

No doubt the drone and his queen have a special place in their hearts for all the muslims who have done so much for America, only I don't recall any of them, or quite understand what significant role they played in the shaping of the American dream or way of life. It's stupifying that the President and his Lady Macbeth have just decided to call it a day when it comes to what America really stands for, or is about. Arrogance would be a start, but I am afraid it's a mixture of reckless disregard for truth and honesty that is going to get us all killed. But maybe that's the point

[Rich]

@Kal...so, you are implying that we have Islam to thank for the creation of the US Marine Corps?? What a beautiful touch of irony!! Love it!! Marines were created to battle Islamic terrorism almost 250 years ago!

@Seyed.... you say that "islam will survive...mark my words...OR ELSE", then say you respect all religions?? Talk about a crazy, stupid, mentally retarded, racist person!! How can you say you respect other's opinions when you threaten those who do not agree with you??

If you want me to "respect" you and your religion, you must first publicly condem all terrorist acts carried out in the name of Allah, Islam, Mohammad, or any other Muslim deity.

By the way, Sarah Palin is a woman, not a man. And she's smarter than you and hotter than any middle-eastern woman...at least, as far as I know. Hard to tell when your women are covered from head to to to keep you barbarians from raping them at will.

[What an appropriate photo!]

He bows to the muslims and sticks his ass in America's face.

[Lynn II]

Caligirl,
I have never met a Muslima who has not had a huge black eye. Not ever! I also know Palestinian Christians who make such nasty faces when mentioning Islam. I don't think flogging and stoning, beheadings as a great part of the social fabric of the Saudi society. Those aren't *rumors* those are facts and justice in saudi Arabia. As for women in the Burqa, if it were a choice, and it isn't, there would be no problem for me. Honor killings are a fact of life for Muslimas, not the exception. So, while you defend Muslim misogyny, most of the rest of womankind doesn't.

[RMK]

reading the comments here surprises me. I thought or was told the there were only crazy muslims but seems there are an equal numbers of "patriotic", "God Fearing" "Chritians" in the world.

Be real: Islam, Christianity and the great country of United States of America will be around forever. Just don't say dumb things to make your faith and country look real bad.

[Rose]

Is Odrama Queen more Marxist? or more muslim terrorist sympathizer???

American Citizens want to know!

[C.R.D @ RMK]

Dear RMK, In answer to your cop out: Why is it that every human on earth wants to immigrate to America if we are so horrible? Why? Answer: cause America isn't horrible.

Why don't humans want to immigrate to Middle East? Answer1: because women who speak their opinion get beat, raped killed by their own fathers hands for disgracing their family and community. Answer2: because no family wants their 11 year old son hung in public for his father's crimes. Answer3: because Middle East is the most racist area in the world, and immigrants (demanding citizenship or freedoms similar to American rights) are more likely to be shot on site.

Tell me this, how long would a American stand on a street corner in Pakistan holding a sign for gay rights, or women's rights, or demanding a Christian temple be built on the holy ground near Jesus Christ burial? or even the Mountain top where he was Crucified? Answer4: any human would be shot, because Islam and those in the Middle East are totalitarian and therefore INTOLERANT of anything but the word of Muhhamed.

[Gulf War Vet 91]

So, Obama's first paragraph says it all: "...for all of us must remember the world we want to build and the changes we want to make in our hearts and our own communities." Obama is using third person plural..."we"...and he doesn't say anything about Muslims and non-Muslims changing the world by working together. He is at an iftar, during Ramadan, talking to representatives of the Muslim world. Now I know what he meant during the campaign about "change" and "transforming" America. My conscience is clear. I did not vote for him, have always suspected he was something other than what he appeared to be, and now those who voted him in voted in a Muslim. If he isn't, he certainly is shoving Islam down our throats at every turn. Hey...news flash, Sheik! We are a Christian/Judeo nation.We have no room or tolerance for a religion that feels justified in killing 3,000 innocent people, or stones women, or cuts off noses, ears, and heads. You want Islam? Go back to Indonesia. And hey...when you finally go of hadj, don't be upset when Michelle and the girls aren't allowed around that square stone. Females aren't permitted. You finally outed yourself, Obama, and we won't forget your deception. God Bless America

[James Jackson]

"...here in the United States, Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America and that American Muslims have made extraordinary contributions to our country."

That statement is particularly bizarre. If we are allowed to judge a whole by its parts, then Islam bears responsibility for the 9/11 attacks. We doubt that Islam has made extraordinary contributions Muslims to our country. We doubt that Islam has always been part of America and doubt extraordinary that American Muslims have made any extraordinary contribution to our country.

Islam is incompatible with American values, most famously in freedom of speech. Islam would further threaten women's rights, our judicial system, scientific research, and education. We all live better and longer with ascendancy of science over religion in the West in the past 300 years. Islam would end free exchange of ideas. For example, in one recent year only 66 nonreligious books, mostly cookbooks, etc, were published in the whole Islamic world. We have separation of church and state for good reasons.

[YouGotToDoResearch]

1.President Obama is a christian, but he has separat himslef from a church in Chicago because the minister has lost his mind. The Obamas has not found a new church yet, but worships in the White House and at different church if the Church has passed security. He does not display it like other Christians. I guess he feels. He is open about it.H
e says it is a private thing and he does not want churches to be alway on security and secret services or Photographers or TV media just because He and his family want to workship like they did for Tim Russert and Ted kennedy Funeral.
He feels it interrupts their services and security. Bush also did not attend church. He went during holidays or for a death.But Bush did not go to church either. Obama is not embarrass of his christianity like any other President. The most religious President was Carter. If Obama was not a Christian but a Muslim as many claims, he would not allowed or be found in a room of hundreds of Christian leaders who laid their house on him and prayed for him and for our country. he will not be allow to let his girls or wife to be dressed like any other American Woman.
When you waste your time listneing to Rumors and fraudent emails with false stories and infromation
A photo has been pass around showing a man bending or bowing down to arabs.It was not Obama, as you can see people were looking down to the floor as if someone dropped something. If this was Obama, his secret service would he been there thinking he was passing out. This photo does not proof it is Obama. All it shows men with arabs ready to squaint, it does not show a man kissing a hand