Obama Ramadan Message: "May God's Peace Be Upon You" (VIDEO)

President Obama wished a blessed Ramadan to Muslims in and outside of the United States in a web video on Friday. He made particular notice of those fasting during the holiday and talked about action on swine flu, a concern for those making the hajj pilgrimage this year.

Watch:

The video is accompanied by a blog post from Rashad Hussain, deputy associate White House counsel:

As the new crescent moon ushers in Ramadan, the President extends his best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world.

Each Ramadan, the ninth month on the lunar calendar, Muslims fast daily from dawn to sunset for 29 or 30 days. Fasting is a tradition in many religious faiths and is meant to increase spirituality, discipline, thankfulness, and consciousness of God's mercy. Ramadan is also a time of giving and reaching out to those less fortunate, and this summer, American Muslims have joined their fellow citizens in serving communities across the country. Over the course of the month, we will highlight the perspectives of various faiths on fasting and profile faith-based organizations making real impacts in American cities and towns.

This month is also a time of renewal and this marks the first Ramadan since the President outlined his vision for a new beginning between America and the Muslim world. As a part of that new beginning, the President emphasizes that our relationship with Muslim communities cannot be based on political and security concerns alone. True partnerships also require cooperation in all areas - particularly those that can make a positive difference in peoples' daily lives, including education, science and technology, health, and entrepreneurship - fields in which Muslim communities have helped play a pioneering role throughout history.

The President's message is part of an on-going dialogue with Muslim communities that began on inauguration day and has continued with his statement on Nowruz, during trips to Ankara and Cairo, and with interviews with media outlets such as Al Arabiya and Dawn TV.

As this dialogue continues and leads to concrete actions, the President extends his greetings on behalf of the American people. Ramadan Kareem.

Comments

[IFTYS]

Remember, Obama could not find the time in his schedule for the National Day of Prayer. On May 6, 2009, the Washington Times reported that Obama was distancing himself from the National Day of Prayer by nixing a formal early morning service and not attending a large Catholic prayer breakfast the next morning. All Obama did for the National Day of Prayer, was to sign a proclamation honoring the day, which originated in 1952 when Congress set aside the first Thursday in May for the observance.

BFD. Obama White House press secretary Robert Gibbels said that Obama is simply reverting back to pre-Bush administration practice.

But, Ramadam? Ahhhhh, that's different. For Ramadam, that begins today in most of the Islamic world, Obama has extended his best wishes to Muslims on the White House blog and produced a video in which he says, "On behalf of the American people -- including Muslim communities in all fifty(-seven) states -- I want to extend best wishes to Muslims in America and around the world.

Thanks Barry. Maybe it is time to stop obscuring the Judeo-Christian and Enlightenment roots that have allowed us to advance far beyond the fundamentalist-dominated Muslim world, just to prove how "understanding" we are of the special sensibilities of our Muslim minority population. If we fail to embrace our heritage, the sickness that already has taken root in our society will metastasize into something far deadlier than anything universal health care could possibly treat.

[keepemhonest]

IFTYS

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ....

Your logic is SOOOO funny. You are comparing a RELIGIOUS Observance with some crazy day, Ntl Prayer Day, a bunch of rightwingers cooked up for a country's people to pray.

Do you know what my prayer is EVERYDAY? That the rightwingers will get their Karma for all the L I E S they tell

[keepemhonest]

IFTYS

BTW: In 2007 ... President "W" welcomed Muslim leaders to the White House Thursday evening for an Iftaar dinner breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

This was the seventh Iftaar dinner the president and Mrs. Bush hosted at the White House for American Muslim leaders and ambassadors and representatives from Muslim nations.

[keepemhonest]

BTW:

In 2007 ... President "W" welcomed M u s l i m leaders to the White House Thursday evening for an Iftaar dinner breaking the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

This was the seventh Iftaar dinner the president and Mrs. W hosted at the White House for American M u s l i m leaders and ambassadors and representatives from M u s l i m nations.


Did YOU criticize W when the few times he used Diplomacy?

[tel8034]

We have seen how the Bush administration used NDP to PANDER to the right wing christian hypocrites................ The right wing SO-CALLED Christians, who are all about HATE SPEECH, and AGAINST EVERYTHING designed to assist those in need.

Clinton didn't hold any events for the NDP during his presidency, and Ronald (Iran-Contra) Reagan, and Bush I, each only held JUST ONE NDP event during their presidency.......... With NO WHINING from the likes of you.

Even Thomas Jefferson opined about NDP ......."Fasting and prayer are religious exercises; the enjoining them an act of discipline. Every religious society has a RIGHT TO DETERMINE FOR ITSELF the time for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets; and right can never be safer than in their hands, where the Constitution has deposited it. ...civil powers ALONE have been given to the President of the United States, and NO AUTHORITY to direct the religious exercises of his constituents."

Each religion observes their HOLY days ............... The Muslims have Ramadan, the Jews have Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and the Christians have Good Friday and Easter.....

President Obama chose to DELIVER A MESSAGE on each of those days, and NOT use the White House to FORCE (as Dubya did) JUST ONE religion on a people of MANY different religions, or on those who choose NOT to follow ANY religious faith........... President Obama acknowledges and respects ALL religions, as a president of ALL Americans should do.

[totaldisbelief]

So Obama was nice to a big chunk of the world's population, well that just proves that he's anti-Christian...dontcha think?

[plaidsportcoat]

That is some rock-solid logic, I agree!

[tnkeating]

This should be on twitter, I frying up a whole pound of bacon right now, the smell is killing me, Oh God thank you for bacon. This would have been a good torture, if we didn't feed theses guys so well.

[LucreziaBorgia]

How refreshing to see a president speak clearly and cohesively and without a shred of arrogance.

[SadButWiser]

This does a lot more good in the war against terror than the F16 and the drones.

[Kaczar]

Will he be making a Diwali address in October?

[hanoum]

The Obama's hosted a Seder last year; What a good guy Barak Hussein Obama is!!

[plaidsportcoat]

If the Indian American community asks him to, I'm sure he will. They are Americans, too.

[Charles Fee]

Given the huge Hindu population in the world, I would imagine he would.

[tel8034]

Just as President Obama delivered a message on Ramadan, he did the SAME for Easter and Passover (which is observed in the same time period), and also for Rosh Hashanah........ Holy days for Muslims, Christians and Jews.

So I guess that makes Obama a President who RESPECTS ALL RELIGIONS ............ As EVERY President should.

Not like Dubya who tried to FORCE just one religion on a country of MANY DIFFERENT religions, just to pander to the religious right HYPOCRITES who are know for their HATE SPEECH and LACK OF EMPATHY for those in need.

[swift goat pet for truth]

How nice to have a POTUS who is not a Christian zealot.

[Matt7]

Just a Christian. One who takes his faith seriously and exercises it in his life daily through his interactions with and respect for others. Strange concept for some, I know.

[keepemhonest]

swift,

AMEN TO THAT!!!!

[Itsmyland2]

Did this make Sean Hannity's head explode?

[MSNichols]

We can only hope.

[jones]

Happy Ramadan.... Everytime someone starts talking about fasting I get hungry.

[totaldisbelief]

is it too late to have breakfast?

[Huero]

Is a president, whether it be Bush or Obama, ever REALLY on vacation?

[Weirdwriter]

Good question as even on vacation, they're constantly followed around with armed guards, somebody totes a briefcase with stuff like the codes to nuclear weapons, and there always seems to be a message to record, a protest to be registered, etc.etc.

OTOH, there's good evidence that Bush's brain was on permanent vacation....

[MSNichols]

Exactly and don't we want our president to have a bit of recharge time? No repugs bitched while Boosh was acting like he lived on a ranch.

[swift goat pet for truth]

But its OK if you are a Republican.

Look at Ensign, Craig, Vitter and Sanford.

[dems08]

bush was really on vaca for 8 years

[keepemhonest]

"W" was. Remember in August 2001, W's first 6 months, he took the entire month of August off. When the PDB (Presidential Daily Briefing) came in that Bin Laden was planning to a t t a c k the USA with planes & had his peeps in NYC ... "W" DID NOTHING & remained on vacation & refused to even let the CIA issue high alert and/or plan for such a t t a c k.

W was awol most of the time.

[catinca]

OMG this should send the wingnuts spinning...

[openhand]

Mutual respect, that's the right place to start. Thank you Mr President.

[dems08]

or at least, treating them as though you respect them

[rachel88]

What a wonderful thing to do.

[Obert Madondo]

I doubt that any other Christian US President would have had the courage to reach out to the Muslim world the way Mr. Obama is reaching out. The Muslim world had better reciprocate NOW. A US President as genuine as Mr. Obama comes only once in a lifetime.

[Archivist1000]

Obert: come on .... Jimmy Carter ??? Ever heard of his work???

[Obert Madondo]

Thanks, Archivist1000. I'm very much aware of President Carter's recent and current efforts at bridging the gap with the Muslim world. I personally appreciate his efforts.

My comment on President Obama's Ramadan greeting was based on the quality and quantity of his effort in the last 8 months, and the fact that he is doing it all as a sitting president. The damage Mr. Obama has to repair cannot be underestimated.

I spend a good part of my life outside north America and fully understand the anti-America sentiment out there. Mr. Obama has so far been speaking directly to that sentiment. If there is a better way to win hearts, please let me know!

[bismillah001]

Ramadan Kareem, y'all!

Just grabbed some late night food in Singapore's 'Little India' :)))

Murtabak... curry chicken & paratha.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[sabarjelah]

Ramadhan kareem! Sounded like you are having fun in Singapore. You should also check out the ramadhan feast in Malaysia. The ramadhan bazaar, ramadhan buffet. ;)

[bismillah001]

I don't think I'll be able to do that :-/

but I will be in Indonesia soon, insya'Allah :D

[swift goat pet for truth]

Mmmm.
I remember eating food like that when I was in Malaysia for Ramadan.

Living where I am now all I can get are burritos.
Which are OK, but when it is ALL you can get.....

[sabarjelah]

I know what you mean, SwiftGoat. Malaysia is a food haven all year long but ramadhan is when it gets the craziest.

[Paula Ann]

Ramadan Kareem!
May your fasting be acceptable, Inshallah.