Celebrating Ramadan at the White House

The President hosts an Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room.

Read a translation: Arabic | Bengali | Dari | French | Hindi | Indonesian | Persian | Punjabi | Russian | Turkish | Urdu

President Obama's remarks during his Iftar dinner, as provided by the White House

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Everyone, please have a seat, have a seat.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the White House. Tonight is part of a rich tradition here at the White House of celebrating the holy days of many faiths and the diversity that define us as a nation. So these are quintessentially American celebrations -- people of different faiths coming together, with humility before our maker, to reaffirm our obligations to one another, because no matter who we are, or how we pray, we’re all children of a loving God.

Now, this year, Ramadan is entirely in August. That means the days are long, the weather is hot, and you are hungry. (Laughter.) So I will be brief.

I want to welcome the members of the diplomatic corps who are here; the members of Congress, including two Muslim American members of Congress -- Keith Ellison and Andre Carson; and leaders and officials from across my administration. Thank you all for being here. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

To the millions of Muslim Americans across the United States and more -- the more than....

...one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection and a time of devotion. It’s an occasion to join with family and friends in celebration of a faith known for its diversity and a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human beings. So to you and your families, Ramadan Kareem.

This evening reminds us of both the timeless teachings of a great religion and the enduring strengths of a great nation. Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life. This has been especially true over the past 10 years.

In one month, we will mark the 10th anniversary of those awful attacks that brought so much pain to our hearts. It will be a time to honor all those that we’ve lost, the families who carry on their legacy, the heroes who rushed to help that day and all who have served to keep us safe during a difficult decade. And tonight, it’s worth remembering that these Americans were of many faiths and backgrounds, including proud and patriotic Muslim Americans.

Muslim Americans were innocent passengers on those planes, including a young married couple looking forward to the birth of their first child. They were workers in the Twin Towers -- Americans by birth and Americans by choice, immigrants who crossed the oceans to give their children a better life. They were cooks and waiters, but also analysts and executives.

There, in the towers where they worked, they came together for daily prayers and meals at Iftar. They were looking to the future -- getting married, sending their kids to college, enjoying a well-deserved retirement. And they were taken from us much too soon. And today, they live on in the love of their families and a nation that will never forget. And tonight, we’re deeply humbled to be joined by some of these 9/11 families, and I would ask them to stand and be recognized, please. (Applause.)

Muslim Americans were first responders -- the former police cadet who raced to the scene to help and then was lost when the towers collapsed around him; the EMTs who evacuated so many to safety; the nurse who tended to so many victims; the naval officer at the Pentagon who rushed into the flames and pulled the injured to safety. On this 10th anniversary, we honor these men and women for what they are -- American heroes.

Nor let us forget that every day for these past 10 years Muslim Americans have helped to protect our communities as police and firefighters, including some who join us tonight. Across our federal government, they keep our homeland secure, they guide our intelligence and counterterrorism efforts and they uphold the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans. So make no mistake, Muslim Americans help to keep us safe.

We see this in the brave service of our men and women in uniform, including thousands of Muslim Americans. In a time of war, they volunteered, knowing they could be sent into harm’s way. Our troops come from every corner of our country, with different backgrounds and different beliefs. But every day they come together and succeed together, as one American team.

During the 10 hard years of war, our troops have served with excellence and with honor. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice, among them Army Specialist Kareem Khan. Galvanized by 9/11 to serve his country, he gave his life in Iraq and now rests with his fellow heroes at Arlington. And we thank Kareem’s mother, Elsheba, for being here again tonight. (Applause.) Like Kareem, this generation has earned its place in history, and I would ask all of our service members here tonight -- members of the 9/11 Generation -- to stand and accept the thanks of our fellow Americans. (Applause.)

This year and every year, we must ask ourselves: How do we honor these patriots -- those who died and those who served? In this season of remembrance, the answer is the same as it was 10 Septembers ago. We must be the America they lived for and the America they died for, the America they sacrificed for.

An America that doesn’t simply tolerate people of different backgrounds and beliefs, but an America where we are enriched by our diversity. An America where we treat one another with respect and with dignity, remembering that here in the United States there is no “them” or “us;” it’s just us. An America where our fundamental freedoms and inalienable rights are not simply preserved, but continually renewed and refreshed -- among them the right of every person to worship as they choose. An America that stands up for dignity and the rights of people around the world, whether a young person demanding his or her freedom in the Middle East or North Africa, or a hungry child in the Horn of Africa, where we are working to save lives.

Put simply, we must be the America that goes forward as one family, like generations before us, pulling together in times of trial, staying true to our core values and emerging even stronger. This is who we are and this is who we must always be.

Tonight, as we near a solemn anniversary, I cannot imagine a more fitting wish for our nation. So God bless you all and God bless the United States of America. Thank you. (Applause.) ####

White House guest list for President Obama's Ramadan Iftar dinner

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
The Honorable Andre Carson, United States Representative
The Honorable John Conyers, United States Representative
The Honorable Keith Ellison, United States Representative
The Honorable Donald Payne, United States Representative

DIPLOMATIC CORPS
Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali, Ambassador, African Union Mission
His Excellency Abdallah Baali, Ambassador, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
His Excellency Yashar Aliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Her Excellency Huda Ezra Nonoo, Ambassador of Bahrain
His Excellency Akramul Qader, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
His Excellency Bienvenu Joseph Charles Foe-Atangana, Ambassador of Cameroon
His Excellency Adam Bechir Mahamoud, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad
His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti
His Excellency Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt
His Excellency Mory Karamoko Kaba, Ambassador of Guinea
His Excellency Bayney Ram Karran, Ambassador of Guyana
His Excellency Dino Patti Djalal, Ambassador of Indonesia
His Excellency Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq
His Excellency Micahel Scott Oren, Ambassador of Israel
His Excellency Aziz Mekour, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco
Her Excellency Aminata Maiga Djibrilla, Ambassador of Niger
Her Excellency Hunaina Sultan Ahmed Al Mughairy, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman
His Excellency Husain Haqqani, Ambassador of Pakistan
His Excellency Mr. Maen Areikat, Ambassador, PLO Mission
His Excellency Ali Bin Fahad Faleh Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar
His Excellency Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation
His Excellency Adel A.M. Al-Jubeir, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia
Her Excellency Fatou Danielle Diagne, Ambassador of Senegal
His Excellency Bockari Kortu Stevens, Ambassador of Sierra Leone
His Excellency Subhas Chandra Mungra, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname
His Excellency Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Ambassador of Tanzania
His Excellency Edawe Limbiye Kadangha Bariki, Ambassador, Togo
His Excellency Namik Tan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey
His Excellency Yousif Mana Saeed Alotaiba, Ambassador, United Arab Emirates
His Excellency Ilhomjon Tuychievich Nematov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan
His Excellency Abdulwahab A. Al Hajjri, Ambassador of the Republic Yemen
His Excellency Ufuk Gokcen, Ambassador and Permanent Observer, Organization of the Islamic Conference
The Honorable Damir Dzanko, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Bosnia
The Honorable Sufyan Salman Qudah, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
The Honorable Jetish Jashari, Chargé d'Affaires at Embassy of Republic of Kosovo
The Honorable Tarek Ben Youssef, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Tunisia

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Mr. Hamza Abdullah, Arizona Cardinals
Mr. Husain Abdullah, Minnesota Vikings
Ms. Dina Amer
Mrs. Durriya Badani, Brookings Institute
Ms. Faiza Arain, Los Angeles Police Department
Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, Aga Khan
Mr. Mohamed Ali Malouche, Tunisian American Young Professionals
Mr. Akram Syed, National Association of Indian Muslims
Mrs. Mansura Shajahan
Mr. Yusuf Shajahan
Dr. Manzoor Tariq, Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America.

 ####

CAIR, UC Berkeley to Release First Annual Islamophobia Report

- MEDIA ADVISORY -

DC: CAIR, UC Berkeley to Release First Annual Islamophobia Report
Groundbreaking report lists ‘worst’ Islamophobes, ‘best’ of those pushing back against growing anti-Muslim sentiment

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/21/11) -- On Thursday, June 23, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender will hold a news conference on Capitol Hill to release “Same Hate, New Target,” the first-of-its-kind annual report outlining the disturbing growth of Islamophobia in the United States during 2009-2010.
[NOTE: A number of CAIR chapters around the nation will hold similar news conferences to release the report.]
The groundbreaking report also lists the “worst” Islamophobes and the “best” of those pushing back against growing anti-Muslim sentiment in American society.

WHAT: CAIR, UC Berkeley to Release ‘Same Hate, New Target’ Islamophobia Report
WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 11 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR National Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-384-8857      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-744-7726      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com
“This groundbreaking report creates a benchmark for examining the troubling growth of anti-Muslim sentiment in our society and offers a who’s who of those promoting or challenging Islamophobia,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “As the recent GOP presidential debate demonstrated, Islamophobia is moving toward the mainstream and therefore must be challenged by all Americans who learned from those periods in our nation’s history when other minorities were similarly targeted.”
CAIR Says GOP Candidates Seem at Ease with Anti-Muslim Sentiment
Muslim Bashing by GOP Candidates? Nothing New Here (Wash Post)
Based on available data and interviews with experts, the report offers a definition of Islamophobia, an overview of its growing negative impact in the United States and names of individuals and institutions known for promoting or opposing the phenomenon. It has special sections on the manufactured controversy over the Park 51 Islamic community center in Manhattan, the 2010 Oklahoma ballot initiative targeting Islamic principles (Sharia) and Islamophobia in the 2010 elections.

The report also offers a vision regarding Islamophobia in America, looks toward the time when being Muslim carries a positive connotation and presents an initial set of recommendations for moving toward that goal.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List
Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed
Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel

- END -

CONTACT: CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-384-8857      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail csaylor@cair.com; UC Berkeley Professor Dr. Hatem Bazian, 510-914-6722 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            510-914-6722      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail: hatemb@berkeley.edu; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-744-7726      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-341-4171      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

Cain's message -- Muslims need not apply

Dean Obeidallah is an award-winning comedian who has appeared on various TV shows including Comedy Central's "Axis of Evil" special, ABC's "The View," and CNN's "What the Week" and "The Joy Behar Show." He is executive producer of the annual New York Arab-American Comedy Festival and The Amman Stand Up Comedy Festival. Follow him on Twitter.

(CNN) -- Herman Cain, Republican presidential candidate and winner of this year's Arizona and Georgia Tea Party straw polls, has a campaign slogan: "Lets Get Real."

So I guess he was just keeping it real when he recently declared that he was not "comfortable" appointing an American-Muslim to his Cabinet or to a federal judgeship.

I guess it was just another mark of this realness when he announced last week that he would require a loyalty oath from any Muslim seeking a job in his administration, but would not require the same for Christians or Jews. Cain added that he has never personally met a Muslim who would take an oath disavowing sharia law--laws based on the Quran -- so it would appear that none could be qualified for a job in the Cain administration.

Inspired by Cain's keeping-it-real mantra, I am going to keep it real: Herman Cain is either a bigot, ignorant or simply a politician using fear mongering for political gain.

Regardless of his motivation, Cain is in essence posting a sign: "Muslims Need Not Apply."

My Italian grandparents encountered similar discrimination when they immigrated to the United States in the 1920s and were met with signs informing them: "Italians Need Not Apply," meaning they would not be hired simply because they were Italian.

And before them, Irish immigrants were infamously "welcomed" with signs telling them: "Irish Need Not Apply."

Now, Herman Cain wants to bring us back to the good ole' days of hateful discrimination against an American minority group -- to return us to a time before the 1964 Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination by employers based on religion.

But while Cain's comments are alarming, even more concerning is that not one of the other Republican presidential candidates has denounced his outrageous statements.

This is in stark contrast to 2007 when then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stated that if he were elected president, he would not pick a Muslim for his Cabinet -- not because they were a threat to America, but because there were so few in America, they didn't merit a Cabinet position.

His Republican opponent John McCain quickly and thoughtfullycondemned Romney's statement, explaining: "I'm proud of the Muslims who are currently serving in the United States armed forces and my sense is that if they can serve in that manner, they can serve in any position of responsibility in America."

Not only is Cain's policy regarding American Muslims morally wrong and illegal, how would it work from a practical standpoint? How could he tell if a person is Muslim? Job applicants could lie about their religion in order to have a chance at a job, especially in this tough economy.

Maybe he would need to impose a test to ferret out Muslims, asking them subtle questions like: "What do you think of ham?" Or, "If I drew a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed, would you be upset?" Maybe even: "Do you know which way is Mecca?" And if the applicant instinctively points east, out they go.

I understand that the chance of Cain being elected president is slightly less than Anthony Weiner's -- although in Cain's favor, he was the head of Godfather's Pizza which, of course, is the perfect background for someone seeking to become president of the United States. What better way to prepare for serving as the leader of the free world than by serving slices of cheese-stuffed crust pizza?

Cain should not be given a free ride to spread fear just because his chances of winning are low. He must be confronted by mainstream Republicans who oppose his views so they send a clear message to America that the GOP is not the party of hate, but an inclusive one -- for all Americans.

Indeed, there was a moment at Monday's Republican presidential debate that sent a different and alarming message. Cain was applauded when he said he was uncomfortable with a Muslim in his cabinet and Newt "I have a $500,000 credit line at Tiffany's" Gingrich was cheered when he joined Cain's call for a loyalty oath for Muslims.

Gingrich equated American Muslims with communists and Nazis, saying, in part, "I'm in favor of saying to people, 'If you're not prepared to be loyal to the United States, you will not serve in my administration, period. We did this in dealing with the Nazis and we did this in dealing with the communists."

But when Romney thoughtfully responded that our nation was founded on the principle that people of all faiths are welcomed in this country and that the threat of Islamic law being imposed on America was baseless because it would be prevented by our Constitution, the audience response was a little different. Not one Republican in the audience applauded.

The media must step up to ensure that Cain "keeps it real" by asking him detailed follow-up questions when he makes such grave accusations against American Muslims. Indeed, the media should demand credible evidence -- facts -- from every candidate who broadly attacks any American minority group.

"We must never remain silent in the face of bigotry. We must condemn those who seek to divide us. In all quarters and at all times, we must teach tolerance and denounce racism, anti-Semitism and all ethnic or religious bigotry wherever they exist as unacceptable evils. We have no place for haters in America -- none, whatsoever."

This wise quote was from the late Ronald Reagan, a man, who, I have no doubt, would be outraged with the hateful rhetoric of the likes of Herman Cain. It is both poisoning the Republican Party and the nation Reagan loved so much.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah.

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