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Home , Iftar

Sept. 1 / Administration of Barack Obama, 2009

Remarks at the Iftar September 1, 2009

The President. Please, everybody, have a Tonight’s iftar is a ritual that is also being seat. Thank you. Well, it is my great pleasure carried out this at tables and to host all of you here at the White House to in all 50 States. , as we know, is mark this special occasion. Ramadan Kareem. part of America. And like the broader Ameri- Audience members. Ramadan Kareem. can citizenry, the American Muslim communi- The President. I want to say that I’m deeply ty is one of extraordinary dynamism and diver- honored to welcome so many members of the sity, with families that stretch back generations diplomatic corps, as well as several members and more recent immigrants, with of of my administration and distinguished Mem- countless races and ethnicities, and with roots bers of Congress, including the first two Mus- in every corner of the world. lims to serve in Congress, Keith Ellison and Indeed, the contribution of Muslims to the Andre Carson. Where are they? Give them a United States are too long to catalog because big round of applause. Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of Just a few other acknowledgements I want our communities and our country. American to make. We have Senator Richard Lugar Muslims are successful in business and enter- here, who’s our ranking member of the For- tainment, in the arts and athletics, in science eign Affairs Committee. Where is Dick Lugar? and in medicine. Above all, they are successful There he is; thank you. Representative John parents, good neighbors, and active citizens. Conyers, chairman of the Judiciary Commit- So on this occasion, we celebrate the holy tee; Representative Rush Holt is here. Thank month of Ramadan, and we also celebrate how you, Rush. Have we found you a seat, Rush? much Muslims have enriched America and its [Laughter] culture, in ways both large and small. And with us here tonight, we see just a small sample of Representative Rush D. Holt. I’m on my those contributions. Let me share a few stories way to the train. [Laughter] with you briefly. The President. I got you. [Laughter] Elsheba Khan’s son Kareem, made the ulti- Rep. Holt. Thank you, Mr. President. mate sacrifice for his country when he lost his The President. We also have here—Secre- life in Iraq. Kareem joined the military as soon tary of Defense Gates is here, Secretary as he finished high school. He would go on to Gates; our Attorney General, Eric Holder; and win the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, along Secretary of Health and Human Services with the admiration of his fellow soldiers. In Kathleen Sebelius is here. describing her son, Elsheba said, “He always And most of all, I want to welcome all the wanted to help any way that he could.” To- American Muslims from many walks of life night, he’s buried alongside thousands of he- who are here. This is just one part of our effort roes in Arlington National Cemetery. A cres- to celebrate Ramadan and continues a long cent is carved into his grave, just as others bear tradition of hosting iftars here at the White the Christian cross or the Jewish star. These House. brave Americans are joined in death as they For well over a billion Muslims, Ramadan is were in life, by a common commitment to a time of intense devotion and reflection. It’s a their country and the values that we hold dear. time of service and support for those in need. And one of those values is the freedom to And it is also a time for family and friends to practice your religion, a right that is enshrined come together in a celebration of their faith, in the First Amendment of the Constitution. their communities, and the common humanity Nashala Hearn, who joins us from Muskogee, that all of us share. It is in that spirit that I wel- Oklahoma, took a stand for that right at an ear- come each and every one of you to the White ly age. When her district—school district told House. her that she couldn’t wear the hijab, she

1340 Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / Sept. 2 protested that it was a part of her religion. The They all contain truths. Among those truths Department of Justice stood behind her, and are the pursuit of peace and the dignity of all she won her right to practice her faith. She even human beings. That must always form the basis traveled to Washington to testify before Con- upon which we find common ground. And that gress. Her words spoke to a tolerance that is far is why I am so pleased that we are joined to- greater than mistrust; when she first wore her night not only by so many outstanding Muslim headscarf to school, she said, “I received com- Americans and representatives of the diplomat- pliments from the other kids.” ic corps, but people of many faiths—Christians, Another young woman who has thrived in Jews, and Hindus—along with so many promi- her school is Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. She’s not nent Muslims. even 5´5´´—where’s Bilqis? Right here. Stand Together, we have a responsibility to foster up, Bilqis, just so that we—[laughter]—I want engagement grounded in mutual interest and everybody to know—she’s got heels on. She’s mutual respect. And that’s one of my funda- 5´5´´—Bilqis broke Rebecca Lobo’s record for mental commitments as President, both at the most points scored by any high school bas- home and abroad. That’s the—that is central to ketball player in Massachusetts history. She re- the new beginning that I’ve sought between the cently told a reporter, “I’d like to really inspire a United States and Muslims around the world. lot of young Muslim girls if they want to play And that is a commitment that we can renew once again during this holy season. basketball. Anything is possible. They can do it too.” As an honor student, as an athlete on her So tonight we celebrate a great religion and its commitment to justice and progress. We way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not honor the contributions of America’s Muslims simply to Muslim girls, she’s an inspiration to all and the positive example that so many of them of us. set through their own lives. And we rededicate Of , we know that when it comes to ourselves to the work of building a better and athletes who have inspired America, any list more hopeful world. would include the man known simply as “The So thanks to all of you for taking the time to Greatest.” And while Ali could not be here this evening. I wish you all a very join us tonight, it is worth reflecting upon his blessed Ramadan. And with that, I think we can remarkable contributions, as he’s grown from start a feast. I don’t know what’s on the , an unmatched fighter in the ring to a man of but I’m sure it will be good. [Laughter] Thank quiet dignity and grace who continues to fight you very much, everybody. for what he believes, and that includes the no- tion that people of all faiths hold things in com- NOTE: The President spoke at 8:08 p.m. in the mon. I love this quote. A few years ago, he ex- State at the White House. In his plained this view—and this is part of why he’s remarks, he referred to Reps. Keith Ellison and “The Greatest”—saying, “Rivers, ponds, lakes, Andre Carson; Rebecca Lobo, forward, Wom- and streams—they all have different names, but en’s National Basketball Association Connecti- they all contain water. Just as religions do—they cut Sun; and Marty Dobrow, reporter, Boston all contain truths.” Globe newspaper.

Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Designating Supplemental Funds To Enhance Capabilities To Combat the Global Influenza Outbreak September 2, 2009

Dear Madam Speaker: propriated $7.65 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Within the Supplemental Appropriations 2009–H1N1 influenza outbreak, including a Act, 2009 (Public Law 111–32), Congress ap-

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