President Hosts Iftaar Dinner (Text of speech)

White House.gov ^

[Millee]

THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Thank you. Welcome to the White House. This is the fifth year in a row that it's been my honor to host an Iftaar in the State Dining Room.

Our distinguished guests represent the millions of Muslims that we're proud to call Americans, and many Islamic nations are represented here that America is proud to call friend. We welcome the representatives from many countries with large Muslim populations. I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate an honored tradition of the Muslim faith, and wish you a, "Ramadan Mubarak." I want to thank those in my administration who have joined us. I want to thank the Imam for joining us today, and thank you for leading us in prayer after these short remarks. I want to thank all the ambassadors from the Organization of the Islamic Conference. I welcome other members of the Diplomatic Corps. And I want to thank the Muslim -- American Muslim leaders who are with us today. Thanks for taking time out to celebrate this important dinner.

Ramadan is the holiest time of the Muslim year. According to Islamic teaching, this month commemorates the revelation of God's word to the Prophet Muhammad in the form of the Koran. For more than a billion Muslims, Ramadan is a time of heartfelt prayer and togetherness. It is a time of fasting and personal sacrifice. It's a time to give thanks for God's blessings through works of charity.

One Muslim leader said: "It's a national and Islamic obligation to assist one's neighbors when they are in need." The American people saw that spirit as we recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The world sees that spirit, that compassion of Islam, through the countless acts of kindness following the recent

[Urbane_Guerilla]

Bush is a good man and, I'm sure, well meaning but he doesn't grasp the fact that this is a Holy War we are engaged in. I realize he cannot overtly condemn all Islam but he could have, at the least, done and said nothing.

The President has played kissy-face with the Saudis, as did his father. His debasement was humiliating to America, but he did not seem to care.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

But you're forgetting what was decreed earlier in Gen 16v12:

"He shall be a wild donkey of a man,
his hand against everyone
and everyone's hand against him,
and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."

>> I'm quite sure the President is well aware of the difference.<<

Then he would be aware that Muslims and Christians don't worship the same God.

>> just because Bush doesn't do things the way YOU think they ought to be done<<

Standing firm on the Lord's truth despite what others may think isn't "my" way of doing things. It was commanded a long time ago - way before I was even born.

>>There are Islamic people who are citizens - and the President treats them as such.<<

As well he should. But that doesn't excuse him from denying fundamental Christian ideals for the sake of being PC.

Bear in mind this is not the first time he's done/said such things. If it was once, it's forgivable - but continued blurring of Truth for the sake of eccumenicalist feel-goodism is wrong.

>>If you're looking for perfection, you won't find it .. because NOBODY is perfect; except you of course.<<

Never said I was, and I'm certainly not, but this is basic stuff.

I'm reminded of the Old Testament kings of Israel who feared God, but not enough to tear down the altars and high places where the people worshipped false gods.

The spirit of the good King Josiah has long since departed our leaders.

[kenth]

"And Americans of many backgrounds seek to learn more about the rich tradition of Islam."