For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 7, 2002
President Hosts Iftaar
Remarks by the President at Iftaar
State Dining Room
6:05 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Thank you all for coming. I'm
honored to welcome such a distinguished group of ambassadors and
American citizens to the White House to help usher in the holy month of
Ramadan.
Islam is a religion that brings hope and comfort to more than a
billion people around the world. It has made brothers and sisters of
every race. It has given birth to a rich culture of learning and
literature and science. Tonight we honor the traditions of a great
faith by hosting this Iftaar at the White House.
I'm honored that our great Secretary of State is with us today.
Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here. I appreciate Your Highness
Sheikh Hamad bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates, for coming. I want
to thank members of my administration who are here -- in particular,
Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who's the Director of the National Institute of
Health. I want to thank all the ambassadors who are here -- it's
good to see you all again. And the other representatives from the
Organization of Islamic Conference. I appreciate so very much my
fellow Americans here, many from the Muslim community.
Ramadan is a special time of prayer and fasting, contemplation of
God's greatness, and service to those in need. According to Muslim
teachings, this season commemorates the revelation of God's word in the
holy Koran to the prophet Muhammad. Today this word inspires faithful
Muslims to lead lives of honesty and integrity and compassion.
In hosting tonight's Iftaar, I send a message to all the nations
represented by their ambassadors here tonight: America treasures your
friendship. America honors your faith.
We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God's
call on Abraham. We share your belief in God's justice, and your
insistence on man's moral responsibility. We thank the many Muslim
nations who stand with us against terror. Nations that are often
victims of terror, themselves.
Tonight's Iftaar also sends a message to all Americans: our nation
is waging a war on a radical network of terrorists, not on a religion
and not on a civilization. If we wage this war to defend our
principles, we must live up to those principles, ourselves. And one of
the deepest commitments of America is tolerance. No one should be
treated unkindly because of the color of their skin or the content of
their creed. No one should be unfairly judged by appearance or ethnic
background, or religious faith. We must uphold these values of
progress and pluralism and tolerance.
George Washington said that America gives to bigotry no sanction,
to persecution no assistance. This was our policy at our nation's
founding; this is our policy today. America rejects all forms of
religious intolerance. America grieves with all the victims of
religious bigotry. And America opposes all who commit evil in God's
name.
Ramadan and the upcoming holiday seasons are a good time to
remember the ties of friendship and respect that bind us together.
Learning from each other we can build bridges of mutual trust and
understanding. Working together we can create a better future for
people of all faiths.
I thank you for coming to the White House this evening. I wish you
all a blessed Ramadan. God bless. (Applause.)
END 6:09 P.M. EST
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