News Alert

International Jerusalem Post, 9/2/09 [excerpts]: U.S. President Barack Obama, at a dinner to celebrate the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, praised American Muslims for enriching the nation's culture.

"The contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country," Obama said at the iftar, the dinner that breaks the holiday's daily fast.

Obama also noted the contributions of Muhammad Ali, who was not in attendance, though the president borrowed a quote from the famous boxer, explaining religion. "A few years ago," Obama said, "he explained this view--and this is part of why he's The Greatest--saying, 'Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams--they all have different names, but they all contain water. Just as religions do--they all contain truths.'"

Obama released a video message to Muslims before the start of Ramadan. In the video, he said Ramadan's rituals are a reminder of the principles Muslims and Christians have in common, including advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.