Duke
08-19-2010, 02:31 AM
Slideshow: President Obama, Muslims celebrate Ramadan as controversy looms over Ground Zero Mosque
August 14th, 2010 6:48 pm
.Slideshow: President Obama, Muslims celebrate Ramadan as controversy looms over Ground Zero Mosque
WASHINGTON - AUGUST 13: U.S. President Barack Obama hosts an Iftar dinner in celebration of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the State Dining Room of the White House August 13, 2010 in Washington, DC. During the dinner Obama spoke in support of the controversial construction of a mosque near the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. (Photo by Martin H. Simon-Pool/Getty Images)
President Obama has drawn controversy for comments made during a White House dinner breaking the end of fasting for the month of Ramadan. During President Obama’s speech he referred to religious freedom and the ongoing debate regarding the construction of an Islamic center (known as the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’) in New York. You may see the full video of President Obama’s speech in the article linked below.
President Obama said while speaking at the Iftar dinner, “Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground. But, let me be clear, as a citizen and as president, I believe that Muslims have the right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country, and that includes - that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan in accordance with local laws and ordinances. “
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg hailed the President’s statement as a true test of the separation of church and state. Mayor Bloomberg said, “The proposed of mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan is as important a test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime, and I applaud President Obama's clarion defense of the freedom of religion tonight."
Not everyone agrees with President Obama. New York Congressman Peter King had this to say about President Obama and the Ground Zero Mosque, “The right and moral thing for President Obama to have done was to urge Muslim leaders to respect the families of those who died and move their mosque away from Ground Zero. Unfortunately, the president caved in to political correctness.”
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims and followers abstain from eating, drinking, and engaging in sexual activities from dawn until sunset. This year’s Ramadan began on August 11, 2010 and will extend until September 9, 2010.
Each night, after sunset, a meal is eaten which breaks the Ramadan fast. The meal if referred to as ‘Iftar’ and it was during the White House Iftar meal where President Obama made the statements.
You may see a slideshow of President Obama hosting the Iftar dinner as well as customs and practices this Ramadan worldwide in the slideshow at the top right of this article. You may see a slideshow of last year’s Ramadan in the article links below
http://www.examiner.com/us-headlines-in-national/slideshow-president-obama-muslims-celebrate-ramadan-as-controversy-looms-over-ground-zero-mosque
August 14th, 2010 6:48 pm
.Slideshow: President Obama, Muslims celebrate Ramadan as controversy looms over Ground Zero Mosque
WASHINGTON - AUGUST 13: U.S. President Barack Obama hosts an Iftar dinner in celebration of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in the State Dining Room of the White House August 13, 2010 in Washington, DC. During the dinner Obama spoke in support of the controversial construction of a mosque near the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan. (Photo by Martin H. Simon-Pool/Getty Images)
President Obama has drawn controversy for comments made during a White House dinner breaking the end of fasting for the month of Ramadan. During President Obama’s speech he referred to religious freedom and the ongoing debate regarding the construction of an Islamic center (known as the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’) in New York. You may see the full video of President Obama’s speech in the article linked below.
President Obama said while speaking at the Iftar dinner, “Ground Zero is, indeed, hallowed ground. But, let me be clear, as a citizen and as president, I believe that Muslims have the right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country, and that includes - that includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan in accordance with local laws and ordinances. “
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg hailed the President’s statement as a true test of the separation of church and state. Mayor Bloomberg said, “The proposed of mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan is as important a test of the separation of church and state as we may see in our lifetime, and I applaud President Obama's clarion defense of the freedom of religion tonight."
Not everyone agrees with President Obama. New York Congressman Peter King had this to say about President Obama and the Ground Zero Mosque, “The right and moral thing for President Obama to have done was to urge Muslim leaders to respect the families of those who died and move their mosque away from Ground Zero. Unfortunately, the president caved in to political correctness.”
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims and followers abstain from eating, drinking, and engaging in sexual activities from dawn until sunset. This year’s Ramadan began on August 11, 2010 and will extend until September 9, 2010.
Each night, after sunset, a meal is eaten which breaks the Ramadan fast. The meal if referred to as ‘Iftar’ and it was during the White House Iftar meal where President Obama made the statements.
You may see a slideshow of President Obama hosting the Iftar dinner as well as customs and practices this Ramadan worldwide in the slideshow at the top right of this article. You may see a slideshow of last year’s Ramadan in the article links below
http://www.examiner.com/us-headlines-in-national/slideshow-president-obama-muslims-celebrate-ramadan-as-controversy-looms-over-ground-zero-mosque