Obama wishes Muslims a blessed Ramadan

By Christina Bellantoni

Continuing his administration's outreach efforts to the Islamic world, President Obama has recorded a video greeting to Muslims as they begin their annual holy season of Ramadan. The president used a few Arabic words and described in the video the origin of the holiday and its importance, noting it is a time of festivity but also of devotion and reflection.

The holiday is marked with a month of fasting from dawn to sunset, when Muslims break their fast with a prayer.

"These rituals remind us of the principles we hold in common and of Islam's role in advancing justice, progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings," said Mr. Obama in the video.

Earlier this year Mr. Obama offered a similar message of friendship in a Web video to mark Nowruz, the Iranian new year.

That video kicked off a full effort to engage with Muslims, with Mr. Obama delivering major speeches in Ankara and Cairo seeking a new way forward.

Mr. Obama addressed the "new beginning" he has proposed in his Ramadan message, saying it must be "borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground."

Mr. Obama said the United States has heard from Muslims around the globe in response to his speeches and the outreach done on social networking Web sites, adding that the nation is going after "concrete actions that will make a difference over time."

He said America wants to partner with the Islamic world for expanding educational exchange programs and on science and technology collaboration, adding that the U.S. is working closely to prepare for the global pandemic of the H1N1 virus. Read more here ...

Source: Washington Times