The White House
Remarks by the President at Iftaar dinner, State Dining Room,
November 7, 2002
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 Ñ 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.)