In contrast to the President's past years' celebratory proclamations for the Muslim occasion of Ramadan, this year he's sounding a lot less Muslim, lest his supposed Christianity be questioned (again) -- having failed to issue any proclamation for Easter.
UPDATE 8/11/11: Obama Honors 9/11 Muslim Heroes at White House
First, watch President Obama's Ramadan message in August 2009:
This week, the President only issued a written proclamation (no video), which sounds more traditionally "American" than the above video. Here's the document, in full:
From "Statement by the President on the Occasion of Ramadan" by Office of the Press Secretary, The White House 8/1/11
As Ramadan begins, Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan is a festive time that is anticipated for months by Muslims everywhere. Families and communities share the happiness of gathering together for iftar and prayers. Bazaars light up the night in many cities from Rabat to Jakarta. And here in the United States, Muslim Americans share Ramadan traditions with their neighbors, fellow students, and co-workers.
For so many Muslims around the world, Ramadan is also a time of deep reflection and sacrifice. As in other faiths, fasting is used to increase spirituality, discipline, and consciousness of God's mercy. It is also a reminder of the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate. The heartbreaking accounts of lost lives and the images of families and children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and compel us to act. Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief efforts.
Times like this remind us of the lesson of all great faiths, including Islam -- that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. In that spirit, I wish Muslims around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem.
From "Obama Issues Statement Marking Ramadan, But No Easter Statement This Year" by Penny Starr, CNSNews.com 8/2/11
A review of presidential statements documented at whitehouse.gov indicates that Obama has apparently not issued a statement specifically about Easter since taking office in January 2009.
In 2009, Easter fell on April 12. During that month, Obama made multiple statements on a wide range of issues, including Armenian Remembrance Day, World Malaria Day, the Month of the Military Child, and the passage of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights.
In 2010, Easter fell on April 4. The numerous statements issued by Obama during that month included one on financial reform and, for the second year in the row, Armenian Remembrance Day. Obama also issued statements that month on Earth Day, his planned trip to Poland, voters’ rights in the District of Columbia, a Russian plutonium reactor, and Holocaust Remembrance Day.
This year, Easter was celebrated on April 24. During that month, Obama again issued a statement marking Armenian Remembrance Day. Statements were also made by Obama on the 16th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the 17th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda, and the work of the United Nations in Afghanistan. He also issued a Passover message on April 15.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
Also read Obamas' Rare Church Attendance is Easter
