I don't pay as much attention to these things as you here in Political who are much better informed.

Is it common for a seated president to attend a beginning of Ramadan dinner?

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I don't pay as much attention to these things as you here in Political who are much better informed.

Is it common for a seated president to attend a beginning of Ramadan dinner?

"The dinner follows in the tradition of former President George W. Bush, who held eight Ramadan dinners in office to stress that America’s war with violent extremists was not a war with Islam. Despite that outreach, Mr. Bush became a polarizing figure to many Muslims, in large part because of the Iraq war and his staunch support for Israel."

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2...rates-ramadan/

Good question Gracie. I believe the answer is yes other US Presidents have hosted Muslims and dinners recognizing their religion at the White House.

Here's the text of Pres. Clinton's message to Muslims for Ramadan 1999.

http://www.amislam.com/clinton.htm


Bush in 2008:

http://muslimrepublicans.net/Article.asp?ID=168

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I don't pay as much attention to these things as you here in Political who are much better informed.

Is it common for a seated president to attend a beginning of Ramadan dinner?

Thanks GG, I was questioning that myself. And thanks to Bucco and BK for their informed responses. Up until a few years ago, when we started to manufacture so many things in Asia, I had no clue what Ramadan was. Its such a major holiday that everything shuts down for about a month.

You may want to check what Thomas Jefferson did, too.

Originally Posted by tony

You may want to check what Thomas Jefferson did, too.

Looks like he did a dinner for Ramadan in 1805 while the US was having a lot of trouble with the Barbary pirates.

Originally Posted by tony

You may want to check what Thomas Jefferson did, too.

Tonyyyy, I'm not THAT OLD!!!!