Running through the basics of Islamic values, Obama detailed the roots the religion has in America and highlighted the accomplishments that Muslims continue to contribute to society.
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Whilst reiterating the importance of Muslim Americans in uniting the country as “one American family”, the president also called on the Islamic community to help tackle radicalization.
Ultimately, however, Obama said combating terrorism will require Americans of all faiths to work together.
Lawmakers have tightened restrictions on travelers from Muslim countries, and calls by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to ban all Muslims from entering the United States have drawn cheers on the campaign trail.
In the aftermath of the recent terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, among others, the USA has been wracked by xenophobia and prejudice. “Engagement with Muslim American communities must never be a cover for surveillance”.
But the president said Christians in the United States have an obligation to look out for the rights of religious minorities: “I say this to my fellow Christians, an attack on one faith an attack on all of our faiths”.
Two-thirds of Republicans and Republican-leaning poll respondents said the next president should “speak bluntly, even if critical of Islam as a whole”.
“We’ve seen children bullied, we’ve seen mosques vandalized”, he continued.
Obama acknowledged the “battle of hearts and minds” taking place in parts of the Muslim community. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) somehow found a way to criticize President Barack Obama’s speech on Wednesday denouncing anti-Muslim bigotry.
“And, of course, recently we’ve heard inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans that has no place in our country”.
In his final State of the Union address last month, Obama asked Americans to reject any politics that target people because of race or religion.
Approximately half of the 2,009 respondents said they personally know a Muslim.
Shaikh said those radical Muslims are a small minority compared to the majority.
President Barack Obama speaks at the Islamic Society of Baltimore in Windsor Mill, Maryland, Wednesday.
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Responding to some claims that a former imam at the mosque had ties to extremist groups, Earnest said he is not surprised that political opponents stepped forward to protest the visit. “You are Muslim and American”.
