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Faxabsender: +41 81 4201611
DAVOS CONTROLL
27/01/98 23:35 S.: 1/7
Fax Cover Sheet
White House Advance Staff Office
Hotel Seehof
Davos, Switzerland
Direct Phone: (081) 428-1610
Direct Phone: (081) 420-1620
Direct Fax: (081) 420-1611
DATE:
TO: Michael 0'Many
PHONE:
FAX:
FROM:
Rob Rosen
David Neslen
Edward Prewitt
Stephanie Baker
Huma Abedin
Other
NO. OF PAGES (incl. cover):
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Omar AIG's Speech-
Assalaamu alaikum, my name is Omar Alfi. I am from Glendale California and 1 go to
Polytechnic School. I have come here today to celebrate Bid el Fir which is our holiday
at the end of Ramadan Ramadan is the holiest month in a Muslim's year. It is so holy
because it 18 the month that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. In Ramadan
We fast from sunrise to sunser. Fasting means we are not allowed to eat or drink, as well
as showing self-control by resisting the temptation to eat and drink. Another reason that
we fast is to purify our soul. We purify our soul because while fasting we are also not
allowed to gossip, steal, cheat, or lie, In Ramadan we try to read the Quran daily and try
especially hard to obey God. I like to think of Ramadan the way someone described it to
me a few years ago. Just like professional athletes go to training camp to train so that
they can be in good shape and perform their best during the whole year, Muslims have
Ramadan to usin their body and soul to be in good shape and perform their best the
whole year. 1 feel that Ramadan is a very spiritual time for me. 1 enjoy the fasting
because I view it as a challenge that 1 put to myself everyday. It feelo so good when I fast
the whole day and I have the feeling of succeeding and fulfilling my goal. And my
reward is to break my fast and have dinner with my family. In Ramadan we try to do
extra things such as pray extra prayers at night called Taraweeh. Most people like to try
and finish the Quran during Ramadan, One of the things that a lot of people like to do
during Ramadan is to go and break their fasts at family and friends houses. I feel honored
to be here in the White House and I thank you for giving me this opportunity of letting
me share my feelings on Ramadan Asselaarou alaikum.
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Lene Alfl's Speech-
Assalamu Alaikum! My name is Lena Alfl. I am from Glendale. California I am 10 years old
and I go to Westridge School for Girls. Today Muslims around the world are celobrating our
holiday called Eid-cl-Fitr. We celebrate this holiday for the success of fasting the Holy month of
Ramadan, In Ramadan we fast from down to sunset. We fast from food, water, lying, gossiping
and losing your temper. There are several reasons why we fast but I will only talk about two
now. First of all it is to control your anger and temper. Fasting teaches you to be patient and
understand that God knows what a person is doing that might make you lose control. Second of
all It teaches us to feel how the poor feel. It is supposed to remind you to give donations and
charity to the poor There are two other girls in my class who are Muslim and every year we talk
about Ramadan and Eld. When you are sick, travelling or pregnant you are not supposed to fast.
Every night in Ramadan there is a special prayer at the Mosque called Tarawech. You don't
have to 80 to Taraweeh but God will be pleased If you do. If my parents say that they will be
proud of me and give me twenty dollars if I fast the whole month. 1 am not going to fast for the
money, I am going to fast because I want to please God. If I am ever tempted by 8 cupcake or
cookle I think of God, or the poor who are tempted by this every day of their lives. Also, if I am
cranky or grumpy because I am hungry I temember bow patient the poor are because they might
feel this for 3 or 4 days in a row while I am grumpy after 3 or 4 hours. I hope this speech gave
you a little bit of an idea of what fasting is to me.
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Mainen-
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Secondary Grade Lvl
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What Ramadan Means to Me
By Maho ezzedding
The abandoned soccer field is silens and empty except for a small
crowd of children scrutinizing the horizon. A few eager men and women
stand a small distance away clusching binoculars in their gloved hands. A
joyful shout arises suddenly from the shivering crowd of children. "I found
it! I found it!" exclaims an excited child and a finger points to the sky.
Immediately, almost everyone else sees it. Like the glistening of a pearl
from a crack in an oyster shell, a thin sliver of moonlighs adorns the sky.
Squeals of delight escape the children and the men shake hands joyfully. A
suft chant comes from the Ups of a young boy. "Welcome. welcome. 0
Ramadan!"
The shimmering "hilal" is the telitale sign of the coming holy month
It is something I look forward to eagerly throughout she year. which in
comparison to Ramadan, is like a barren desert. For Ramadar is the month
in which I am closest to my religion, when I can best experience its joys and
rewards. In no other month do I feel so surrounded by Islam and its
followers. In no other month does Islamic pride raise its banners so high.
To me, Ramadan is much more than fasting. It is a period of Islamic
rejuvenation, in which I set my goals. and then try to go beyond them. It is
one of the few times of the year when I am aware of the millions of Muslims
besides me, doing whas I do, feeling what I feel. Ramadan is a time in which
apologies are made, grudges forgotten, new friends embraced, and old
friends renewed Sometime during the course of Ramadan comes that
momens when I realize that no place is dearer to me than my Masjid
During this month, I often reach an ultimate peak, when I feel that my heart
has never been closer to Allah (swt).
Perhaps the most profound difference Ramadan has from the rest of
the year, is that instead of attempting to improvise our Islam 10 fir into
America and our lives, we shape America and our lives to fit into Islam. We
try to catch most of the five daily prayers at the Masjid, regardless of our
work hours, school schedule, OP time. Many are driven by an urge to pray
the Tarawih prayers at the Masjid, and are willing to skip valuable
homework time and sleep hours TO arend them. The constant twinge of
hunger reminds us of our duty, and it is not difficuls 10 cus out the
distructions of Shayran. The television often sits in a dusty corner as the
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family in another room reads Quran in the same way that we used to fit
prayers in between the hustle of our everyday Life, during Ramadan, we fir
our life in between our prayers.
For the child who comes home with a construction paper lantern
dangling from his wrise, and for the grandmother who takes her special
Quran off the shelf, Ramadan is a "spring cleaning" of character. In
Sunday schools, children are taught to control their arger and to give and to
be grateful to Allah Ramadan is the time when many Sisters, young and
old, decide to adops the hijaab as their timeless companion We discard all
bad language from our songues and try to replace it with a constant flow of
Dhikr. We recognize our mistakes during Ramadan, and work to correct
them. He with the parsimonious greed becomes he of the generous giving.
and she with the uncontrollable temper becomes she of the patient
understanding. Most importantly, Ramadan is the month in which we beg
Allah (5wl) for his forgiveness with all our being. For me, Rumadan is a
total revising of resolutions and intentions, which I can only hope that Allah
(sws) will purify.
A constant awareness of the Most Merciful envelopes all that WE do
and all that we say. The desire to learn and teach reaches its peak at this
month, and the lectures and halaqas are countless. During this month,
many hearis experience their first timid souch at concentration in prayer.
only to find that all their awareness and consciousness is devoted to Allah
(SWE). For many, the overwhelming love and fear of Allah (she) becomes 100
much, and their first tears are shed on a Masjid floor.
Living in America only makes Ramadan more cherished. I spend Iftar
with the members of the local Masjid; they become my family. It is with
confidence that we refrain from snacking on chips with our non Muslim
comrades, for we know that we are the pioneers and that OUT example will
set the standard. In no other country does meeting another fasting Muslim
in front of an aromatic McDonald's offer so much reassurance. Perhaps
being a minority causes us 10 grasp the month of Ramadan wish such
enthusiasm as can be experienced in no other country.
But dearest to me, O Ramadan are your starlit nights in which we all
venture. out to our Masjid to worship Allah (swt). The doors of the houses of
Allah are open at all times to us, and the recitation of a believer constantly
dwells between their walls. in no other country can such eager crowds be
found in the Masjids. Muslims across the United States pray in the
basements of houses, in old schools, in community centers. and even in
greenhouses; places all bestowed wish the honor of being a Masjid. in no
and WHOS : 59 1.66T 11 add
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other country can we attend four rak'ahs led by a Jordanian Imam, then
drive down the highway to complete the other four behind a Pakistani. Late
as night, we may decide to go to our local Masjid, where an Egyptian Imam
leads the prayer in rotation with a Sudanese, How thankful we are that we
can arsend our places of worship so freely in America, without the fear of
being arrested, shot, or harassed; chankful that we can spend our Ramadan
in the one country in which religious freedom is so manifest. The dark
skinned prays with his shoulder and feel touching those of the light skinned
and the old believer gently lines a learning youth by his side. Nowhere can
such varied forms of unity, such acceptance of differences be found during
Ramadan Few other places have so many people of so many origins
humble rhemselves with their tears and prayer. This is all a pan of our
month. The harmony and open mindedness of Ramadan assures the heart of
every Muslim that his religion is from Allah (SWE) and that this month is a
great blessing.
Some may think that Ramadan is not clearly defined. We do not have
any tangible symbol of its presence: no adorned trees, no special costumes.
no standard carols, and no flickering cardles in our windows. To outsiders,
Ramadan is a month of sturvation and obsolete dullness. However, as the
observant eye would soon realize, the meaning of Ramadan is so profound
that " is difficult 10 comprehend with one custom or one symbol. Ramadan
is the celebration of Islam through serving Allah, in which we find our joy
and comforr. It is the happiness prevailing at our hearty Iftars. it is the
voice of an Imam resounding throughout all of our humble but grand
Masjids, it is the firm handshake after a long, satisfying prayer, is is the
lears of a repensing believer's duad', it is the relieved smile of a child
completing his first fast, and it is the satisfied "alhamdullilah" released
from the lips of a Muslim as his Quran has been read from cover to cover.
Ramadan, especially in this country, can be compared to the anticipated
momens as Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) began the first call to
prayer from asop the roof of the Ka'bah, shattering the heavy, desert silence
with a resonant cry of, "Allahu Akbar!"
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JAN-20 90 TUE 10:30 RM
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P.02
Zainah Alfi's Speech -
Asalam Alsikum! My name is Zeinah Alfi. 1 am eleven years old and live in Los Angeles,
California. I'm here to tell you a little about Remadan, the Muslim fasting month, and some
experiences and will power of 8 professional Muslim NBA player. His name is Hakeem Olajuan
and he plays of the Houston Rockets. He is pretty well known. Some things he has done in
Ramadan is fast in his games and when ho is travelling has the permission to break his fast, but
he days that that rule was meant for people back then when you traveled on camels and when it
look months to travel. My goal is to fest all day every day this month. I did this last year and 1
have again this year. There were days when I was hungry and upset, but challenged myself to
keep going, I wasn't just about to give up my goal. Ramadan 1s a Muslim fasting month that
comes once a year according to the Lunar Calendar. It Is 8 month of fasting from food, drink.
gossip, lying, cheating, etc. 1 like to think of Ramadan BS an athletic training camp for the reason
it is like training camp to purify your soul for the year. In Ramadan you should try to read the
Holy Book Koran, think of Ood and try to pray the extra prayers at night called Taraweeh
Thank you for listening and have a nice Eld.