|  President Obama delivered a stirring speech at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in the nation's capital.
"The particular faith that motivates each of us can promote a greater good for all of us. Instead of driving us apart, our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife and rebuild what has broken; to lift up those who have fallen on hard times." A dozen foreign leaders attended, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who delivered the keynote address. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) read from scripture, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) delivered a prayer for national leaders, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) delivered a prayer for world leaders, and Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) delivered the closing prayer. Casting Crowns, a Christian rock group performed at the event. The National Prayer Breakfast has taken place since 1953 and every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower. The President is set to sign an executive order regarding the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
President Obama said "There is no doubt that the very nature of faith means that some of our beliefs will never be the same. We read from different texts. We follow different edicts. We subscribe to no faith at all. But no matter what we choose to believe, let us remember that there is no religion whose central tenet is hate...We know too that whatever our differences, there is one law that binds all great religions together. Jesus told us to "love thy neighbor as thyself". The Torah commands "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow". In Islam, there is a hadith that reads "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." and the same is true for Buddhists and Hindus; for followers of Confucius and for humanists. It is, of course, the Golden Rule-the call to love one another, to understand one another; to treat with dignity and respect those with whom we share a brief moment on this earth." "This is my hope, this is my prayer."
"I was not raised in a particular religious household. I had a father who was born a Muslim but became an atheist, grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of organized religion, even as she was the kindest, most spiritual person I've ever known. She was the one who taught me as a child to love, and to understand, and to do unto others as I would want done."
" I didn't become a christian until after college. It happened not because of indoctrination or a sudden revelation, but because I spent months after month working with church folks who simply wanted to help neighbors who were down on their luck, no matter what they looked like, or where they came from, or who they prayed to."
Way to go President!!! I hear you. Too bad the rest of American don't agree.
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