In this week’s address, Senator Elizabeth Warren joined President Obama to discuss how far we’ve come since the financial crisis, when the recklessness of Wall Street caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs, homes, and savings. Senator Warren underscored the importance of the Wall Street reforms the President signed into law, which included the strongest consumer protections in generations. In addition to making the financial system safer and more resilient, these reforms also established the first-ever Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which holds banks, credit card companies, mortgage lenders, and others accountable, and protects consumers from abuses and deceptive practices. This past Thursday, July 21, marked six years since the President signed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act into law and the five year anniversary of the creation of the CFPB. Thanks to these reforms, the President reiterated the economy is stronger and more durable today than it was before the crisis. That’s why President Obama is going to keep fighting to protect the progress we’ve made reforming Wall Street from attacks, because hard-working Americans who play by the rules should expect Wall Street to play by the rules, too.
For Muslims all over the world, Eid al-Fitr marks the end of a holy month of fasting and prayer. As President Obama said in his remarks:
“This is a time of spiritual renewal — a time to reaffirm your duty to serve one another, especially the least fortunate among us. And it’s a time to reflect on the values that guide you in your faith — gratitude, compassion and generosity. And it’s a reminder that those values of Islam — which comes from the word salaam, meaning peace — are universal. They bind us all, regardless of our race or religion or creed, in a common purpose, and that is in our shared commitment to the dignity of every human being.”
The President took the opportunity to reflect on the positive role that Muslim Americans have played in American life:
“Today is also another reminder that Muslims have always been a part of America. In colonial times, many of the slaves brought over from Africa were Muslim. We insisted on freedom of religion, in Thomas Jefferson’s words, for, “the Jew and Gentile, the Christian and the Mahometan.” For more than two centuries, Muslim Americans of all backgrounds — Arab and Asian, African and Latino, black and white — have helped build America as farmers and merchants, factory workers, architects, teachers and community leaders…
“So let’s be clear: Muslim Americans are as patriotic, as integrated, as American as any other members of the American family. And whether your family has been here for generations or you’re a new arrival, you’re an essential part of the fabric of our country.”
He also reiterated the values that we all stand for, “to make sure that no American feels isolated or second-class citizens”:
“So on days like this, and on every day, we need to be clear about what we stand for. Muslim Americans — and all Americans — have to reject hatred. Muslim Americans — and all Americans — have to reject discrimination. Muslim Americans — and all Americans — have to answer those who would peddle hate, or suggest that somehow their interpretations of their faith justify violence.
“All of us have those obligations — whether we are Christian, or Jew, or Hindu, or Muslim, or of no faith at all. We have to reaffirm that in this country, it is our obligation to abide by the law, to look out for each other, to be part of a single community — and that we can still appreciate our differences and retain those things that are essential to our identities, and still strongly affirm our commitment and our faith in this country.
“We’ve got to rededicate ourselves to make sure that no American feels isolated or second-class citizens. And I especially want to speak to the young people who are here, to make sure that you know that we see you, that we believe in you. And despite what you may sometime hear, you’ve got to know that you’re a valued part of the American family, and there’s nothing that you cannot do.”
Watch at 11:20 am ET as President Obama awards the Medal of Honor to Retired Lt. Col.Charles Kettles.
Ahead of the ceremony, President Obama took to Twitter to recognize Lt. Col. Kettles, who distinguished himself in combat operations near Duc Pho, Republic of Vietnam, on May 15, 1967 and is credited with saving the lives of 40 soldiers and four of his own crew members.
44 men came home because Chuck Kettles believed that we leave no man behind. That’s America at our best. https://t.co/UymO2AaRHg
“I didn’t do it by myself. There were some 74 pilots and crew members involved in this whole mission that day … They did their job, above and beyond. So the Medal is not mine. It’s theirs.”
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Charles Kettles
44 men came home because Chuck Kettles believed that we leave no man behind. That’s America at our best. https://t.co/UymO2AaRHg
This week, President Obama will bring together voices for a conversation on addressing racial disparities in our criminal justice system. Today, he took to Facebook to call on all Americans to be part of that conversation. Read the President’s post, then submit your ideas above.
“Last week’s tragedies in Dallas, Falcon Heights, and Baton Rouge shook our conscience and left us with more questions than answers. It’s a week that laid bare some of our country’s toughest, most uncomfortable challenges.
“But I reject the idea that these issues are somehow too big for us – that America is too divided to find common ground. As I’ve said, I know that we can honor the incredible courage and service of our police officers – and also recognize the racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system. There’s no contradiction there. And if we are going to come together to solve these problems, we have to understand that. So we’ll have to talk to each other. We’ll have to listen to each other. And we’ll have to see each other as equal parts of the American family.
“That’s why on Wednesday, I’ll host a conversation at the White House to discuss how we can move forward together. We’ll hear from individuals from around the country – civil rights activists, law enforcement, academics, mayors, and more – about ways we can both keep people safe and ensure justice for all Americans. Because progress is possible. That’s what we’ve seen through my Administration’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing – and so we’ll share solutions from communities that have already found ways to build trust and reduce disparities.
“Going forward, I want to hear ideas from even more Americans about how we can address these challenges together as one nation. That means you. Whether you’re a police officer working to keep our communities safe, an activist marching and organizing, or anyone else, you can share your story and ideas here: http://go.wh.gov/VDPvKz. I hope you do – because that’s one way we can find common purpose and together, we can build a better America.”
In this week’s address, Vice President Joe Biden commemorated the lives of the five police officers who were killed and the seven people who were wounded in Dallas. The police officers were providing safety to those who were peacefully marching against racial injustices in the criminal justice system – and the shocking images of the lives lost in St. Paul and Baton Rouge. Echoing the remarks of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Police Chief David Brown, the Vice President called on the American people to act with unity and to stop the violence. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of everyone to speak out against disparities within the criminal justice system, just as much as it is the responsibility of everyone to stand up for the police who protect us every day. Because together, we as a nation will persevere and overcome.
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