The Obama speech from Cairo, Egypt…
The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations.
Addressing seemingly intractable problems requires honesty. Facts and truth must not be avoided for the sake of national pride or revisionistic history. The West, as well as Islam, cannot move forward peacefully without recognition of historic truth. Obama boldly addressed historic truth. Finding common ground requires honesty.
But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.
Stereotyping of either side is dishonest…
I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known.
The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores……..So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America.
Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail.
There is no room in Obama's thinking for blind American exceptionalistic dogma. Just as al-Qaeda's extremist doctrines, which elevate Islam to uniquely superior world status, is incongruous with peaceful coexistence……so too, American exceptionalistic doctrines.
Obama addresses 9-11…
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security.
We did not go by choice (to Afghanistan), we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day…..These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there.
Driving a wedge between Islam and the radical version of Islam represented by Bin Laden….
They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
President Obama struck at the heart of the Islamic extremist problem. Bim Laden's theology is not the theology of Islam, it is a perversion, an aberration. Using the essence of the Koran as evidence, Obama stripped away the faux-justifications relied upon by Bin Laden to justify his barbaric violence.
Iraq….
Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world……America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own.
Some American neo-conservatives still insist that Iraq was not a war of choice, but instead, a war of necessity. Obama, rightfully, dismissed this neo-conservative dishonesty out of hand, while assuring Iraqis and Muslims that goals of American imperialism in Iraq are out of the question.
American torture….
9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
Even though I disagree with the reasons Obama gave for the previous administration's torture regime ("fear and anger")….especially in light of the evidence that torture was conducted in order to extract false confessions later to be used to lead America into a "war of choice",……Obama's clear denunciation of Gitmo and torture drew applause from his Muslim audience, and rightfully so.
I will continue tomorrow with Part 2.
Without any qualification….President Obama's Cairo speech should make all Americans proud. Obama was brilliant.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
There are several qualifications to Obama's "brilliance," but I found an awful lot to like in Obama's Cairo speech. I also think many conservative objections to that speech were contrived. I heard a panel discussion of conservatives actually arguing about what Obama didn't say in his speech (things the conservatives thought he should have said). When your opponents are castigating you for things you didn't say, you know you gave a pretty good speech.
I thought Obama struck a good balance on several issues, such as the two-state solution, Islam vs. jihadists, Israel's right to exist, religious and civilizational tolerance, etc.
With only a few exceptions, job well done by Obama. I was moved by his speech. It was always going to be necessary to move from the post-9/11 stance of confrontation to a more diplomatic position for the long term. I thought Obama mostly hit the right notes for his audience, and may be just the person to accomplish more moderation between the West and the Middle East. I thought he also laid out what America will and won't tolerate pretty well. It was only a speech, but it was a good one.
Pretty words King but the Reverend and I know what you're really arguing–Muslims are evil, Obama is the antichrist and we need to enslave immigrants and imprison all OB/GYNs.
Common ground.
And larry….well yeeaaah.
larry,
Yeah, that too. LOL. The Rev KNOWS I always mean something other than what I'm actually saying. I'm part of that vast right wing conspiracy thingy, getting my daily talking points from Rush Limbaugh, PNAC, and the Illuminati. I'm just a typist really. Someone else tells me WHAT to type. It's so much easier that way.
And they are going to be really mad that I went off the reservation on this one.
Oddly, in this specific case, there's truth in what King just said.
I worked for one president/ceo in 40+ years that made me proud to be associated with him whenever I was included in whatever he had going on. It was what he said and then how he got us to "get it done" by including us all in the solution that made me want to be a part of his final solution. I do not know of anyone who worked for him that did not feel the same way about him and we still talk about his antics whenever we old retirees get together for lunch and then we moan and groan about most of the presidents/ceo's that proceeded and followed him. Obama's speech made me feel proud. I do not know if he has the ability to go to the next level and inspire us to "get it done" but I hope so.
Rev,
Figures. The one time I am completely making something up out of thin air is the one time you think I'm telling the truth.
Excuse me, now. I have to take this conference call from Dick Cheney.
mary…some people are born leaders, as your anecdote reveals.
Obama is a born leader. America most definitely elected the right person for the times we live in.
Time to add another head to Mt. Rushmore. Is it too early to call Obama the greatest leader of all-time, or should we wait another month or two ?
He was the best, before he ran.
You mean he's not the best SINCE he ran ?
We're agreeing more and more, my friend.