Obama speaks directly to Muslims
It was a significant moment for Muslims all over the world when President Barack Obama spoke directly to them:
“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,” President Barack Obama said, on the steps of Capitol Hill in his inaugural address. He has already taken steps to shut down Gitmo, where abuse and torture of detainees had given a black-eye to America’s reputation on human rights.
I find the term “Muslim world” a bit odd because Muslims live in countries all over the world, and countries with majority-Muslim populations are as diverse and different from one another as Turkey is from Indonesia. “Muslim world” implies some homogenous, monolithic entity and makes as much sense as “Christian world.”
Regardless, I understand the shorthand. I have spoken to Muslim friends and relatives living in various countries all over the world. And everyone seems encouraged that a new spirit of cooperation can repair tattered relations, while increasing security throughout the world.
One of the most meaningful moments for me, personally, however, was when Obama referred to our country as a nation of “Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers.” After eight years of alienating rhetoric, it was a moment that celebrated belonging. It spoke to the strength that such diversity brings to our country. I was especially glad to hear him include nonbelievers. That goes straight to the core of our nation’s values: No one is forced to believe anything.
He sent a powerful message to the world with those words.
I have known — and felt — my entire life that I am American.
It felt pretty good to hear our president say: Yes, you are.
(4 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook and political blogs. 
Aisha,
I enjoy your work and appreciate your professionalism. I’m going to try to get this right, and please give me some room if I miss the mark. As one who myself adheres to a religious faith and tradition (Roman Catholicism) that has had some “image problems” of its own, I understand how others may believe I occupy a glass house of my own.
Islam has an image problem, and will continue to, as long as thousands of murderous people are killing, and looking for people of other faiths to kill, and then claiming to do it in the name of Allah.
Those who follow Islam and do not believe as these murderers do need to both make that clear as well as state in unequivocal terms that what the murderers are doing is not the will of Allah, and violates every tenet of Islam and Islamic belief.
People of genuine faith will always be viewed with skepticism as long as others are stealing the mantle of their faith to justify acts that are inherently evil.
Aisha, I too was pleasantly surprised at Obama’s comments. My wife actually caught it as it happened live and called me in to hear myself as we Tivo’d back. I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard anyone at a high level include nonbelievers in a speech with that much exposure.
7dez7 - I agree with your first paragraph with regard to glass houses for most people. I do think I understand what you are saying as a whole in your comment overall, but channeling your glass house comment, wouldn’t it be just as correct to replace the word “Islam” and “Allah” with any other religion and their corresponding god?
I agree also, 7dez7, with your comment about more moderates speaking up for Islam - but maybe that has something to do with where we live - maybe we just are not seeing it on our tv’s here or reading it in our own publications. For me, I just think it is very hard to make assumptions when I don’t have enough experience/data from the other side.
I do look forward, however, in rebooting our relationships across the globe - hopefully tying back, somewhat, into the race topic set forth here in the blog. I think we have the right person in office to do this. What will be interesting to see is how much of what Obama says is just fancy polish that looks good. Already today we see predator strikes within Pakistan that have killed several suspected terrorists - already controversial methods used within the Bush administration, but we see Obama’s admin continuing this tactic. Does this take some excitement off of his comments about reaching out with a new hand?
I’ll try to put this as uncomplicated as possible.
People whom have a problem with Muslims and their religion in general are based on their History. We could debate those who win the war write the history. But throughout the history Muslimdom they as a religion don’t seek converts, they force converts, it’s in their very own writing.
I won’t debate the issue, it is as far as I’m concern it’s my main reasons I have problems with Muslim religion.
Aisha, Good article. One of the best in the conversation. We must consider ourselves Americans for this multicultural, diversity initiative to work. Unfortunately, the demograps are the race baiting politicians and are in power. I hope Obama can move them away from their race initiatives otherwise the country will become more ethnically divided than it is already.
It has always been stated by Barack Obama that he favors continuing the strikes and increasing the number of US troops to crush an insurgency by Taliban and other militants in Afghanistan.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=12547
Obama was briefed BEFOREHAND on this military strike against Pakistan that took place THE DAY HE TOOK OFFICE A few days ago.
I do wish however that we were more informed about what is going on in Pakistan but maybe it isn’t in the best interest of national security. Obama has my trust and it appears that he has the trust of most here. I pray that he continues to earn this trust.
I hate war but if it must be for this country’s protection, I just pray that our intelligence is accurate and nothing at all like what placed us in the Iraq war, I pray that the motivations for any military actions are for reasons that are real and honorable.
Obama is showing that he will not tolerate these terrorist groups. But, I will still continue to pray for peace and hope that God will intercede and bring this about for as long as we have reverence for the Lord, pray for our leaders, this country and do our best to be righteous.
A word to all the Christians out there. You are instructed at 1Timothy 2:1-7:
“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, request and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence towards God and with proper conduct. This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to know the truth. For there is one God and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved and that is why I was sent as an apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, to proclaim the message of faith and truth. I am not lying; I am telling the truth a teacher of nations in the matter of faith and truth.
Boy, how I will continue in following this instruction NOT FORGETTING to pray for the leaders of these terrorist groups also and I sincerely hope all are moved to follow this instruction as all the others within scripture..
I wouldn’t get too exicted about his speech. It was, after all, a speech. It was a political sound bite, no different from anything else you’d hear on the campaign trail this year. He mentioned a lot of groups. In fact he tried to shoehorn in as many different segments of society as he could possibly muster. This is smart political speechmaking, nothing more. If you are taking hope from this speech then you haven’t listened to enough speeches and compared them to what actually happens.
You ARE an American, and you should be proud of that, even if it is not mentioned in some speech somewhere. We are a nation made up of all other nations on Earth, and it is one of our strengths. Another one of our strengths is our ability not to get hung up on a few words from a sound bite…