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Obama Reversing Christian Right's Damage to Islam
Much has been written about Muslim responses to Obama's Cairo speech and how it has resonated across the Muslim world. Many have commented on the new President's skillful handling of the political issues that have so deeply affected U.S.-Muslim relations. However, an underappreciated, but equally important dimension of his speech involves its widespread religious appeal.
As the Gallup world poll of some 35 Muslim countries has documented, vast majorities of Muslims see religion as an important component in their lives and a critical element in the future progress of their societies. Muslims who are not particularly religiously observant nevertheless identify with their Islamic heritage. Therefore, although the majority of those polled said they admired many things about the West, and in particular about America (its technology, work ethic, freedoms, democracy), Muslims' major grievance against the West is what they identify as the denigration of Islam and Muslims, as well as the extent to which Arabs and Muslims are seen by the West as inferior and not of equal value.
Obama offset the suspicion and belief that American foreign policy was influenced by the beliefs and designs of the Christian Right, intent upon spreading its version of God's message and rule. Bush used the phrase "Crusades" (for which he later apologized) and in later years commonly spoke of Islamofascism; the Pentagon employed the term "Infinite Justice" as its code name for the war against terror, Franklin Graham, who had delivered the invocation prayer at George Bush's inauguration and insistently labeled Islam as an evil religion, had also been invited to deliver a Good Friday sermon at the Pentagon. Many in the Muslim world and in Europe and elsewhere had wondered about the extent to which born again Christians in the Bush administration (Bush, Ashcroft, members of the senior military) and Congress were influenced by their Christian fundamentalist and Hardline Zionist Christian Right beliefs and supporters.
Many in the Muslim world and in Europe understandably wondered about the extent to which the Bush administration (Bush, Ashcroft, members of the senior military and Congress) was influenced by their Hardline Zionist Christian Right roots and supporters. The tendency of some Christian fundamentalist missionaries to celebrate the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan as an act of God, and rush to convert Muslims exacerbated the belief that American foreign policy was fulfilling a Christian fundamentalist agenda.
In stark contrast, Barack Obama was now dramatically reflecting a different kind of Christianity, an empathetic understanding that paves the way for accepting Muslims in America as valued citizens who have fought in our wars, excelled in businesses, universities, and sports, who won Nobel prizes and lit the Olymbic torch. He creatively noted that the first Muslim American recently elected to Congress took his oath to defend our constitution using the Koran that Thomss Jefferson kept in his personal library.
In Cairo Obama demonstrated his personal knowledge and experience of Islam, as well as his appreciation of Islamic religion and culture. He addressed his audience with the traditional Muslim greeting, asalaam wa alaykum (Peace be upon you). He spoke glowingly of Islamic civilization, identifying Cairo's Al-Azhar University as the oldest and most authoritative seat of Islamic learning, -that he said "carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment." He praised the innovation of Muslim communities concretely citing numerous achievements, including development of "the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed." He noted the" majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation" that Islamic culture has contributed to the world. Finally he held up the "symbol of Andalusia, a period when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together under Muslim rule and culture flourished." concluding that "throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality."
Nothing could have been more welcome for many Muslims frustrated with the equation of the their faith with the rants and acts of terrorism of Osama bin Laden and other terrorists and the growth of Islamophobia in America and Europe, than to hear Obama call for a partnership between America and Islam "based on what Islam is, not what it isn't" and to assert his responsibility as President of the United States "to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."
Obama spoke both as American president and a Christian believer. But he also described his personal connections to Islam, his Muslim father and members of his family; his schooling, memories of hearing the call to prayer and experiencing Muslim culture in Indonesia. Obama deftly cited the Koran, spoke of Islam as one of the three Abrahamic religions and respectfully referred to the linkage between Muhammad, Moses and Jesus, seen by Muslims as the bearers of God's revelation in the Torah and gospels. In naming these prophets Obama followed Muslim practice by adding the phrase, "Peace and blessings be upon them." As he spoke I remembered vividly the frustration of a major American Muslim leader after hearing Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell denounce the Prophet Muhammad. Extremely upset, my friend said. "They denounce and damn our Prophet but we cannot respond in kind. We also love Moses and Jesus, They are also our prophets." My friend's two sons are named Musa (Moses) and Issa (Jesus), which are very common Muslim names.
Perhaps the most striking statement, one that would echo across the Muslim world was Obama's mention of Jerusalem, one of the great sacred cities of Islam and a major hurdle in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. Only shortly after Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to a belief that Jerusalem is the eternal capitol of Israel and will remain solely under Israeli control, Obama described the Holy Land of three great faiths, the place of peace that God intended, and identified a radically different goal, a Jerusalem that is the secure and lasting home for Jews, Christians and Muslims, a place for all of the children of Abraham.
To speak most convincingly to Muslims globally requires recognition of the importance and role of identity politics. While one can compare the distinctiveness of elements of Barack Obama's speech with those of his predecessors in the White House, there can be no comparison when it comes to the ground-breaking and powerful religious dimension of Obama's address to the Muslim world.
By
John Esposito
|
June 8, 2009; 1:28 PM ET
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Posted by: lchaimdel | June 21, 2009 12:01 AM
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Mr. Espozito explains:
“Finally he (Obama) held up the "symbol of Andalusia, a period when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together under Muslim rule and culture flourished." concluding that "throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality."
Does that mean the President believes the Spaniard Christians were not treated as third class citizens on their ancestral lands? Does he mean the terms of the Umar Pact, cited below, and which was designed to humiliate and impoverish the non-Muslims suddenly became inoperative?
Please explain to el Presidente that in reality it is this heavy dose of “tolerance” he talked about is what finally got your ancestors to spit the “colonizers” out.
Posted by: abhab | June 10, 2009 7:25 AM
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Christopher3
You have a nice hate site.
Posted by: Nosmanic | June 10, 2009 4:14 AM
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I didn't understand what everyone was going on about that Obama was lieing but in this articule you revealed it. Obama denial that Iraq was religiously motivated.
Posted by: Nosmanic | June 10, 2009 4:00 AM
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Musing on Johnnormansp's post:
The US should always put the security of the Christians above even its own. If the Christians want to to take all the oil in the world and beyond, why stand in their way? Their Christian states stand as a beacon of justice and fairness to anyone around, who happens to be living on land in which oil resides.
Or just land they want to live on. Ask the few Native Americans said Christians have allowed to remain on the soil for which they genocided. Don't ask the Native Americans too late on any given day, though. There is starvation on the Christian BIA run reservations and the Indians grow weak in the late afternoon.
The American Indian Reservations are uniformly described as among the "poorest of the developing nations," average income under $6,000 per annum.
But at least the Christians deigned to leave a few of them alive, some of us Jews, too. Thankee, Christian, Massa, Suh. Now, with more than two million dead Iraqi and Afghan people, I wonder if the Christians might allow some Muslims to live.
Just curious. Of course, the Christians always get nervy when us Js and others decide we ain't jes' gwine to live on the Rez....
Posted by: Farnaz1Mansouri1 | June 9, 2009 11:03 PM
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The US should always put the security of the Jews above even its own. If the Jews want to to take all the land in Palestine up to the Jordan River and beyond, why stand in their way? Their Jewish State stands as a beacon of justice and fairness to anyone around, who happens to be living on land they wish to expand into.
Posted by: johnnormansp | June 9, 2009 4:20 PM
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As Martin Luther King Jr. visioned a playground where children of all reaces played happily together, Obama provides a vision of a Jerusalem where Jewish, Muslim, and Christian children play happily together. Those visions include the huge blessing of our God smiling down on His Creation, finally, for the first time since Eden.
You commenters here are squashers of the very Hope of God!
Truely, at the very core of all religions is the God of LOVE, not fear, hate, suspicion, prejudice, narrow-mindedness. Please search your hearts for that Spirit of God that brings Love and Reconcilliation. Its in there somewhere. Seek and you shall find it!
Posted by: schaeffz | June 9, 2009 12:41 PM
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The very identity of America is at stake, how can a secular president talk religion so openly, its hard to understand this man, Americans have to decode him for their own safe future.
Posted by: danzi2273 | June 9, 2009 1:27 AM
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Obama's speech was one-sided in favor of Islam and I exposed his lies here.
http://islaminaction08.blogspot.com/2009/06/lies-in-obamas-speech-exposed.html
Posted by: Christopher3 | June 8, 2009 5:23 PM
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There was so much factually wrong, disgraceful and even outrageous in Obama's speech that it is difficult to know where to begin. Perhaps the most outrageous was Obama's redefinition of the job description of President of the United States.
In his baleful and woefully misguided speech in Cairo, Obama said this, among other things:
"I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."
WOW! And, this guy is supposedly an expert in constitutional law! Does our Constitution include fighting against negative stereotypes of Islam in the job description for President??
Obama has now turned the American Presidency into a public relations agency for Islam -- but with the full police power of the state to back up his fight against negative stereotypes of Islam.
Watch out!
Posted by: Montedoro | June 8, 2009 3:41 PM
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Muslims thought "the west" was out to get them WAY before 9/11. Muslims leaders through out the world applauded when we sent OUR troops in to rescue Kuwait's butt from Saddam. Now they hate us for following thru and getting rid of him as their own cowardly ME leaders refused to do, allowing millions of Iraqi's to suffer for years on end.
I seriously do not understand why so many thought this was a great speech. I greet my Muslim friends with "Asalam aleikum" and believe that Israel is overstepping its "rights" to the land by oppressing the indigenous people be they christian or muslim (not sure there is an actual place called Palestine but to me that is not the real issue). But knowing the basic beliefs and history of Islam I was MOST concerned that a President who openly claimed Christianity in this speech would concede to "agree" that the Isra event actually happened. I certainly can agree that both sides need to compromise on matters of policy. BUT on matters of faith, no TRUE Christian would EVER cite the Isra event and thereby agree that Moses, Jesus and Mohammed prayed together. Christians do NOT believe that Mohammed was a prophet, but rather very misguided and perhaps even mentally ill and definitely NOT a saint or worthy of being taken to the heavens. They also could NEVER concede that Jesus, who had ascended to the heavens in His glorified body to be reuinted with the Father and Holy Spirit, would appear in anything BUT that glorified form again. And the Isra event was clearly crafted by Mohammed to try and trump the earlier historical story of Christ's transfiguration where Moses and Elijah descended from the heavens to witness to Jesus' authority and majesty as God. This was followed just weeks later by His ascension into the heavens. The Isra event is also the MOST important event to Muslims because it is through this event they believe that he was given superiority over all former prophets (supposedly then more important than Jesus) AND from this divine transport, also given divine sanction to spread Islam by ANY means such as wars, violence, oppression, whatever. So herein lies my BIG problem with President Obama and the others who helped him write that speech. In short, he did not just come out and say "all sides need to respect each other and play fair" what he REALLY did was agree to Islam's dominance over the Christian Gospel and gave the Muslim world the green light to take on the world and rewrite history just to make 1.5 billion people happy. A SAD SAD day for the rest of the world!