Obama to Muslims: "We Are Not Your Enemy"
President Obama has stopped making enemies for the United States and started making friends. This is a new foreign policy agenda. What is astonishing to me, however, is less the Inaugural rhetoric of "mutual interest and mutual respect" than the fact that the President today spoke directly to many in the Muslim world. This is not only a new foreign policy approach, it is also a different ethics for engaging with the peoples of the world.
I think we need to get used to the fact that President Barack Obama doesn't waste time when he sets out an agenda. Today he gave his first television interview since becoming president and it was on Al-Arabiya, an Arabic satellite TV Network.
"We are not your enemy," the President said directly into the camera and from there into the homes and businesses of a large part of the Muslim world. The theme of respect and mutual interest was again prominent. The President recalled that only 20 or 30 years ago there had been "respect and partnership" between America and the Muslim world.
As I watched the President's Al-Arabiya interview, I thought of Emmanuel Levinas, a 20th century philosopher and pioneering ethicist. Levinas came to believe that "the face-to-face is the foundation of the ethical." It is one thing to talk the talk of new foreign policy initiatives; we can even walk the walk of changing from military aggression to diplomacy and development. But it is something entirely different to go and talk directly to people. That is not merely a different policy, it is a different ethics.
In talking directly to the Muslim world, instead of merely talking about respect, the President demonstrated something of what Levinas, a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, meant when he argued that you should not make the other just an object of the self. People exist as other, in their own right. A big mistake many Americans have been making post 9/11 is to make the Muslim world into an extension of ourselves and not see them as individuals, nations, and people of faith in their own right. There is even no "Muslim world" really, but millions and millions of people with different cultures, views, Islamic faith traditions, hopes, dreams and fears. There are Muslim worlds.
Today President Obama pursued a new American ethic as well as a new American foreign policy agenda. The essence of enemy-stereotyping is making people an object, not a subject of their own history. This cuts both ways. Americans need to stop enemy-stereotyping Muslims, but the President is conveying that Muslims also need to stop enemy-stereotyping Americans. Americans too, President Obama's interview shows, are not just a projection of your own preconceptions in the Muslim worlds. We too have many faces.
"We are not your enemy" and 'I am talking to you face-to-face to show you that.' Now that's an ethic that might help the world not only survive, but thrive.
By
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
|
February 2, 2009; 7:39 AM ET
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Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:29 AM
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google turkce tercume servisi icin yardimci olabilirim isterseniz.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:27 AM
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defalarca isleyebiliriz, hakk edebiliriz. yani haketmek budur.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:24 AM
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buyrun yazin dedim de hasr nesr olalim dedim yani, re-ally-ism. isterseniz hakikat edelim. hak-i-kat, hak huzur bereket demek. nasil? lezzetli mi?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:23 AM
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Ataturk zamanina bakalim, Rusya ile Israil ve ceviri kurulu basi HAsan Ali Yucel ya da PAdisahindan Seyhulislamina kadar masonluktan bahsedelim. ya da ingilizlikten ve fransizliktan. VAhdettin de bu sebeple gemiye binip gitti herhalde? Ankara Universitesinin kurulusuna bakalim. ne var, ne goruyoruz? Meksika?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:22 AM
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duz yaziya dokuyoruz yani. ne oldu? yine yazara geldik. buyrun yazin.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:19 AM
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"hasr nesr olmak" ile muhabbeti nesretmekten "yayimlamaktan" soz ediyorum.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:18 AM
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"dusulen konu" demek istedim. bir turlu buradan cikilamiyordu, kundalini yoga alanlar cikiyordu. ya da omurga masaji yaptiranlar, refleksoloji egitimi alanlar biraz daha yol aliyor.
"as above so below"? isterlerse MArs'ta otururlar, isterlerse Dunyanin Icınde de. isterlerse Sirius'ta Pleiades'te Venus'te takilsinlar. isterlerse karbon yerine hidrojen beden alsinlar.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:07 AM
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tum bedenleri yeniden dunyaya getirmek ile tum bedende oturmuslari yeniden dunyaya getirmek baska anlatimlar. ruhlar aleminden gelip ruhlar alemine donen biri icin yeniden dunyaya gelmek emin bir konudur.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 9:02 AM
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in case of epilepsy, through epiphysis pineal gland, ingilizce nasıl anlatirim bilmiyorum ama kuyruksokumu kemiği diye tercüme edilen epifiz bezi olabilir mi? rusca bilenlere bir daha danısilsa? rusca sanki "cam agaci ile ilgili", ve "happy laps" de israilce gibi.
belki de en cok durulen konu kuyruksokumu kemiginden yeniden dunyaya gelecek olmalaridir. zaten tum mesele buradan cikiyor.
epilepsy, falling sickness, katastrophe, happen, to fall, to come.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 8:59 AM
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i love John Electrevoltage in Michael, He may fly on board of his plane to induce from the energy between the planets.
i love Tom Cruise on the Shore with His DAughter and Wife under the Mountain in Brasil.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 8:51 AM
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yes, what is between the weightless planets is the gentle and soft relation and communication between humans on EArth, too.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 8:28 AM
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people with arabic dont have miracles. they keep hungry for years. and they forget about miracles. it is not because of lack of food or plenty of food. it is because of lack of family union and relations.
i am not talking about marriage or singleness. for example, Pope Benedictus is a Grandfather. Queen Elizabeth is a Grandmother. She knows vehicles. Pope Benedictus is a Professor. this is like talking about Boxing with Pope John Paul and offering a ticket to.
we may keep the relations strong and steady. we may love children. we may give our food to someone walking with us. i may give my coat and i may walk on. i am talking not with a coat but with intimacy and presence of union.
the World is our House and Home. we are already Home. and We are already on a Sweet Journey in the Space on this Lovely Vehicle, weightless.
as astronauts are weightless in their journey, we may say that planets are weightless too. the weight is hospitality of the EArth.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 8:23 AM
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beyond the sea, "beyonce"
"au beau milieu" meanwhile, is Sarah healthy? she had cancer operation in her spine.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 7:57 AM
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viewed? weaved?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 7:55 AM
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comfortable? come for table?
vivid!
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 7:53 AM
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every person has suffered. while i was in Crimson Circle, members made fun of me but my family didnt, didnt read my messages but my family did, didnt respect but my family did, didnt accept my poems are from me but my family did.
and in the Crimson Circle, we kept together. they didnt hesitate to give. they didnt hesitate to be aware and to realize, because all were with Tobias and messages through Geoffrey Hoppe. they didnt hesitate to make jokes and prepare meals.
and the essence and scent and energies of members made beautiful union, community and wealth that gave springs and golden coins and heavenly breads and fruits in front of our eyes.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 7:47 AM
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lets taste what the author has prepared into the book.
President Barack "Two Beauties Huseyin" Obama is so intimate and gentle with His Wife.
He felt "kept seperate" on the cover of the magazine. He left His Awareness and "reading".
dear USA, lets keep Him strong and aware with His Family all around the World. may we keep Him comfortable.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 7:40 AM
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Axe-President Williams Bush, You have erected the Cross in the Astex LAnd, as Francis had. now it is our turn.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 7:37 AM
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degustation
Degustation is a culinary term meaning "a careful, appreciative tasting of various foods" and focusing on the gustatory system, the senses, high culinary art and good company.
The French term dégustation is still commonly used in English-language contexts, even though a standard Anglicized spelling and pronunciation exist.
Modern dégustation probably comes from the French kitchens of the early 20th century and is different from earlier meals with many courses because these meals were served as full-sized meals at each course. Dégustation is more likely to involve sampling small portions of all of a chef's signature dishes in one sitting. Usually consisting of eight or more courses, it may be accompanied by a matching wine degustation which complements each dish.
Sampling a selection of cheeses, at home or in a restaurant, may also be called a dégustation. Three to four varieties are normally chosen, generally including a semi-soft cheese, a goat's cheese, and a blue cheese. The stronger varieties are normally tasted last. See the article "A Cheese Lover's Tour of France" from The New York Times.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:24 AM
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Gustav, also spelled Gustaf is a male given name of Old Swedish origin, means "staff of the Goths," derived from the Old Norse elements Gautr ("Goth") and stafr ("staff"). This name has been borne by eight Kings of Sweden, including the 16th-century Gustav Vasa and the current king, Carl XVI Gustaf. It is a common name for Swedish monarchs since the reign of Gustav Vasa.
The name has entered other languages as well. In French it is Gustave; in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish, Gustavo. The Latinised form is Gustavus. A side form of the name in Swedish is Gösta. The name in Finnish is Kustaa. In German, it is also Gustav or Gustaf.
ah, the matchman. and Indus VAlley. is Gustine matchgirl?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:22 AM
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au Gustine? with Sweden?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:19 AM
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i love forest. i love trees. i may read from St Augustine a few pages He offers.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:09 AM
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was Williams Bush in Texas not frank?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:07 AM
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Williams Bush was corporally. Williams Bush had corporally. was He not frank?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:03 AM
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when is a person a river of water? alzheimer is a matter of sweet. when does sweet become fat?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 3:00 AM
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during mobile phone communications over electromagnetics? when does fat give water?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 2:58 AM
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yesterday i was reading from St Ambrose, about MAriology
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 2:56 AM
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while running? during sex? while being employed for American British Tobacco Company? good. is this a Service to Eve, is this a Service to Mother?
Jessica Simpson is BAptist "with water", from Texas, virgin till her marriage.
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 2:55 AM
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i have read about the interview on NBC about the current issue of US Weakly, with MAtt LAugher.
"We are not your enemy" and 'I am talking to you face-to-face to show you that.' Now that's an ethic that might help the world not only survive, but thrive.
in case of an "oath-rive", we may ask a DOS Prompt for AUTORUN.BAT : ) is this what Jessica Simpson did with Philanthropy?
when does fat give water?
Posted by: congratulations | February 4, 2009 2:50 AM
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Asslamo alaikum..
We were not enemy and we are not enemy and we shall not be in future, but there are some harsh realities which some time become the reasons of conflict .. like Plastine, specially Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan and then Western Media who always misguided and disinform the common people and try to create phobia that Muslims or Islam is a threat for western world.. .. so there is a need to address these root causes of conflicts other wise we have on both sides bad and ugly people who always try to take advantage of such problems and create insecurity on both sides...
Now there is a need that we take practical steps to prove that we are not enemies of each other and show respects for each other in our actions not only in words... lets hope for the best..
Well done is better than well said..
Regards
Posted by: silentvoices786 | February 3, 2009 1:13 AM
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I'm very glad JJ is no longer represented so directly in the White House.
Posted by: Paganplace | February 2, 2009 6:26 PM
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I absolutely agree about "the face-to-face" talk.
To sit down and talk to people is to get closer to them, to become familiar, to be very much at one's reach. This reduces fear (which is at the root of so many problems) and makes place for reason, which in turn increases opportunities for a better situation, anytime.
It's definitely a good start.
Posted by: Bios | January 30, 2009 10:22 PM
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President Barack Obama,
i added a few words in Turkish. thank You.