Paul Ohia With Agency Report
5 June 2009
Lagos — United States President Barack Obama yesterday called for a "new beginning between the US and Muslims", saying both societies should start a new relationship that would bring an end to the cycle of suspicion and discord.
In his speech, a copy of which was made available to THISDAY by the US Embassy Public Affairs Section in Lagos, Obama urged Islamic nations to embrace democracy, women's rights and religious tolerance.
He also touched on sources of tension including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The US President, who spoke in Cairo University, Egypt, said the "cycle of suspicion and discord" between the US and the Muslim world must end.
Obama called the US bond with Israel "unbreakable" and insisted all Hamas violence must come to an end, but said Israel must abandon its West Bank settlements and recognize Palestinian as an independent state.
He said change could not take place overnight and that no single speech could eradicate years of mistrust.
During his speech, the US President noted his own background with Muslims in his family heritage and the contributions of Muslims in the US.
Speaking in one of the largest Muslim nations, Obama pledged to fight the negative stereotyping of Islam but said Muslims too should also not stereotype the US.
"And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," he said.
Obama noted that "just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."
He said Islam was important in promoting peace and cited the Koran as saying, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth."
The US President delivered his speech after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe.
A statement from the Embassy of Egypt signed by the press attaché, Muhammed Saber, said Mubarak and Obama held an enlarged session of talks at the Qubba Presidential Palace attended by the two countries' delegations.
"President Mubarak expressed his great welcome to the US President Barack Obama at their first meeting. President Mubarak said that during the summit, they discussed issues of common concern mainly the Middle East issue and the Palestinian issue and issues of the region as a whole, including Iran and the nuclear file among other issues," Saber said.
Obama's speech was broadcast live by many networks around the world and marked his latest outreach to Islam since taking office on a pledge to reach out more directly to the Muslim world.
A spokesman for Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas said the speech was a "good start and an important step towards a new American policy".
The AFP news agency quoted Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, as saying the speech showed "tangible change" but also contained contradictions.
Before Obama spoke, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said the US was still "deeply hated" in the Middle East.
Some Israelis had been concerned Obama might step up his criticism of the Jewish state and possibly unveil new policies that would be less favourable to Israel, which receives billions of dollars in US aid each year.
A major Israeli newspaper showed a caricature of Obama wearing a Palestinian head scarf, indicating the belief among some Israelis that Obama favours the Palestinians.
But Obama said the bond between Israel and the US is unshakable. Some analysts say there is reason for Israel not to expect any major changes on the part of its traditional ally and supporter.
An Israeli government statement said Israel hopes President Obama's speech would help usher in a new period of reconciliation in the Middle East.
Political Science Professor Abraham Diskin of Hebrew University in Jerusalem was quoted by the Voice of America (VOA) as saying he was not optimistic Obama's strategy of softening the US image to the Muslim world would bring peace.
"There is no question that Obama is a great person, a bright person, a great speaker, and a person who definitely appears - and I believe truthfully - as someone who believes in a vision," he said, adding, "I am afraid that the result of the speech today, unfortunately, is going to be at the end of the road, more violence. Too many times, when people like Obama came with such a vision, it was understood as weakness."
While the speech contained no surprises in terms of US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it did signal what many see as a new attitude by the US.
The US President has taken on the Middle East peace process early on in his term, unlike some of his predecessors who have stepped up pressure only at the end of their tenures.
Many perceive this as a sign the new administration is placing a higher-than-usual priority on resolving the conflict.
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"The US President delivered his speech after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe."
Excuse me...Egypt is in Africa...this is his first visit to Africa...why can't we acknowledge this?????
President Obama quoted the Qur'an "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." God is against abortion, ho-mo-s-exual relationships, women seeking riches and honor instead of being home with families, debt, insurance and more. President Obama honors the progress of gay, lesbian, bi-s-exuals, abortion rights, same gender marriages, and has endorsed and uplifted human rights above God's word. Truth is not what he lives. There will be no change in US-Muslim relationships. Radical Islamist are fighting to keep those things out of their countries.
When he refuses to show his identity records to show… [Read Full Text]
I posted a previous comment regarding my pride in Mr. Obama and the beautiful speech he gave in Cairo, Egypt. I also spoke at length with regard to international Jewry and the racism that is inherent in the religious teachings of one specific group of Jews -- the Ashkenazim (Jews of German/Eastern European descent).
Do you remember Philip Berg? Philip Berg is the German-Jewish attorney who started the lawsuit against Mr. Obama regarding his citizenship. Do you think that that Mr. Berg's lawsuit against Mr. Obama and his religion's racist beliefs are coincidence?
More facts (see http://www.africandiasporalenterprises.com/curse_of_black_skin.html… [Read Full Text]
I saw Mr. Obama's speech in Cairo. It was fantastic! Although I am not Muslim, I applaud Mr. Obama's placement of Islam and Muslims on a level of international respect that it, like other religions, deserves.
I am glad that Mr. Obama, while acknowledging America's commitment to Israel, did not exclude Palestinian people's right to a land of their own. Obama's speech was a call to lovers of justice that we do not have to adopt the racist, Ashkenazim, anti-dark-skin culture that is taught in the Talmud's Sanhedrin 108b and footnote 34 (http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_108.html; http://www.come-and-hear.com/sanhedrin/sanhedrin_108.html#108b_34).
Wikipedia.org shows… [Read Full Text]
Way to go president B.H. OBAMA !!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE TOLD THAT THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE. FOR TOO LONG , THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST PARTICULARLY BETWEEN PALESTAN AND ISRAEL HAS NOT BEEN TOLD. OBAMA, YOU ARE NOT JUST THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD , BUT THE WORLD NOW SEES A JESUS-LIKE PRESIDENT WHO HAS COME TO SET THE WORLD FREE. THANK YOU PAPA OBAMA. LARRY E. PUTU, PHILADELPHIA , USA
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