President Obama’s superlative speech at Cairo University will be much analyzed. It was, as expected, an address that was rational, intelligent, eloquent, and fair. In stark contrast to George Bush’s catch phrase, "clash of civilizations," Obama made every effort to weave common threads between the West and the Islamic world. He won his first applause with the phrase "holy Koran," and in that vein more applause followed whenever he praised Islam and the glories of its past.
Overall, it was a cobweb-clearing speech. The content wasn’t exceptional. Before Muslims assumed the role of bogeyman after 9/11, any tolerant educated person realized that Islamic civilization has a great heritage. Nor is it news that the Muslim world is far more complex than the picture painted by a tiny minority of fanatical extremists. Yet to hear an American president reiterate these things had a powerful emotional effect.
The heart of the speech, once we get past its effort at reconciliation, was Obama’s candid talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the social obstructions in Arab society. It was bracing to hear him say that "Israel isn’t going away," just as it was moving to hear the words, "peace be upon them" when he referred to Muhammad and Abraham. In one stroke Obama set America’s policy toward the Arab world back on a sensible, moral, even idealistic path.
Yet there is a glaring problem that the speech didn’t confront directly, which is the inability of "good" Muslims to stand up for change. "Good" is equated with devout, and that’s a huge obstacle to reform. The Muslim world has not liberated its core values from the dogmas of religion. In the name of devotion to God women are denied even basic rights; terrorists march under the banner of faith; mullahs control credulous masses of believers; education for the average citizen is totally centered on the Koran. All of these are backward trends. They run counter to the modern world. In fact, the overwhelming dominance of dictators and royal families in the Arab states doesn’t begin to be consistent with democratic values that are two hundred years old in the West. Human rights are more or less non-existent. This is an appalling state of affairs, and no amount of tolerance from America’s side alters that fact.
Therefore, as civilized as it was for President Obama to extend a hand to the faithful, Muslims cannot have it both ways. They can’t demand respect while using religion as a reactionary force. In every Muslim country without exception, core social values have medieval roots. Atop the swelling masses of illiterate people, a tiny oligarch sits. This oligarchy is rich, secular, and westernized. It pays lip service to the mullahs and fears their power. but the oligarchy rarely lifts a finger to share its wealth and influence, to extend opportunities to average citizens, or to challenge the reactionary social forces that the jihadists represent. Their sole aim is to stay on top and suppress anyone who opposes what the elite wants.
Obama addressed multiple issues and threw light upon all of them. He didn’t shy away from hot-button topics like women’s equality, to the point that he chided Muslims for telling women how to dress in public. In all respects he told his audience what the modern world, and particularly the West, honestly thinks of them. Will they listen? The mullahs won’t. The extremists won’t. The illiterate will get only a vague sense that America isn’t as hateful and fearsome as the demagogues have told them. But until the small sliver of privileged Muslims quit playing their hypocritical games, problems will only get worse. These are people who lunch in London restaurant and shop in Paris boutiques as often as they attend the mosque. Obama has delivered a wake-up call to them. If they don’t change, then the religious backwardness of the Arab world will keep on blindly supporting its opposition to Israel, modernity, democracy, and a better future for ordinary people.
Yes, he is doing an excellent job much of the approach, tactics, and strategy were in the Wisdom Based Presidency Papers
G??d St?ff Ab?ve ?Infinite Play? http://infiniteplaythemovie.com 4 http://clues.me. Esoteric stuff ? http://esoteric.me ? of ? Game. Follow vehicles of Light on Twitter http://thesource.me/light and be connected.
dear deepak,
it appears that apart from being a wonderful person, he will become a wonderful president too. we all are hoping and keeping our fingers crossed.
thanks for this fantastic post.
Wish you love, peace and happiness.
Trisha
On a personal note, I remember vividly my own visit to Cairo, Alexandria, and Luxor. I am of Jewish
descent and readily shared this information with all the lovely people I met. Their first words were usually you are my friend, we love the Jewish people. I was greeted warmly everywhere I went.
I was invited into people's homes who shared generously of their culture and food.
I had the same experience, most recently in Dubai. I just needed to smile at someone and I was welcomed in the most warm and generous manner. I resonate most deeply with Arabic culture.
Looking at the street signs and letters of the Arabic language put me into a deep trance of beauty and recognition of something very deep, profound and familiar.
I feel most people want peace. It is in reality just a handful of people who have agendas of war and
hatred. Unfortunately these few also have great 'power' and access to and control of the weapons.
Thanks for listening.
All my very best to all,
Elaine
A great blog.
I wanted to share a previous blog of my own. The connection that I see between your blog and that of my own is that ultimately responsibility is a matter of individual choice. I see these events as exciting opportunities for our knowing, our support, our love and our acceptance:
(Posted Wednesday, January 21, 2009)
On this day I have witnessed a man exemplify what a vision and knowing can do. It is inspiring to see Barack Hussein Obama capture the moment as he does, present a vision, remind us of our responsibility, and to conclude that our vision is at hand if we will but know it.
On January 20th, 2009 the world paused to witness history. A scan of YouTube.com statistics showed over 40 countries had the Inauguration video in the top 5 watched clips of the day. People from across the world stood transfixed upon a moment. It is almost as if a tidal wave of hope and vision has surged as a backlash to the tsunami of our time. But you may be sure of one thing; we have a responsibility and the more we live up to this the greater the momentum
Dear Deepak,
thank you for your article. I agree with most of what you say. There is a conflict between the Western and the Muslim world views, and we have arrived at the blessed moment when everyone wants to solve it.
You write that the problem is "the inability of "good" Muslims to stand up for change". I see it this way: we ALL have to change. We have a split, conflicted world and all its parts need to be integrated into a whole which brings all of humanity to a higher place in its evolution. For that, we all have to let go of such that has created conflict in the past.
I would like to share some insights and conclusions from the work of integration of Iraqi refugees here in Sweden, which would explain better what I mean when saying that we all need to change. Here is the blog:
http://www.intent.com/aurora/blog/swedish-insight…
Love, aurora
Thank you Deepak for a wonderful post as always. In reading the Koran, I realized that it was Mohammad’s (PBUH) views that women SHOULD be educated and helped to make lives of their own. His own wives, one was a General and one an Imam. As for the Hijab, it is stated clearly that this is a spiritual choice that can be made only by the woman wearing it. If it is forced, then it means nothing.
It is unfortunate that the fear mongering here in the west have cast a shadow of suspicion upon the Muslim people. Even here in Canada, I noticed my new neighbor spoke to me freely when I met her moving in, but when she saw me in the Hijab, she shunned and even became hostile towards me. There are a lot of good Muslim’s in the world, but how can then integrate into our society if they are shunned and treated with such disrespect? How can they stand to do the right thing if they feel no one will listen to them with a kind ear? I hope that this speech will change that.
There is much misinterpretation of the Koran and the beliefs on all sides, but I know from my heart that this is a peaceful, loving book. The Koran advocates education of women, and the importance of women having rights. Where these extremists twisted the Koran, we must untwist and get back to it’s basics. To do that the fear must end on this continent and Muslim’s must not be afraid to practice their faith freely. If they cannot, then the Koran will stay in the shadows and be misinterpreted by those who wish to use it to control rather than to liberate the spirit and live in the manner that Mohammad (PBUH) intended and spoke. I hope that this speech will open that door, and Islam can rise to it’s greatness once again in peace and prosperity with all other faiths.
Blessings of hope..
Marylynn
Thank you Deepak, It is clear that extending education and basic human rights to women all over the world is the path to peace and love. Healing to the Islamic world will come when women have equality and they can bring their creativity and love to their society. love and light, Stuart http://stuartmarkberlin.com
i have not read anything here, but yes looks to be carrying himself well(as far as the t.v. images are going,lol.)….is this a quantum leap in universal bonding and getting along just swell for the good of all and each?……….luff it !
Amen Aurora!
So long as fear remains the most economically profitable emotion, it will be difficult to replace with love.
(To multiply the following blessing, read aloud.)
Let us daily increase in: wisdom, love, gratitude, reverence, healing, peace, joy, happiness, laughter and prosperity.
Blessings X 10,
Ed
A very good initiative by Obama to bring a balance in US policy towards Arab and Muslim world.
However I do not get a comfortable feeling with the likes of Halbrookes who appear to be derivatives from the past governments.
refer to the link
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090604/pl_nm/us_paki…
The way Pakistan govt has manouvered latest aid from US by allowing Taliban to reach close to Islamabad and with in a month's time able to drive them away, speaks of their strategic designs.
Primary discomfort comes out of the fact that there are people in Pentagon or elsewhere, who intend to play the old games and are not as upfront as Obama. I have not seen any report where the expenditures against the US aid has been made public by Pakistan or Mr Halbrooke.
Let us see how far reaching are the changes desired by Obama.
Best wishes
Dr. Chopra mentions average moslems in the street being cynically played. I think this is no different than us.
In Vonnegut's book, Hocus Pocus, a black university professor calls Harvord University "Plantation Owners' Tech", a cutting remark that brings to light this "divide and conquer" mentality. I know I've mentioned this several times before on Intent. It's no different than the onslaught of "threat news" the Germans were subject to in the 1930's.
Obama has willingly and consciously tried to create an illusion of Barrak Hussein rather than a president of a secular state. its good to call the faithful….but its his time to show commitment…without commitment there is no faith…even secularism cannot be practiced without a strong conviction. Being more enlightened and knowlegeable it depends upon USA who it calls its partner and whom they reinforce: military despots and Jihadi Mullahs like in the past. The world does not suffer from short term memory loss and history has recrded everything in black and white and will speak for itself. Life has its own forces at work to restore balance and the challenge is whether we will think of humanity at large irrespective of their religion. Whatever Israel has to offer the people inside their state does not match with what it has offer across its borders. Will we accept the challenge to coexist?
Can you empathize with the agony people went through in dislocation and war that started with Bosnia-Serbia conflict, and now it has entered into Iraq, Afghanistan and now Pakistan.
Why our memory do not go beyond 9/11. perhaps it has caused some dementia or post traumatic amnesia on Ameriacans. They will have to come out of it. Accept the reality and failure of their policies and Obama's speech is a good start.
We need more lion hearts like Bill Gates to supplement and strengthen education rather than supporting military despots and corrupt civilian governments. Convince your government not to waste your hard earned money on arms, ammunition, conflict and rift all over the globe.
If you have not earned this right through democracy then please let us follow our dogmas.
At least we know who are our enemies and who friends.