CAIRO – Quoting from the Quran for emphasis, U.S. President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" and said that together they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the search for peace in the Middle East.Watch President Obama deliver the speech
"This cycle of suspicion and discord must end", Obama said June 4 during a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, intended to reframe relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 against the U.S., and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
The White House said Obama's speech contained no new policy proposals on the Middle East. The president said U.S. ties with Israel are unbreakable, yet issued a firm, evenhanded call to the Jewish state and Palestinians alike to live up to their international obligations.
In a gesture to the Islamic world, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations.
"This cycle of suspicion and discord must end", Obama said June 4 during a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, intended to reframe relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 against the U.S., and the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
The White House said Obama's speech contained no new policy proposals on the Middle East. The president said U.S. ties with Israel are unbreakable, yet issued a firm, evenhanded call to the Jewish state and Palestinians alike to live up to their international obligations.
In a gesture to the Islamic world, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations.
Obama continued, "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 recalled hearing prayer calls of "Azaan" at dawn and dusk while living in Indonesia as a boy.
He said the same principle must apply in reverse. "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."
Obama's remarks drew a positive response from corners of the world not given to complimenting the U.S.
In Iran, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a cleric who was vice president under reformist President Mohammad Khatami, said, "This can be an initial step for removing misconceptions between [the] world of Islam and the West."
Obama spoke at Cairo University after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe.
The president said the actions of violent extremist Muslims are "irreconcilable with the rights of human beings", and quoted the Quran to make his point saying, “Be conscious of God and always speak the truth”.
"Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism”, he concluded. “It is an important part of promoting peace."
He said the same principle must apply in reverse. "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."
Obama's remarks drew a positive response from corners of the world not given to complimenting the U.S.
In Iran, Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a cleric who was vice president under reformist President Mohammad Khatami, said, "This can be an initial step for removing misconceptions between [the] world of Islam and the West."
Obama spoke at Cairo University after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe.
The president said the actions of violent extremist Muslims are "irreconcilable with the rights of human beings", and quoted the Quran to make his point saying, “Be conscious of God and always speak the truth”.
"Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism”, he concluded. “It is an important part of promoting peace."
source: http://www.centralasiaonline.com
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