President Barack Obama, extended a hand to the 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe. Relations with the world's Muslim population soured after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Directed to Muslims across the world, the speech laid out Barack Obama’s desire for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. The relationship between Islam and West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars," he said. In a video address to Muslims on this auspicious occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, Obama said U.S. efforts to end the war in Iraq and to isolate extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan are in keeping with America's responsibility to build a more peaceful and secure world. He has pledged "concrete actions" to renew ties with the Muslim world. President Barack Obama's address echoed his earlier landmark historical address in Cairo on June 4, when he laid out a new blueprint for U. S. Middle East policy, pledging to end festering mistrust and for a new beginning between Islam and the west. Obama has also assured U.S. support for a two-state solution recognizing the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.
We must make every effort toachieve peace, justice and equality. Like his Cairo speech, Obama's Ramadan greeting wassprinkled with Arabic words and references that were meant both to resonate with the Islamicworld - by signaling that Obama knows something about its traditions - and to educate non-Muslims, said Nathan Brown of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "All of theseefforts are aimed at advancing our common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to getan education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities and our God. It will take time and patient effort. We cannot change things over night, but we can honestly resolve to do what must be done, while setting off in a new direction -- toward the destination that we seek for ourselves, and for our children. That is the journey that we must travel together." , Obama said in his address. "Beyond America’s borders, we are also committed to keeping our responsibility to build a world that is more peaceful and secure. That is why we are responsibly ending the war in Iraq. That is why we are isolating violent extremists while empowering the people in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we are unyielding in our support for a two-state solution that recognizes the rights of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. And that is why America will always stand for the universal rights of all people to speak their mind, practice their religion, contribute fully to society and have confidence in the rule of law", Obama said in his message to the Islamic World. As the
President has remarked during his historical speech in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne
out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground.
President has remarked during his historical speech in Cairo, this new beginning must be borne
out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground.
The San Francisco Chronicle portrays the speech as a unifying call to the Muslims of
the world. "This message was part of a larger push, a point made clear in the introduction to
the Ramadan video by Rashad Hussein, a deputy associate counsel in the White House who was the first Muslim in Obama's administration. "This month is also a time of renewal and this marks the first Ramadan since the President outlined his vision for a new beginning between America and the Muslim world," Hussein wrote. The President's message is part of an on-going dialogue with Muslim communities that began on inauguration day and has continued with his statement on Nowruz, during trips to Ankara and Cairo.
In the final analysis, the speech by the President of the United States represented a dramatic and persuasive American manifesto for a new relationship with the Islamic World. It may be the first time that a U.S. president has gone to such great lengths to recognize the month-long fasting period of the Islamic world. He has also stressed that, "this new beginning must be borne out in a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another and to seek common ground. I believe an important part of this is listening." The tolerance within the body of Islam is without parallel in history; class and race and color ceasing altogether to be barriers. Ramadan is the holy month in which Koran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad(pbuh). It is therefore a time when we must reflect upon the wisdom and guidance that comes with faith, and the responsibility that human beings have to one another. Islam’s role in this respect is in advancing justice, progress, tolerance, and the dignity of all human beings.
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About the Author: WARIS SHERE was educated at the Aligarh Muslim University, University of London and Technische Hochschule, Aachen Germany. He has authored eight books in the field of Applied Mathematics, International Affairs and Academic Futures: Prospects for Post-Secondary institution. He has taught Applied Mathematics at the University of Manitoba, Canada and Red River College, Canada for several years. His work on critical issues of International Affairs has been published globally. His main interests are Emerging International Order, Security and the Prospects for East-West relations and Dilemmas in Policy-Making for Education.
