I was writing an article during the presidential electoral campaign last spring, in which I feared that the candidate's, Barack Obama, association, at that time, with Islam would transform into an issue between him and an objective viewpoint which would also turn into an issue in which Arabs and Muslims would become involved. The reason at the time was that he avoided talking or commenting about the roots and history of his Muslim family.
I did not rely on his sympathy with the Muslims because his sole job is the service to the interests of his country, but indubitably I was afraid that the racial attacks on his biracial background would cause a problem that would cause him to treat the Arabs and Muslims unjustly. The Secretary of State George Schultz, in the Reagan era, was on record for having been considered a suspicious appointment just because he used to work with a company with subsidiaries in the Middle East and he was unjust and cruel in his dealings as a Minister with Arab parties, as opposed to Henry Kissinger, who held the same post during the Nixon era. And despite the Arabs' fear of the Jew Kissinger, he was able to conclude a deal with Syria for the disengagement of troops and the foundation of new relations with Egypt.
But the truth is, that I was surprised by Obama's meeting on TV where he willingly talked about the Muslim members of his family, and that he lived in muslim Indonesia. An "accusation" transformed into a "distinguishing feature" where he connected with Muslims, and that, he, as an American Christian and President of the United States of America does not hold any grudge and anger against the Muslims, and that he calls to open to a new page with them. This has surpassed merely taking a stance different than what his predecessor George Bush took. He, Bush, was famous for his sentence: "Either for us or against us." Obama has stratified the world into three categories, either in his group, or against him, like Al-Qa'ida, or just those that disagree with him. Obama insists on saying that he makes the distinction among those that differ with his country in the region, that they are not necessarily enemies. And he has gone even further than that, extending his hand to the Iranians, a hand that has not been extended since the time of Jimmy Carter, that is, since 30 years ago.
Obama was warm in his conversation to the billion Muslims of the world. But despite his friendly language and tone and the positive welcoming of his talk, the connection with the Muslims is a very complex issue. The overwhelming majority of Muslims do not have any connection with terrorism of "Al-Qa'ida" ; on the contrary, Muslim have suffered because of Al-Qa'ida more than Americans, and for many years before the occurrences on September 11, when hundreds of people died during their crimes in Egypt, Algeria and Saudia Arabia. The American problem is a blend of an historical and cultural accumulation and, above all, political and state-controlled propaganda which has made reconciliation a difficult task. The majority of Muslims are peace-loving, quiet and and hard working, searching for their daily bread. But the one who hears his voice the loudest, are the groups Obama won't be able to reconcile with, the ones who really have to be reckoned with, such as The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, for example, which has one plan: to rule Egypt. And it will stand unlike the official regime, as opposition in any matter or general affair. This negative stance is not particular just to the opposition but to all radical regimes, such as the Iranian regime which is considering changing the region according to it's plan, even if that means spreading chaos. But the Muslims, like any other people in the world, do not agree on all matters and particular ruling bodies, and therefore dealing with a billion Muslims is much more complicated than dealing with a billion Chinese who have one leader and one plan.
http://www.asharqalawsat.com/leader.asp?section=3&issueno=11022&article=505174
I did not rely on his sympathy with the Muslims because his sole job is the service to the interests of his country, but indubitably I was afraid that the racial attacks on his biracial background would cause a problem that would cause him to treat the Arabs and Muslims unjustly. The Secretary of State George Schultz, in the Reagan era, was on record for having been considered a suspicious appointment just because he used to work with a company with subsidiaries in the Middle East and he was unjust and cruel in his dealings as a Minister with Arab parties, as opposed to Henry Kissinger, who held the same post during the Nixon era. And despite the Arabs' fear of the Jew Kissinger, he was able to conclude a deal with Syria for the disengagement of troops and the foundation of new relations with Egypt.
But the truth is, that I was surprised by Obama's meeting on TV where he willingly talked about the Muslim members of his family, and that he lived in muslim Indonesia. An "accusation" transformed into a "distinguishing feature" where he connected with Muslims, and that, he, as an American Christian and President of the United States of America does not hold any grudge and anger against the Muslims, and that he calls to open to a new page with them. This has surpassed merely taking a stance different than what his predecessor George Bush took. He, Bush, was famous for his sentence: "Either for us or against us." Obama has stratified the world into three categories, either in his group, or against him, like Al-Qa'ida, or just those that disagree with him. Obama insists on saying that he makes the distinction among those that differ with his country in the region, that they are not necessarily enemies. And he has gone even further than that, extending his hand to the Iranians, a hand that has not been extended since the time of Jimmy Carter, that is, since 30 years ago.
Obama was warm in his conversation to the billion Muslims of the world. But despite his friendly language and tone and the positive welcoming of his talk, the connection with the Muslims is a very complex issue. The overwhelming majority of Muslims do not have any connection with terrorism of "Al-Qa'ida" ; on the contrary, Muslim have suffered because of Al-Qa'ida more than Americans, and for many years before the occurrences on September 11, when hundreds of people died during their crimes in Egypt, Algeria and Saudia Arabia. The American problem is a blend of an historical and cultural accumulation and, above all, political and state-controlled propaganda which has made reconciliation a difficult task. The majority of Muslims are peace-loving, quiet and and hard working, searching for their daily bread. But the one who hears his voice the loudest, are the groups Obama won't be able to reconcile with, the ones who really have to be reckoned with, such as The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, for example, which has one plan: to rule Egypt. And it will stand unlike the official regime, as opposition in any matter or general affair. This negative stance is not particular just to the opposition but to all radical regimes, such as the Iranian regime which is considering changing the region according to it's plan, even if that means spreading chaos. But the Muslims, like any other people in the world, do not agree on all matters and particular ruling bodies, and therefore dealing with a billion Muslims is much more complicated than dealing with a billion Chinese who have one leader and one plan.
http://www.asharqalawsat.com/leader.asp?section=3&issueno=11022&article=505174
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