President Obama's gesture to Muslims

This article was first published on "Unleashed" at: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2539629.htm

Life goes on for most of us who are still employed, but for those who have lost their jobs and are forced to seriously rethink their commitment to a mortgage, or how to finance their children’s education and for those who have loved ones serving overseas, there is a sobering realisation that the world needs to find a new platform for cooperation.

The experiment based on Huntington’s clash of civilisations has created a divided global village. In addition to the right wing commentary and reporting in the current world mainstream media numerous internet sites have emerged that are just as ultra conservative.

Rushing to the forefront of this backdrop, President Obama’s comments on his recent visit to Turkey that America “is not and will never be at war with Islam” have been widely welcomed throughout the Muslim world. Islamonline for example, were quick to tell us how this message “delights” US Muslims and another publication proclaims the joy of Arab leaders over these comments.

But we’ve been down this path before, as the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) points out, similar words have been uttered by George Bush when he was still the president of the USA. Whilst former President Bush used the term “crusade” to describe his “war on terror”, President Obama makes his announcement shortly after announcing an increase of US troops in Afghanistan.

The WSJ headed its article “Accentuate the negative”, they question why the president has to use such terms. Our current crises have much to do with this accentuation of the negative. The most recent G20 pledge of $US1.1 trillion to the “world’s financial blood stream” needs to find more than 10% of this figure from Gulf States most of whose populations are Muslim. This may explain to some extent the ill-advised bow by president Obama to the Saudi monarch, a bow that finds no place in any Muslim tradition.

Our second crisis of our own making is that of having troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We have suffered human losses in both countries, we have lost troops and we have been involved in killing locals. All involved have suffered, some have been wounded, some have lost limbs and some have lost their lives. In the middle of a negative war in two majority Muslim countries, the intention behind accentuating the negative may well be an attempt to use a double negative in the hope that people will see that as a positive.

Yet we have all been taught that you cannot right a wrong with another wrong, in this case a double negative is a compounded negative and not a positive.

I would have preferred to hear Mr. Obama continue the line from his inauguration speech where he expressed respect for Islam. Even though in that speech, he put forward “mutual interest” ahead of “mutual respect”, at least, in that speech, he accentuated the positive and accentuating the positive is a better way forward than accentuating the negative.

Regardless, his comments in no way explain why we, the Western powers, are still in Afghanistan, nor does he give a legitimate reason why we are increasing our presence there. The last seven plus years have not produced any improvement there but rather threaten to engulf neighbouring countries in more violence.

Having said all that, I still prefer to be optimistic, I was one of the people cheering for change in the US and the momentous election of an African American into the most powerful position on earth is one of the biggest boosts for equality and equal employment opportunity for the entire world community. What remains is for us to see if the new president can make a real break from past policies and promote dialogue rather than assign troops to a military conflict. Words reassuring us that his nation is not at war with “Islam” as a religion whilst his troops are actively engaged in wars against “Muslims” do not bring any change to an existing ugly reality. We need an end to war and positive words to bring about a new era in the history of our human family.

Keysar Trad
Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Inc.