Obama’s Outreach to the Muslim World: One American’s View
By Dr. Abidullah A. Ghazi
Skokie, IL
In an interview that was published last week in the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, President-elect between a global superpower and a global community of faith. These two acts can only reassure Muslims of President-elect intentions towards them over the next four (or eight) years.
His second decision, the one to use his full name as Barack Hussein Obama in the swearing-in ceremony, is also an advantageous, although oblique, step towards buttressing the rapport between the United States and the Muslim World. Barack’s name was used during the election campaign to cast aspersions on both his loyalty to America as well as his own personal commitment to Christianity. His ardent opponents tried to utilize trepidation and lack of knowledge to rally the American public against him by claiming that the presidential contender was a crypto-Muslim, often emphasizing his very Islamic middle name, Hussein, as a proof, or making plays on how “Obama” sounded perilously close to “Osama”. Yet, once again the maturity of the American electorate shone through and these trivial issues were cast aside in favor of the inspirational and hope-filled message of this son of a Kenyan Muslim and a Christian American.
Although President-elect by using his full name in the swearing-in ceremony and is merely following tradition, the move can hardly go unnoticed by the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims. At the very least, it assures Muslims that while Obama may not be a Muslim, he is someone who is not ashamed of his background and heritage. His name shows commonality between two traditions which have much in common in their history and ethos; that to be a Christian does not force one to ascribe to Islamophobia. In fact, in this age of ecumenism great strides have been taken by Christians for mutual dialogue, understanding and cooperation with the Muslim World, matched by an equally positive response by Muslims.
Following his historic victory in the presidential election, the speed with which President-elect is laying out his administrations plans and goals and by which his transition team is working demonstrates his confidence, resolve and daring in confronting the grave challenges that our nation currently faces. In the past, issues relating to the Muslim World have usually been tackled once the administration is well into the second term. Obama’s announcement “to reboot America's image around the world and also in the Muslim world in particular,” shows the seriousness in which he takes his visualization of a world based upon global understanding and mutual respect.
President-elect faces a superfluity of national problems and his election has given him the vote of confidence in his abilities to deliver on his promises and overcome these challenges. It is astounding how quickly he has accepted the challenge of restoring confidence in America’s vision by remaining “unrelenting in our desire to create a relationship of mutual respect and partnership in countries and with peoples of goodwill who want their citizens and ours to prosper together.”
In his election campaign President-elect daringly proposed open interchange with the Muslim World and even offered to enter into channels of communication with some of America’s most stringent adversaries. Such proposals could have derailed his chances for election, but the sensibleness of the American electorate accepted it along with many other of his declarations, as an opening for optimism, peace and coexistence. President-elect efforts may yet prove to be a catalyst in creating positive interaction among the people of Abrahamic faiths (Jews, Christians and Muslims) and help build a world in which intolerance and fanaticism have little place and dialogue and fair dealing prevail.
Regrettably, the notion of an antagonistic and aggressive Muslim World has little basis in reality. Throughout the election campaign extremist Muslims were often circuitously referred to as “those who hate us”, reverberating the sentiments of the last eight years. Such a blanket description that includes the populations of America’s friends, allies and partners has not only hurt us politically worldwide but economically as well. Many contemporary political commentators (such as Thomas Friedman in his “World is Flat” and Farid Zakaria in his “Post American World”) foresee the increase of major economic blocs that consumers can patronize, challenging America’s monopoly. An age of global competition is on the rise.
Yet, America’s biggest asset was and is its astounding educational system. Since the 1950s several generations of Muslims have benefited from it and have returned to become the key players in the political, social, and economic development of their homelands. Their familiarity with America and its ideals has given us “subtle” ambassadors who have a preference for everything American, from democracy to McDonalds. In this emerging competitive world we are seriously at risk of losing our edge over other competitors, be they Europe, India, Russia or China. In the wake of 9/11 many Muslims have consciously avoided utilizing American universities and have begun to look for alternatives in Moscow, Berlin, New Delhi and Beijing.
The generations of Muslims from Morocco to Malaysia, Togo to Turkey that have studied in the hallowed halls of American universities are those who want change in their own societies in relation to what they have seen in our society. Hence, it will not be through belligerence or imposition, but by participation and cooperation that we can help transform Muslim lands into nations that are not only friendly to us but responsive to the needs of their own people. It is this pro-American element in the Muslim World that needs to be attracted back to the country that they know and admire.
While President-elect is addressing the issue of alienation and estrangement in the Muslim World it is important that his administration take heed of Muslim Americans, of which are estimated to number between 5 – 7 million. In fact, America has the wealthiest, most qualified and diverse Muslim community anywhere, consisting of indigenous converts and immigrants. Muslim Americans have created numerous social and religious institutions, a feat only possible in an unbounded society like America’s. There are generations of these Muslim Americans who are by birth American and who are ingrained into the American system, having no other homeland to look upon. Yet, since 9/11 Muslims have suffered emotional and social impediments in trying to deal with profiling, an often hostile media and questions of loyalty. Muslim Americans represent the best brains in the worldwide Muslim community and they would be an enormous contribution in implementing a positive policy towards the Muslim World. We would like to see Muslim Americans as part of the Obama administration, using their expertise and connections to enhance American image and lure back lost friends and allies.
In opening channels of communication, as he stated in his interview, by holding a major address in an Islamic capital, President-elect one better step, a step that must consider the various sources of conflict that enmesh the Muslim World and seek their resolution. By contesting tension, violence and terrorism with wisdom and patience America and the Muslim World can build a partnership that can isolate extremism and ultimately eliminate it with the help of allies, rather than our own direct military intervention.
We congratulate President Elect Obama for all his initiative and the optimism he has instilled into out great nation. If his promises are carried out in full, he can rest assured that Muslim Americans and the Muslim World will be willing partners in implementing his vision of a society which transcends manmade boundaries and build a society based on harmony and evenhandedness. May God guide our President, and may God Bless America.
