Good Morning Bloggers! I must admit, I love hearing that President Obama plans to point out how the United States is home to millions of Muslims during his speech in Cairo. It's about time! We do have millions of Muslims, and should not be considered a strictly "Judeo-Christian" nation.Okay fine, we're mostly on the other side of Abraham's family tree, but still we have an estimated six million Muslim Americans. So what if that is less than 1% of the world's total, it's still high for a Western country. That's something to crow about, right?
It makes us the 34th biggest Muslim country in the world - behind Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, China, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco, Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Tanzania, Syria, Malaysia, Niger, Senegal, Ghana, Tunisia, Somalia, Guinea, Kenya, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Burkina Faso and Tajikistan.
Still, it puts us ahead of the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, France, and all the other European countries that are often perceived as far more Islamic than ourselves. I think that's worth pointing out, don't you?
So, President Barack Hussein Obama plans to leverage our 34th place ranking to suggest to Muslims that we are part of their click - even if we are a small part. I think it's BRILLIANT! He plans to woo the Muslim world, which we Democrats are thrilled about and the party-of-no is all about NO of course, by trying to CONNECT/RELATE with them on a more personal level.
How radical, practicing Christians trying to understand Muslims! What is the world coming to? I'm sure George W. is rolling over on his Lazy-Boy.
President Obama is expected to return Middle East policy to a more realistic approach, based on MUTUAL RESPECT. Fantastic! He spoke about it to the Turkish parliament in Ankara during his first overseas trip, but this time he's supposed to go much further. The new speech is supposed to lay the groundwork for a whole new dialogue between East and West. It's very exciting, at least for those of us who believe that winning hearts is a strong weapon in the "War on Terror."
Anyway, back to Islam. It's great to hear that President Obama, who experienced Islam from his African father as well as growing up in Islamic Indonesia, plans to paint the US as a Muslim country too. He spoke at length about the new approach while being interviewed by France's Canal Plus TV network. He said the US and the West generally need to "educate ourselves more effectively on Islam."
I agree! We need to understand that large, passionate faith. It's the only way for us all to live together on this small planet. "And one of the points I want to make is, is that if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we'd be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. And so there's got to be a better dialogue and a better understanding between the two peoples." President Obama
"Americans do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation," Obama said. Wow, how un-Republican that sounds. In 2007 during the campaign, while speaking in front of the GOP hardcore of course, John McCain called the US "a Christian nation," but later restated it saying we were "a Judeo-Christian nation." Damn, I like Obama's reality much better. Btw, once again, THANK GOD John McCain lost the election!
It's so good to see the evangelical crusades of Bush and his Republican retards have finally ended. The president's speech to the Muslim world is bringing back memories of the election, when hope and change were often mentioned. This, my friends, represents significant change. The post-9/11 crusade is finally over, and it's being replaced by a smarter, more respectful battle against the bad guys - and ONLY the bad guys.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say something that may sound harsh. I believe many Republicans - led by Cheney, Limbaugh and Rove - are actually hoping and praying for another attack soon. I think it's obvious at least. Based on numerous conversations with extreme Republicans (some sick and twisted), I sincerely believe they see a new attack as a way to save us from the changes that threaten our "successful American way of life." I know, it's xenophobic, but it's what I believe they believe.
I'm convinced that's why Cheney is talking so much these days. They see themselves as our potential saviors! It's enough to make you vomit! They're waiting in the wings like trolls ready to gloat, hoping Americans will beg to have them back in charge. They want us to come crawling back to their way of thinking. They told me in person, and it makes me sick!
Let's hope that doesn't happen. Let's hope things have changed. I would like to think it may be different. If we are attacked again, God forbid, I would like to think we Americans will react more intelligently next time - with less anger, fear and xenophobia. I would like to think we will continue to respect good Muslims, and focus only on those who wish to do us harm.
It's a fact that only a very small percentage (one-tenth of one percent on the high side) of Muslims are radical. Interestingly, it's estimated that a similar percentage of Christians and Jews are radicalized, and willing to murder for their faith. I wonder if the GOP ever thinks about those extremists. Somehow I doubt it, for they act similar to conservative Islamic communities, and tend to ignore the devils inside their own ranks.
Despite the fact that I remain HIGHLY CRITICAL of Muslim communities [and governments] who support the enforcement of Sharia Law and ban proselytizing by other religions, I would still like to embrace my fellow Muslim Americans. America is diverse enough for all of us, as long as we all tolerate and respect each other - not to mention it's critical to keep religion out of the law. Let's all, at least the ones who believe in the separation of church and state, continue to fight to worship as we see fit. God bless America!
Wednesday's Political Rave - Michael
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