Obama's Ramadan Speech Targets Muslims Abroad—and Non-Muslims at Home
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
President Obama's speech at last night's White House Ramadan dinner (excerpt below) revolved around stories of American Muslims that seemed calibrated to appeal to two very different audiences: Muslims abroad and non-Muslims at home.
Obama spoke of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq whose grave at Arlington National Cemetery bears a crescent, an Islamic symbol. He applauded a Muslim student in Oklahoma who fought for her right to wear a hijab, a traditional Muslim head scarf, to school—and won. And he told of a Muslim high schooler from Massachusetts who broke her state's record for the most career points scored by a high school basketball player.
For the international Muslim audience—much of which has come to see the United States as anti-Muslim because of its actions in its war on terrorism—the stories spotlighted Muslim Americans whose struggles, accomplishments, and contributions have been acknowledged and rewarded by their country. For the domestic, non-Muslim audience, those same stories served to normalize a community that is often perceived as "other."
Here's the relevant passage:
So on this occasion, we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, and we also celebrate how much Muslims have enriched America and its culture—in ways both large and small. And with us here tonight, we see just a small sample of those contributions. Let me share a few stories with you briefly.
Elsheba Khan's son, Kareem, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he lost his life in Iraq. Kareem joined the military as soon as he finished high school. He would go on to win the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, along with the admiration of his fellow soldiers. In describing her son, Elsheba said, "He always wanted to help any way that he could." Tonight, he's buried alongside thousands of heroes in Arlington National Cemetery. A crescent is carved into his grave, just as others bear the Christian cross or the Jewish star. These brave Americans are joined in death as they were in life—by a common commitment to their country, and the values that we hold dear.
One of those values is the freedom to practice your religion—a right that is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution. Nashala Hearn, who joins us from Muskogee, Oklahoma, took a stand for that right at an early age. When her school district told her that she couldn't wear the hijab, she protested that it was a part of her religion. The Department of Justice stood behind her, and she won her right to practice her faith. She even traveled to Washington to testify before Congress. Her words spoke to a tolerance that is far greater than mistrust—when she first wore her headscarf to school, she said, "I received compliments from the other kids."
Another young woman who has thrived in her school is Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir. She's not even 5'5—where's Bilqis? Right here. Stand up, Bilqis, just so that we—(laughter)—I want everybody to know—she's got heels on. She's 5'5—Bilqis broke Rebecca Lobo's record for the most points scored by any high school basketball player in Massachusetts history. (Applause.) She recently told a reporter, "I'd like to really inspire a lot of young Muslim girls if they want to play basketball. Anything is possible. They can do it, too." As an honor student, as an athlete on her way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not simply to Muslim girls—she's an inspiration to all of us.
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Tags: Barack Obama | religion | Islam
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Reader Comments
Islam = American values!?
Does President Obama really believe that Islamic values are American values?
Freedom of religion? Where is that found in Islam? Does the special tax that non-Muslims pay in Islamic countries = freedom of religion? Does the death penalty for converting from Islam to another religion = freedom of religion? Does Islam really teach that
If Islam is so wonderful, then why do non-Muslims from Islamic nations despise it? Why did the Islamic nations of the world support Germany in WW2? How can a religion whose names literally means "submission" and whose adherents have names like Abdullah, which means "slave to Allah", have the American values of self-direction and personal freedom? And don't get me started on the women's rights record. Jeesh.
I voted for Obama and I have defended him these last few months against convservatives who blast him, but I am really falling out of love with the man.
WWJD?--Indeed!
As a believer in Jesus Christ--notice I didn't say "christian"--I'm finding it interesting and distressing how all these 'christians' can't seem to get that 'What would Jesus do?' thing together! According to the Word, didn't Jesus spend a lot of time with folk that didn't agree with Him, didn't necessarily buy what He was selling, were on the outs with "SOCIETY" and generally weren't cool? Am I mistaken that He spent a lot of time bringing folk of divergent cultures together? Didn't He temper His conversations with compassion and saved His pissed-ness for CHURCH FOLK (i.e., the Sanhedrin-Pharisee types)? What was up with that 'sermon on the mount blessed are the peacemakers' business? That wasn't something He needed to do: those were OUR marching orders.
What is up with all these 'christians' missing the point? Of course, it's obvious, nobody's read the Word in a while! The moaning and groaning and whining and nitpicking and bitching about every minor thing (although, it's not like Jesus didn't know we're all idiots in one way or another!) just gets a little sickening after awhile. Is it ANY wonder the 'christian' church ain't what it used to be?
Lord, help us!
Supporting Greenberg & White
I really do not feel comfortable w/Obama's being so obsequious to Muslims. That is my personal bottom line. I read the letters from Muslim readers, with sympathy. I thought about the Muslim-Americans Obama honored, and I know I will always remember that brave Muslim-American soldier who died for our country in a country that was Muslim. I was content to leave this discussion closed mouthed, for a change.
Then, I read Max Greenberg's comments as well as Scott White's and I knew that what is disturbing about our situation w/Muslims is not about a fanatic, rabid hatred of the Muslim faith but of the deplorable way that Modern Muslims have created a culture of death and destruction in the middle east.
We did not see any organized response from Muslim Americans in wake of 9/11. Where were these community Mosques in our country then? What did all the Muslims living, and thriving, in NYC do to help the 9/11 wounded and suffering families? As for the High School gal wearing a scarf? I agree that scarf does represent Male oppression in Muslim culture. Not a good reason to be invited for an event at the W.H. We did not have a problem accepting that the Germans in Hitler's time were acting crazy and barbaric in W.W.II. Why can't we accept the fact that in year 20001 we saw the begining of a very warped and depraved Muslim culture taking place? There are few moderate muslims around, and those muslims are very, very scared. Had President Obama saluted Muslim-American soldiers who supported their country in Iraqi war, I would have no problem with that. Had he saluted other American Muslims who were trying to truly help United States, or bring about a more peaceful interpretation of their faith, I would have respected that. But these Muslims he selected to honor, w/exception of soldier, were pretty weak reasons to be honored by American President.
For those of you who feel my response is harsh & racist, all I ask you to do is simply watch your neighborhood mosque. Be aware of your community Mosque. Follow all press releases pertaining to your city's/neighborhood mosques. My sad guess is that you will find yourselves being pretty surprised by what comes about. I pray I am wrong. In Philadelhia, we learned that the nice community mosque and it's members were quietly planning to blow up nearby Ft. Dix. And the villans were well liked, popular, folks who were seemingly matriculated into American culture.
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