Obama Seeks Reconciliation Between West And Muslims

[Julnar]

President Obama has called for new beginnings in the relationship the west has with Muslims around the world. Can the two groups reconcile their differences and importantly, do either side really want to?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8 082676.stm

[paraffin]

No.

[Gromit]

It would be a mistake to right off 1 billion people.

It would be a mistake to deliberately make an enemy of 1 billion people.

Wars are very costly, and the US has more important things to spend its money on.

Obama is proving to be a very pragmatic President.

[Julnar]

I'm glad Obama has offered the olive leaf, but regardless of his desire to do right by the Muslim world, American strategies will always be viewed with suspicion as long as America remains so entrenched in its support of Israel, in my opinion.

[Gromit]

Julnar

Most muslim countries maintain good relations with the US despite Israel. Turkey and Saudi Arabia being obvious examples.

[Julnar]

Yes, that's true, Gromit. I was thinking more of the Muslim man in the street, but didn't make that clear in my entry.

[R1Geezer]

Well Talking is better than war of course but whatever is said, the basic fact remains that he is the leader of the infidels, who must be slain or absorbed , that is the word of Allah/Mohamed so I can't se how we will ever be at peace with Islam.

[jake-the-peg]

Western countries view the world through the lens of the enlightenment.

It was that period of the late 18th and early 19th Century when we started to think of ideas like individual liberty and democracy as important.

Other civilisations did not necessarilly go through those philisophical movements and don't see the world the same was as we do.

This is the reconciliation that has to happen. We need to acknowledge their right to see the world in the way they choose and not try to interfere with their internal affairs and force our way on them and they need to do the same.

The difficulty is most acute where we have westerners in muslim countries and vice versa.

If we expect to be able to go to certain muslim countries and not be forced into certain modes of behavior - wearing veils, abstaining from alcohol etc. then we have to be willing to make concessions to the muslims living in our own countries.

But right now there is a lot of intolerance on both sides (see parafin's post) and that needs to be broken up.

What gets me though is how many people who show that sort of intolerance have ever known any muslims themselves.

That needs to change.

[Quinlad]

Whatever its ancient book might say, whatever the more shouty clerics might have you believe, it's ridiculous to assume that 1 billion people want to see the painful demise of the rest of us. Their behaviour simply doesn't bear that out.

Humans just aren't made like that. I know it's fun to indulge paranoid apocalyptic delusions. But really, people are generally alright, wherever they're from.

Sorry.

[jake-the-peg]

Have you ever known any muslims personally Geezer?

I have and none of them have ever tried to 'slay' me!

There's plenty of smiting in the Old Testament too but I don't recall the Right Reverend Rowan Williams belting anybody with his crosier!

Even I don't judge a religion solely by it's lunatic wing

It's as if I said that you as a biker were a dangerous lunatic because of groups like the Hell's angels

[Gromit]

Julnar

Public opinion may be suspicious of the US in a lot of Islamic countries, but public opinion in a lot of European countries has also regarded the US with suspicion.

A new administration and a less insular new President may persuade the man on the street that things have changed.

[Julnar]

I'm hopeful that things will change as long as President Obama is prepared to stand by his policies and not follow the Clinton route and find himself subsumed by the machinations of political infighting in Washington itself.

I think the points raised about knowing Muslims also helps to lessen ones concerns about the faith. My Mum's next door neighbours were a lovely Muslim family who always kept an eye on her for us. My own neighbours are also a delightful Muslim family who are westernised and but for the children's names, not remotely identifiable as Muslim.

[R1Geezer]

Well I know the guys in the local curry house, does that count? I think they are muzzies anyway, they don't have booze but you can bring your own!.

No they haven't tried to slay me, although their Vindaloo is a bit dangerous!

It's just the overall statement of intenet really jake, that and the apparent arrogance that unless you are in your are the infidel and somehow living a less that clean existance.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes but there are plenty of Born again Christians in the US (and over here too) with exactly the same sentiments and web presence aren't there?

I'm assuming that you don't believe all Americans want to murder abortion doctors?

[BertiWooster]

Wouldn't it be great if we all got on with all our neighbours ; holding hands and dancing in fields of daises .

Unfortunately , we dont live in an Utopian world , and the above is never going to happen .
History is littered with one society or another ; imposing or trying to impose their culture and values , on another ; with disasterous and bloody consequences .

So no , the two groups are not going to reconcile their differences .
However we shouldn't just sit back and watch mankind slide down the road to armageddon

We must at least attempt to come to some kind of truce .
America , wrongly in my view , is perceived to be some sort of Satan , by some, in the muslim world .
Personally I consider some of the beliefs of some muslims to be abhorent although i would concede that
western countries have not been saints , throughout history .

I applaud the Obama administration , in being big enough to hold out the olive branch .

Afterall , we owe it to future generations - dont we ?

[rov1200]

The fact that Bin Laden is stirring it up again even with the new president Obama shows his motives are non- conciliatory so don't expect a better outcome.

[beso]

Half of the world's population subscribe to religions based on Abrahamic monotheism. Obama even referred to the "Children of Abraham" in his speech.

The major prophets of these religions all promoted that the one way to salvation athrough their version of the doctrine and were intolerant of those who would believe otherwise.

Their philosophical foundations and long held practices are rooted in killing, conquering and conversion.

Modern believers who engage in interfaith dialog never waver from their bigotted view of their own superiority. All indoctrinate their children before they are old enough to develop an ability to think critically.

Reconciliation is not a genuine part of the Abrahamic vocabulary.