Obama and Mecca
I wrote the post below several months ago (July) and now it seems that it may be relevant again because of a piece today in The New York Times. If Obama really wants to give a major foreign policy speech in the first 100 days, the best location to do so in my opinion is Mecca.
It is not the political divide that is the source of anxiety between the west and the Middle East, it is the cultural and theological differences of western secularized Christianity and Islam. Obama has the ability to reach across that divide and bring us closer together in understanding each other.
Below is an excerpt the July 21st, 2008 post with my December 2008 comments in bold:
My issue with Obama’s trip is the visit to Berlin. First, the advance team made a monumental mistake of trying to drop their candidate into a situation that reminded Americans of two of the greatest presidents of the 20th century, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Of course, the difference is that they were the President and their speeches were directed at the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Who exactly is Obama trying to address with a speech in Berlin? The scrutiny he will receive over this speech will make or break this foreign trip; nothing else will matter, so he better nail it. (OK, he nailed it pretty good…moving on)
My suggestion to Obama: forget Berlin, go to Mecca. If you really want to be seen in a Kennedy / Reagan light in the diplomatic arena, you should use your popularity and your unique heritage to address the Christian and Muslim worlds. A thoughtful speech that focuses on our similarities, rather than our differences, is clearly needed between both communities of faith. Kennedy and Reagan in their speeches addressed the major foreign policy concerns of our country. Obama has the opportunity to do something similar if he takes up this challenge. However, the issue is much trickier and more dangerous than either Kennedy or Reagan had to face. Instead of disarming conventional and nuclear weapons, Obama has to disarm fear and prejudice on both sides, Christian and Muslim.
This is where the “Audacity of Hope” meets the reality of fear…let’s see if hope can transform the world once again. (Now, that would be a speech worth watching…)
4 Responses to “Obama and Mecca”
Under Saudi law, non-Muslims are forbidden from entering Mecca, and according to Wikipedia that Saudi law is based on a passage from the Qur'an. Even if Saudi officials waived the law for special circumstances, speaking from Mecca would re-stoke the “Obama is a secret Muslim!” issues and/or anger Muslim groups that see it as a violation of scripture.
You beat me to it Tube.
“A thoughtful speech that focuses on our similarities, rather than our differences, is clearly needed between both communities of faith.”
Tony it is my humble opinion that these two “communities of faith” are at odds in many fundamental, elemental ways, and any attempt at recognizing similarities begins within a secular framework. Leave religious reconciliation efforts between faiths to the faith leaders–our “similarities” are admittedly more important, but (I don't think) begin in the areas of superstition and dogma. And besides, world history hasn't been too promising considering successful reconciliation of religious differences. If Ghandi couldn't do it, I doubt Barack Obama could.
And let's move on from United Nations resolutions that protect the “faithful” from criticisms, and disregard those messages from the Pope and others in our Religious Right sphere regarding the inappropriateness of skepticism and criticism of a “faith community” or an individual's “faithful beliefs.” If it's in the public square, if it is used as incentive to harm or divide or to generate policy, meet it head-on with a purely secular challenge. Make no mistake about this: there is a radical religious element intent on a worldwide caliphate, that won't be influenced by the seductive talk of an American politician. And in our own neck of the woods, there's plenty of activity under the wider radar working to further Christianize this nation.
And I agree with Tube and Davebo–can you imagine Fox News on Barack HUSSEIN Obama's talk from Mecca? Sarah Palin would have a field day there, maybe her most articulate future interview.
“It is not the political divide that is the source of anxiety between the west and the Middle East, it is the cultural and theological differences of western secularized Christianity and Islam.”
Hehe, some sweet irony to that statement and your idea as the muslims go berserk over the idea of letting an infidel into their holy city. And considering how hard he worked to convince less informed Americans how not muslim he is, it would be a shame to undo all that work.