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Speech by American President Obama to the Muslim World
Cairo, Egypt – 4 June 2009
[Replies by ordinary muslims were given during the speech.]
Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, al-Azhar has, had stood as a beacon of Islamic learning. And for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress.
[reply: President of Egypt is a brutal dictator and you support him, Mr Obama.]
I'm grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the good will of the American people and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalamu Alaikum.
We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation but also conflict and religious wars.
[reply: You name one religion but not the other. Why not. Be honest and say Islam and Christianity.]
More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims and a Cold War in which Muslim majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims.
[reply: You forgot to mention the violent extremists in a small but potent minority of Christians who also exploited these age old tensions. Why didn’t you mention these neo-conservatives.]
The attacks of September 11, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries but also to human rights.
All this has bred more fear and more mistrust.
[reply: Continued efforts by the likes of Cheney and others in US don’t help either.]
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
[reply: You are in power. End the discord by cleaning your own home in Washington. Get rid of neo-cons and pro-Israel lobbies that sow suspicions.]
I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and...
[reply: Mutual respect is a good idea. Muslims will wait and if US begins to act respectfully towards them.]
... one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight.
[reply: So don’t expect the muslims to forgive you next week.]
I know there's been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point.
[reply: Its not complex at all. America treated muslims with contempt, and they in turn hate you for it.]
But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors.
[reply: Alright then, lets be open: Muslim world hates the United States for its oppression against muslims committed in the name of freedom and democracy.]
There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another, and to seek common ground.
[reply: Then why don’t you make this effort and call the President of Iran who has been asking for years to go on US television to remove misunderstandings between Christians and Muslims. Don’t just talk. Act on your wishes.]
As the holy Koran tells us: "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth."
[reply: US is not interested in the truth. Its only concerned with exploitation of Islamic nations.]
That is what I will try to do today, to speak the truth as best I can.
[reply: Don’t try to lecture the muslims. They already know what the American version of truth is: Lies, deception, illegal wars, tortures, abductions, selective democracy, installing puppets, invasions, rapes, waterboarding, car bombings, supporting despots, state terrorism, pre-emptive strikes... ]
Humbled by the task before us and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Now, part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I'm a Christian. But my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims.
[reply: Mr Obama, you seem ashamed that your dad was a muslim. You couldn’t even say that your father followed Islam.]
As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk.
As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam at places like al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities...
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second president, John Adams, wrote:
"The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquillity of Muslims."
And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars. They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. They have started businesses. They have taught at our universities. They've excelled in our sports arenas. They've won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building and lit the Olympic torch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Koran that one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library.
[reply: If Islam has done so much for Europe and America, then you are indebted to Islam. Why didn’t you simply do the right thing and say “thank you Islam and thank you muslims. We would not have achieved preogress without you”. That would have been a proper way to show appreciation and it would have removed a lot of hatred of Islam caused by US and EU politicians and media.]
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't.
And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
[reply: Prove it by giving Islam and muslims equality and protection as you give to Jews in case of anti-semitism in US media. You, Mr Obama, have the power to do this. ]
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as...
Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.
[reply: Then in whose interests does Washington support unelected dictators in the Arab world?]
The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known.
We were born out of revolution against an empire.
[reply: Then you should not be opposing any popular revolution in Arab lands. But the US tried for 30 years to destroy Iran’s 1979 popular uprising. Why exactly do Americans stand on freedoms and democracy?]
We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world.
[reply: America enslaved blacks. Right up to 1960s they were treated as animals. Racism continues in your country even today. Look at New Orleans after Katrina disaster. Just go and ask the blacks and the latinos in your country.]
We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.
Now much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president.
[reply: You know very well that you won not because America loves black people; but rather Americans reacted against economic collapse caused by Bush administration and because of the defeat of America in Iraq in a disastrous war. They want a black man to mop up things. American elite are still racist to the core. We all know what they tried to do in the media during the election campaign in 2008.]
But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores. And that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average.
[reply: 7 million muslims in US and only one representative in the congress. That speaks volumes of minority suppression.]
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hajeeb, and to punish those who would deny it.
[reply: American allies like France, Turkey and Germany force women to take off head cover and deny them education and jobs if they wear an Islamic dress. What have you done about that? Nothing.]
So let there be no doubt... ... let there be no doubt, Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations: to live in peace and security, to get an education and to work with dignity, to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people.
[reply: Muslims will be watching you closely, Mr Obama, to see if you act on your own words. Muslims hate hypocrites.]
These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead.
[reply: You are a leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Lead by example. Why dont you start acting boldly against injustices done by your ally Israel, and the Arab tyrants?]
And if we understand that the challenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
[reply: Is that a threat. It seems that US is still preparing for a war with Islam while talking of peace with Muslims. Who are you fooling Mr Obama? You actually think that America after all might not get along with Islam.]
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations.
[reply: Yes, and when Israel massacres innocent civilians in Gaza, all the world hates America for its support of this crime. US gives Israel the weapons as well the green light. That makes US an accomplice to the massacre of muslims. ]
When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience.
[reply: In her list of injustices, how easily America overlooks the barbaric treatment of Palestinians by its brutal ally Israel.]
That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and, yes, religions subjugating one another in pursuit of their own interests.
Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership, our progress must be shared.
[reply: Then stop the US being a prisoner of 9/11.]
Now, that does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite. We must face these tensions squarely. And so, in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and as plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
[reply: Lets see if Mr Obama can achieve a balance and names his countries mess ups as well. Muslims think CIA has taken your soul to the dark side.]
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all its forms.
[reply: Does that violence exclude pre-emptive wars, invasions, drone bombings, and brutal occupations, like that in Iraq by America, and suppression of Palestine by Israel?]
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam.
[reply: Muslims don’t believe you, Mr Obama. They see that America is still at war with Muslim nations in order to further its agenda of exploitation and suppression.]
We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, the killing of innocent men, women and children. And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people.
[reply: And whose duty is it to protect innocent men, women and children in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and other nations being attacked and occupied by America? Is killing innocent muslims part of the method of protecting Americans?]
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al-Qaida and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice. We went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the offense of 9/11.
But let us be clear. Al-Qaida killed nearly 3,000 people on that day.
[reply: Yes, Al Qaeda is an evil seed planted and nurtured by the United States. Lets be even more clear. American occupation killed over 900 million muslims in Iraq, and counting. Not to mention hundreds of people being killed weekly by US air stikes in Pakistan and Afghanistan. President Clinton and Bush are worse than Bin Laden. Obama is yet to catch up to their evil.]
The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody.
[reply: What harm did innocent men, women and children killed by US do to anyone. American military attacks in Afghanistan and Pakistan are still killing them every day.]
And yet al-Qaida chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach.
[reply: Firstly, American also murders innocent muslims ruthlessly; and it allows Israel to do the same. Us also threatens wars on Islamic nations in order to kill muslims on a mass scale. Do you even know the death toll caused by US occupation in Iraq? Secondly, Mr Obama, do you really expect muslims to believe this story!! Even American don’t accept that 9/11 was carried out by muslims. Muslim world doubts very much the US claims. Bush kept his so-called evidence very secret. Why? Clearly, this 9/11 tale is a Bush-Cheney version; the same White House team who lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and then used this fabrication to attack an innocent muslim nation. Now, the US is considered a lying nation. To restore your credibility, you need to independently investigate who carried out attacks on your country on September 11, 2001.]
These are not opinions to be debated.
[reply: Yes they are. Why do you fear debating them. It seems you are scared of open investigation.]
These are facts to be dealt with.
[reply: No they are not. They are your twisted thoeries. They are not the facts that are accepted by others in the world.]
Make no mistake, we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan.
[reply: Neither do Afghan people. So why are you sending more US troops there.]
We see no military — we seek no military bases there.
[reply: You must think muslims are really stupid. US already has military bases in Afghanistan. Who are you trying to fool.]
It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict.
[reply: It must be agonising for muslim mothers to lose their innocent young sons killed by US military. It must be agonising for muslim fathers to see their daughters raped and killed by US soldiers who then get away with murder in US courts. These crimes are not politically costly for muslim parents. It’s just heartbreaking. You are so cold Obama. You have no heart.]
We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan, and now Pakistan, determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.
[reply: US wants to kill every person who might possibly one day in the future kill Americans. It seems you are planning a long war on muslims nations. How can you Mr Obama ever be certain no muslims will ever hate America. Its impossible. People all over the world will always hate you because you are an unjust and evil nation. Muslims already call you the Great Satan. This is not going to stop until you start acting fairly towards Muslims. ]
And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries.
[reply: Muslims know that America and Europe have ganged up against Islamic nations. You don’t need to confirm it. ]
And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken.
[reply: US is already seeking a way to run away. America will lose the war and retreat like it did in Vietnam, and like Russia did in Afghanistan. History will tell you that occupations never succeeds. But Bush and Obama would rather sink America than stop aggressive attacks on muslims.]
Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists.
[reply: Muslim world does not tolerate American extremism and violence either. They will always hit back.]
They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims.
[reply: How many have America killed. Oh I forget, Pentagon does not keep body count of innocent muslims it kills.]
Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam.
[reply: Are US military attacks in muslim countries reconcilable with human rights and with Christianity?]
The holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as — it is as it if has killed all mankind.
And the holy Koran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
[reply: That’s right. And when US kills one child, the muslims see that America has killed all muslims. When your soldiers rape and kill innocent young muslim girls, it is as if you raped the entire Islamic world. They see that when your drone kills one innocent man woman or child, it is as if you murdered the entire population of the earth. That verse should be a warning. Islam takes life seriously.]
The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism; it is an important part of promoting peace.
[reply: If you really see Islam as part of the solution to America’s security, then tell that to US congress, and pass a law in favour of Islam. But somehow muslims know that Islam will always be a target by America and Europe. You need to prove your intentions by deeds, Mr Obama. Muslims currently see that America hates Islam.]
Now, we also know that military power alone is not going solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
[reply: Its good that you realised this after 8 years of getting no where. Better late than never. You should have learnt the lesson from Russia and Vietnam.]
That's why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who've been displaced.
[reply: Isn’t it even better for America to not force people to flee their homes in the first place. Change the stupid and absurd US policies. Muslims are not fools. They blame the US when its policies force them to leave their homes. ]
That's why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend on.
[reply: You can help Afghans by not killing them with US drones, and breaking into their home in middle of the night. That creates more hatred and damage for America than your 2.8 billion dollars can undo.]
Now, let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible.
Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be."
Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people...
[reply: Actually, it is the brave Iraqi people that have made it clear to Washington that they will not allow the US to get away with its plans in Iraq.]
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August.
That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012.
[reply: The truth is that US military will finally retreat from Iraq after its humiliating defeat at the hands of the Iraqi resistence against illegal American occupation of their country. Its like Vietnam. The whole world knows that US did not pull out of Vietnam. No. America was kicked out. ]
We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron.
[reply: US has realised that the Iraqis will never be its puppets like other Arab nations.]
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget our principles.
[reply: Is Guantanamo Bay one of American principles of fairness and justice? Muslims see Abu Ghraib as a clear symbol of what US really stands for. For God’s sake, America had a Vice President promoting torture openly on TV. That’s pure evil. ]
9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country.
[reply: 9/11 was also a disaster for millions of innocent muslims killed by rampaging US military. Bush was no different from Bin Laden. ]
The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable. But in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals.
[reply: So, why are Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld still roaming free. Is it also a US tradition to let the criminal walk? Muslims all over the world now believe that crimes committed muslims are not punishable in US.]
We are taking concrete actions to change course.
[reply: Until America punishes the torturers and murderers and invaders, the muslim world is simply not going to believe empty and deceptive claims coming from the White House. US needs to put the wrongs right.]
I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
[reply: Muslims see that Mr Obama unequivocally has let go of those officials who tortured muslims. Muslims believe that in America some officials are above the law. Your actions only prove this charge. You gave immunity to criminals.]
So America will defend itself, respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
[reply: Muslims see that US is only concerned with supporting its puppets in Arab countries. The very fact that you stand in Egypt where your ally Mubarak fills the torture chambers with political prisoners proves to muslims that you are not interested in their freedom and liberty. Muslims see that age old US policies will continue forever.]
Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
America's strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakable.
[reply: Nothing is unbreakable. Muslims believe that if the US does not alter its unfair and biased policies, not only Israel will be harmed, the US itself may be attacked by Al Qaeda terrorists. America cannot win unless it respects wishes the muslim populations.]
It is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
[reply: Muslims are not responsible for Jewish sufferings in Europe. So, don’t try to shift the blame to Arabs. It was Christians who persecuted and murdered the Jews. Holocaust was not carried out by the Muslims.]
Around the world the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries. And anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust.
[reply: Its is not unprecedented to Muslims. As far they are concerned, they see their own holocaust being carried out by Israel with full US assistance.]
Tomorrow I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich.
[reply: Muslims see that West remembers the dead but not the living who suffer right now. Would you Mr Obama also visit Gaza where population is being imprisoned in the world’s largest jail; where men women and children are being bombed daily, shot, kidnapped and being starved to death by the Fourth Reich. Muslims see that America has no love for them.]
Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful.
[reply: One President’s fact is another President’s lie. Muslims would rather believe President Ahmadinejad than the deceptive US presidents.]
Threatening Israel with destruction or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews is deeply wrong and only serves to evoke in the minds of the Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
[reply: What about US and Israel threatening Muslim countries with wars or repeating racist anti-muslim views? Is that deeply right?]
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years, they've endured the pain of dislocation.
Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank and Gaza and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations, large and small, that come with occupation.
[reply: Why don’t you name the country that is doing this to the Palestinians. Muslims say that for past 60 years, it is US and its ally Israel that are involved together in the brutal oppression of innocent Palestinian people. Both countries continue to violate basic human rights of muslims in Palestine.]
So let there be no doubt, the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable.
[reply: US can end the suffering of Palestinians muslims right now, but it does not chose to do so. Muslims know that America turns a blind eye again and again to the murder and suppression of Palestinians by Israel. Why?]
And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity and a state of their own.
[reply: America has always turned its back on Palestine since 1948. Muslims do not have any hope that US will change its practices. Nice speeches cannot fool 900 million muslims.]
For decades, then, there has been a stalemate.
[reply: No Mr Obama. That is not true. There is no stalemate. One side has won albeit through cheating. Israel has won a state with US help. Palestine is not even on the map; it has been wiped out by Israel with US backing.]
Two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It's easy to point fingers.
[reply: And why does US points its fingers only at muslims and never towards Israel?]
For Palestinians to point to the displacement brought about by Israel's founding and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history, from within its borders as well as beyond.
[reply: For their suffering, the Muslim world points fingers only at the United States. America not only refuses to help muslims in a real way, but it supports enemies of muslim. Israel is a glaring example. ]
But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth.
[reply: Muslims believe that US already blindly follows Israel.]
The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.
[reply: Muslims believe that the only solution is to get the US to become less biased and be a bit more just.]
That is in Israel's interests, Palestine's interests, America's interests and the world's interests. And that's why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all of the patience and dedication that the task requires.
[reply: That is so true. Muslims think that all US Presidents are so patient when it comes to Palestine that they are willing to pass the problem to their grandsons. But Muslims are not so patient when America and its allies are violating their rights. They will begin hating US more and more. ]
The obligations — the obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them and all of us to live up to our responsibilities.
[reply: US only fulfils its responsibilities towards Israel. Palestinians are left to the dogs. Compare the billions of dollars given to Israel with $230.85 handed to Gaza after the destruction of muslim homes bombed with US made planes and explosives.]
Palestinians must abandon violence.
[reply: What MUST the Israeli’s do? Why doesn’t America ever give orders like this to the chief terrorist state in Middle East. Show some guts Mr Obama. Can Israel continue with its violence against the innocent Palestinians?]
Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed.
[reply: Didn’t you just tell us that America came to exist through resistance against the British Empire? Or was your victory achieved by having cups of tea with the British forces in Pennsylvania. It’s a great shame that any American President speaks against the idea of resistance against occupation and oppression. Such hypocrisy is shocking to any reasonable person.]
For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America's founding.
[reply: Let me remind you Mr Obama, that it was large scale riots and violence across America that led to black being granted equal rights and freedoms. Your CIA assassinated Blacks leaders.]
This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia, to Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: violence is a dead end. It is a sign neither of courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children or to blow up old women on a bus.
[reply: Or to kill innocent men women and children by unmanned US drones that dropping bombs on wedding parties. Or to kidnap muslim suspects and hold them in secret prisons, waterboard. Is that very brave of US soldiers? ]
That's not how moral authority is claimed, that's how it is surrendered.
[reply: Thats exactly why the muslim world sees America as morally bankrupt, and not in a position to lecture anyone about what is moral and immoral. US has lost its moral high ground. It is now in the gutter. ]
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern with institutions that serve the needs of its people.
Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have to recognize they have responsibilities, to play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, to unify the Palestinian people.
[reply: Muslims think that US wont let Hamas do any good for its people. US even allowed Israel to destroy Gaza and kill democratically elected Hamas.]
Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, recognize Israel's right to exist.
[reply: If Israel does not recognize past agreement, why should Hamas. US is always one sided, hypocritical.]
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.
This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
[reply: Why do you not simply call Israeli settlements illegal.]
And Israel must also live up to its obligation to ensure that Palestinians can live and work and develop their society. Just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security, neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank.
[reply: Israel only does all those terrible things with your money Mr Obama. It is US green light that makes Israel oppress muslims in Gaza and West Bank. White House helps devastate Palestinian families.]
Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be a critical part of a road to peace. And Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.
[reply: Muslims want US to take concrete steps against Israel to ensure it stops brutality and humiliation of Palestinians.]
And, finally, the Arab states must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibility. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state, to recognize Israel's legitimacy and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.
[reply: What!! Does US want Arabs to accept Israel BEFORE Israel accepts the basic rights of Palestinians. That is crazy. No wonder muslims say that US is blindly siding with Israel all the time. ]
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and we will say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs.
[reply: Muslims don’t trust you Mr Obama. You will continue to supply Israel with weapons and money to kills and destroy innocent muslim families in Gaza and West bank.]
We cannot impose peace.
But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away.
[reply: Actually most muslims believe that Israel’s days are numbered. Without US help it wont survive 72 hours. Muslims see the US as the only protecting guardian of Israel.]
Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state.
[reply: No they don’t. Polls show Israel would rather murder all Arabs than give up their promised land to muslims. US has to pressure them hard. This problem cannot be solved with nice speeches.]
It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.
[reply: Everyone? Muslims world will not give up the fight until Israel gives up Jerusalem, Islam’s third holiest city. No point denying this fact. Jerusalem is an occupied city since 1967 and US must order Israel to withdraw.]
Too many tears have been shed, too much blood has been shed.
[reply: Too much muslim blood has been shed. Islamic world knows that Israel has killed far more muslims with US weapons than Palestinians have killed Israelis. Violence against any civilians is wrong.]
All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians could, can see their children grow up without fear, when the holy land of the three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be, when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra — as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed — peace be upon them — joined in prayer.
[reply: That day can come if US compels Israel to be more just and less oppressive and seek serious peace with muslims. People want the US to set a timetable for establishment of Palestine.]
The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons. This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself, in part, by its opposition to my country. And there is, in fact, a tumultuous history between us.
In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government.
[reply: Now US needs to officially apologise to Iran. Also, US needs to payback billion of dollars of Iranian money. ]
Since the Islamic revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known.
[reply: US has kidnapped Iranian diplomats and took them hostages. US also took part in killing of millions of Iranians by supporting Saddam in Iraq. Us remained silent when Saddam used chemical weapons against Iranians and his own people. US has blood on its hands. ]
Rather than remain trapped in the past, I've made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward.
[reply: US has constantly threatened Iran. It is still doing so.]
The question now is not what Iran is against but, rather, what future it wants to build.
I recognize it will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude, and resolve.
There will be many issues to discussion between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect.
[reply: Then White House needs to quickly invite Iranian leaders to Washington and hold practical talks to promote peace.]
But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests.
It's about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
[reply: Muslim world knows that Israel already has started that nuclear arms race. America has done nothing to stop Israel.]
Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons.
[reply: So why does US picks on Iran and not on Israel. This is the double standards which makes muslims hate America.]
And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
[reply: Yes. Selective democracy. The symbol of US hypocrisy.]
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years. And much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq.
[reply: US was not willing to give democracy to people of Iraq. Iraqis then forced Bush to hold elections in 2005.]
So let me be clear. No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.
Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election.
[reply: But you do act against the elected parties which the US does not like. You just said that US removed democratically elected government in Iran. US refuses to accept Hamas whom public voted for. US is in denial about Hezbollah, another popular choice of people in Lebanon. Yet, US welcomes unelected Arab leaders and makes deals even with dictators.]
But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people, the freedom to live as you choose. These are not just American ideas. They are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere.
[reply: That’s not true. Please do not lie. US does not recognise Hamas who were freely chosen by the Palestinians people.]
Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for all their people.
[reply: US recognises non-peaceful governments like Israel; and it also accepts tyrants around the world who are unelected. Muslims cannot figure out where exactly does US stand. ]
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others.
[reply: During the election campaign, you, Mr Obama, wanted to ban torture and arrest those who did it. But some lobbies have changed your fair mind. You are now protecting the criminals. ]
So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party.
Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
[reply: Terrific speech, but its all hollow. You don’t practice what you preach Mr Obama. Why don’t you condemn your allies who ban muslim ladies from wearing a head scarf. Or, could it be that minority rights do not apply to muslims?]
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom. Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it first hand as a child in Indonesia where devout Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.
That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul.
This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive. But it's being challenged in many different ways. Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith.
[reply: And some Bible preachers in America openly pour hatred for Islam in order to prove they are good Chrisitians.]
The richness of religious diversity must be upheld, whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt.
And if we are being honest, fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
[reply: Shia and Sunnis are sects among Muslims just like Catholics and Protestants are sects among Christians. They are not the business of Washington who tries its best to play one side against the other. US promotes sectarian divisions and fans the flames. Muslims know American plans of divide and rule. ]
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which people protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfil their religious obligation.
That's why I'm committed to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfil zakat.
Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit, for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear.
[reply: Why don’t you name and condemn your allies who deny people to practice their religion freely? Tell France and Germany to stop oppression the rights of muslims ladies to wear the hijab.]
We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.
[reply: Say it plainly Mr Obama, that France is now an oppressive nation after it is preventing women from practicing their faith.]
In fact, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims and Jews.
That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations.
[reply: The king is unelected and does not represent the will of the people. How can US welcome him?]
Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service so bridges between peoples lead to action, whether it is combating malaria in Africa or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue — the sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
I know, and you can tell from this audience, that there is a healthy debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal. But I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.
And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear, issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, we've seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead.
Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life and in countries around the world. I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons.
Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal. And I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice.
That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
[reply: Islamic world has kept its moral and traditional family values that were abandoned by liberal west in the 1960s. US dreams are not muslims dreams. Muslims see the West as decadent and sinful, letting their daughters be abused by boys and exploited for commercial interests. Muslims think that US plans to corrupt muslim societies by introducing nightclubs where girls and boys dance with other and commit all sort of immoral acts as they do in western nations during the weekends.]
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
[reply: To muslims that means exploitation of their resources by US in order to make them more poorer. ]
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence into the home.
[reply: Why don’t you ban such filth, and punish those who promote pornography. America is only corrupting its own children with sin and evil.]
Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities but also huge disruptions and change in communities. In all nations, including America, this change can bring fear; fear that, because of modernity, we lose control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly, our identities, those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions and our faith.
[reply: Mr Obama, you are in position to set things on a right and moral course. Why don’t you invite Bishops and Imams and Ayatollahs and other great thinkers to make set a change for a better human society in this age of high technology. ]
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradictions between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies enormously while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai.
In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education. And this is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work.
Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century. And in too...
And in too many Muslim communities, there remains under investment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investment within my own country. And while America, in the past, has focused on oil and gas when it comes to this part of the world, we new seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand change programs and increase scholarships like the one that brought my father to America.
At the same time, we will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America, invest in online learning for teachers and children around the world and create a new, online network so a young person in Kansas can communicate instantly with a young person in Cairo.
On economic development, we will create a new core of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim majority countries. And I will host a summit on entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim majority country and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create more jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia and appoint new science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitise records, clean water, grow new crops.
Today, I'm announcing a new global effort with the organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio.
And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments, community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address, but we have a responsibility to join together to behalf of the world that we seek, a world where extremists no longer threaten our people and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, a world where governments serve their citizens and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together. I know there are many, Muslim and non-Muslim, who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort, that we are fated to disagree and civilizations are doomed to clash.
[reply: You are a President Mr Obama. You can make laws to make sure that at least in your own country this does not happen. Please don’t blame others when you are holding the power.]
Many more are simply sceptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust that has built up over the years. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith in every country. You more than anyone have the ability to re-imagine the world, the remake this world.
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart or whether we commit ourselves to an effort, a sustained effort to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path.
There is one rule that lies at the heart of every religion that we do unto others, as we would have them do unto us.
This truth transcends nations and peoples, a belief that isn't new, that isn't black or white or brown, that isn't Christian or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It's a faith in other people. And it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek,
[reply: We don’t have that much power Mr Obama, but YOU do. Act on it.]
but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The holy Koran tells us: "Mankind, we have created you male and a female. And we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."
The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."
The holy Bible tells us: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth.
Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you. Thank you very much.
Thank you.
END
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