Thursday, June 04, 2009

A response to Obama’s speech in Cairo

Today (June 4), US President Obama gave a major speech in Cairo directed to Muslims worldwide.  In it he expressed the desire for a new start in relations between the United States and the Islamic world.

My friend and colleague, Todd Nettleton, posted a personal response to Obama’s speech this afternoon if which he wonders if the president really understands Islam. He asks, “…when President Obama says that ‘America and Islam…overlap and share common principles, principles of justice and progress, tolerance and the dignity of all human beings,’ I wonder how much he really knows about Islam?”

Todd then counters some of Obama’s assertions about Islam in his speech and  concludes, “Dialogue is important and proper. But dialogue based on a fantasy instead of reality will never bring about real and lasting change. The President's words were pretty, yes; even inspiring. But were they based on reality and truth?”

Based on his experience of working with persecuted Christians for the past 11 years, Todd answers, ‘Quite simply: no, they were not.”

I would encourage you to read Todd’s blog in its entirety.  I think he makes some significant points.

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