Obama and the Muslim World

I read that following President Obama's stay in Turkey, he dropped in on Iraq. Our stay in Iraq and the continuing violence in Afghanistan, along with the problems in Pakistan, among other places, has contributed to the declining image of Muslims in the world. For those insistent on American being a "Christian nation" it is difficult to embrace the idea of pluralism, wherein Muslims might have a place in our society. And yet they must, for they are amongst us. Indeed, just yesterday I was listening to NPR in the car, and an essay was being read that was written by Muhammad Ali. Ali is a Muslim and yet pretty generally beloved in America -- have we forgotten that?

I have already posted on Obama's speech in Ankara, but came across Diana Butler Bass's reflections at Progressive Revival on Obama's speech and its implications. She notes that while 81% of Americans hope Obama can help with our relationships with the Muslim world, only 41% of Americans have a positive view of Muslims -- a number smaller than in October 2001. That is not a good trend.

In her reflections, Diana speaks of the dilemma faced by Obama and people of all faiths who seek to remain faithful to their traditions and yet also offer respect and honor to those of other faiths.

And it amounts to a sort of political "push-me/pull-you" for the Obama administration. Long tagged by mean-spirited internet rumors of being a secret Muslim intent on undermining America, Obama has walked a careful religious tightrope of defending his own Christian faith while being sensitive to two historical facts: 1) that America is ever-more religiously diverse, a pluralism that includes at least as many Muslims as it does Jews; and 2) that our greatest international challenge is to understand, work with, and respect those countries where the world's second largest religion--Islam--shapes the lives and politics of millions and millions of people. On one hand, he needs to personally and politically stand for his own faith; on the other, he must befriend--both politically and personally--those whose religious views are misunderstood by a large number of Americans.

In short, President Obama faces on a grand scale the same challenge that regular folks face everyday: How can one be fully a person of faith (in the president's case, a Christian) and yet, at the very same time, to fully respect and understand the faith of others? Theologians refer to this as the problem of particularity and universality, of maintaining a one's identity in relationship to a more inclusive whole. Once upon a time, people could isolate themselves to nation-states where everyone shared the same religion--and nations did go to war with other nations and other religions.

If we are to live together in peace, then we must understand and respect each other. Our President shouldn't have to defend his own faith in order to work to create a positive relationship with nations and peoples who are of a different faith. Ultimately, if we don't larn to work together and live together we will put the world on a disastrous course. That may be the intent of some, but for my part, I do think the President has taken a step forward these past two days. I believe that Diana Butler Bass would agree!