SMS: US-Muslim world ties

Wed, 06/10/2009 1:02 PM  |  Reader's Forum

Your comments on the recent speech made by President Barack Obama, who is seeking to restore US relations with the Muslim world.

Barack Obama's objective is to create dialogue and a climate of mutual understanding and acceptance. He wishes to work towards a peaceful and cooperative world where social justice becomes a mutual agenda.

The US has been blindly aggressive for more than half a century. This is now an opening for creating a positive change world wide.

I will build on this possibility with eyes wide open and with serious intent. Obama is balancing many needs and perspectives needed for internal US support and building them towards a world where justice and fairness have a greater chance of finding expression.

Pattiwael
Chicago

I don't mind what the Muslim communities' response is. They have every right to be agreeable or suspicious, or hateful.

What really counts is how the government of each Muslim country reacts to this show of good intention by the Obama administration.

Just bear in mind that change comes from a good start and trust, not suspicions and unwillingness to make things right!

Jerry Silaban
Medan

To me, it was a genuine speech. He covered a lot of issues that have been of great concern to the Muslim communities.

However, many comments follow suit, including specification on his policies regarding the relationship with the Muslim world.

We need to understand that the speech was not a policy speech, it was only a head start - a marker of what he is doing and what he intends to do.

Of concern to me was only one thing, he did not talk enough about what he wants to do internally (in the US) to change their perceptions of Muslims, instead he focused more on how to change the perception of the Muslim communities about America.

Farid Arrisyad
Singapore

We Muslims should take a kind attitude, then wait and see.

E Nurdin
Jakarta

President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo about the US relationship with the Muslim world is honest, humble, true and outlines a clear direction for solving the existing problems.

Of course a considerable number of our clerics, especially the fundamentalists and those who don't master the English language, will remain unsympathetic and hostile.

It needs common understanding and efforts of all parties involved to solve the decades old Palestinian and al-Qaeda cases. I wish President Obama success!

Soebagjo Sotadji
Jakarta

If you really mean what you said about Israel/Palestine, then be ready. Other than that it was an above average speech.

SJ
Jakarta

He pointed only one thing: have peace at heart. In one point, I agree with him. But, as long as there are hypocrites and extremist he will have to move fast or else his words will be for nothing.

Jeffrey
Jakarta

It was a promising start, but it's no good if it is not followed up soon by concrete action on the part of the Obama administration and backed up as well by the American people. Amongst the latter there is still too many misconceptions and mistrust against the Muslim world and Islam in general, so Obama should tackle that issue, too.

VT Hopkins
Jakarta

US president Barack Obama's speech should be reflected in his real foreign policies.

Yogi Suwasono
Tangerang, Banten

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