Obama-Muslims- "A New Page"

At the risk of Joy's eyes rolling back into the back of her skull, never to be seen again (and they're so beautiful; what a tragedy that would be) I'm going to make this post all about Obama's big speech in Cairo.  Since most of my friends come to me for the right answer on these hot button issues because I'm the "expert" on the region, I thought I would do my best to somewhat thoroughly, if not cogently, walk through the major issues at hand.  Now, granted, I'm not perfect, I don't know everything, and in the interest of time, I'm sure any given point could be hyper-analyzed to point out the many fallacies that surely exist in this post, but I hope it gives a broad overview...I always cringe when i hear "broad" in any scholarly context, because it is usually followed by a load of uninformed crap.  I hope that's not the case.  Anyway, a friend sent me this link, and it was the catalyst for this response:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/worldview/090604/obamas-speech-reaction-dubai

My response ( in regard to his speech) undedited for grammar, etc.:

I waffled on this...my initial reaction was it was very good...I liked it even better when I heard it in English...then I had buyer's remorse later that day. I spent most of last night reading Arab print, listening to real opinions,...by this morning, I was back in favor of it... The issues are complex, but here's where I think it was very effective. What was the point? Fair or unfair, the debate/dialogue needed to be shifted...Demagogue, or not, Obama did that very well. You should have heard the Cairo University students on BBC Arabic...they were as thrilled as young Americans for Obama to be there. So, energy/enthusiasm for re-engagement, check. Well done. Central issue for the Arab world (not necessarily the Muslim world), Palestine. Called for a stop to new settlements. Bravo. This was the hardest issue for me in grad school, the actions of Israel/plight of Palestinians. As Christians, we are reared with this unwavering support for Israel and blindness to the Palestinians. The more I read and saw, I had a hard time juxtaposing the treatment and reality on the ground with my Christian faith. Why do we support Israel so unwaveringly? where does this 10B a year go? So, for Obama to make that call, bravo. Furthermore, Israelis and Palestinians reacted favorably to this particular section of his speech. That's half the battle. The Quranic verses played very well. Let me explain, Arab culture is steep in pride. They loved it...I mean loved it. The criticism of Hamas and the "right" here in the US are fair, though. ..there are many details left unspoken. But if the goal was to shift the debate, re-energize dialogue, I think he did that well. The other criticism was the absence of the word "terror". Initially, I thought the "right" had a good point. Why not be honest with the Islamic states? Terrorism is what happened on 9/11, right? I've kinda softened on this...I understand the anger from the right. But, I kind of equate it to the Confederate flag debate. Stay with me...In a moral vacuum, do I think the Confederate flag is racist? No, not at all. But, fairly or unfairly, it has been highjacked by radical elements, or thrust in that limelight by some African-Americans as a symbol of oppression...my point is that in my own life, I gave up this little defense I used to have of the Confederate flag, because if the overall goal is equality, justice, peace, dialogue, who gives a damn? It's not worth the fight. Same here with the word "terror". So what if Obama doesn't say TERROR. As long as he is taking strong action, I don't care. If he starts rolling over in Iraq or Afghanistan or Pakistan...my viewpoint is going to shift. This is where I think the "right" is dead wrong. I love America. I want us to succeed. But we as Americans, right and left must be willing to retreat from these inflexible talking points driven by MSNBC and FOX and the like, and see issues the way they really are...talk about realities...strive to remove power and pride from the equation. Lastly, I had to chuckle at Karl Rove, saying that there was no plan to implement democracy in the Middle East...that being a fault, purportedly, in Obama's speech...did he not bear witness to Iraq? These guys are so relentless in defense of their actions...How can he possible still espouse implementing democracy in the region? Finally, I think his lack of steps for democracy was the real genius of his speech. Let me explain: The real issues of the next century for the Arab world/ Muslim world (again, i'm using them side by side but reminding that I'm not in any way suggesting they are the same) will not be terror or radicalism, but water issues/wars on water/womens' rights/exploding population growth. Do you know that the population growth in the Middle East over the last 40-50 yrs is equal to Europe over a 500 year period? Think about that...wow. I don't have the exact numbers, but the percentage of Arabs/Muslims under the age of 30 is staggering, in some places upward to 70% or higher! Wow! So, no, Obama didn't outline steps from the authoritarian regimes/states in power, but rather encouraged the young people to reform/lead reform/ encouraged opening education to women, etc...wonderful approach. As I watch Al-Arabiyya, Al-Jazeera every day, i think it is ironic that most Americans think these channels are just propogandist puppets...Wrong. First, the coverage is actually pretty good, much better than any of our big 3 networks...Secondly, the great irony, is that unwittingly, slowly, broadcast by broadcast, year by year, the Arab world, and a huge section of Muslims worldwide, are being exposed to Western ideals...Al-Jazeera has women without a hijab giving the news, Lebanon Broadcasting Corp has a version of American Idol, hilarious by the way...We cannot force the change. We can hold our ground, encourage human rights, provide humanitarian assistance (highjack the moral legitimacy of groups like Hamas and Hizbullah!), espouse education in the region for women...and I think we will see better results in the future. I could go into more detail, but i think this covers my basic viewpoint. I'm glad to elaborate the premise of any of these viewpoints in greater detail.

Follow-up Response:

The one other thing I meant to add, and must now that i've read your link, is that idea of the "Muslim World." This was perhaps the most well-educated criticism of the entire idea of the speech, and it came from the Council on Foreigns Relations, an academic think tank held in the highest esteem...very centrist to moderately liberal, not a partisan body...they argued the whole speech was mis-guided because it perpetuates the very prism, model we're trying to break, US, or us VS. them, Muslims, when he addressed the "Muslim" world. So I thought it was very insightful when the author at the end of the article raised that same concern. dubai, is interestingly enough, quite the place to get some reaction because all the migrant laborers...The Arab culture is wrought with pride; it is hard to sit at the "big table" when you can't publicly acknowledge the deprivation of human/workers/womens rights in place like Dubai where rich Arabs prosper on the de facto slavery of a whole class of imported labor or when the Arab summit welcomes Omar Basheer, the butcher of Darfur, to its table. So, as Obama said, the US must speak frankly, but the Arabs must be frank with themselves and others, too.

Those are my most basic thoughts on this issue.  I have numerous concerns about some of Obama's domestic policies, and even with this, as Iran, Hamas, and others on the "Arab Street" have pointed out, the devil is in the  details.  But I remain, perhaps foolishly,مُتَفائل

(optimistic). And so, I bid you: في أمَنِ الله من اليوم إلى يوم القيامة (Stay in the security of God from today until the day of Judgment.)

Daniel