Obama to Arabs: US Isn't Your Enemy

reply to post by projectvxn

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Only when Muslim countries have separation of church and state there will be peace…

reply to post by Fire Dragon

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Or, only when we start to TRY to understand their culture instead of changing it will there be peace.

And I find the U.S' constant proverbial ass kissing of Israel and jewish lobbyists to be equally sickening.



The Arab and Muslim world does not consider America as it's enemy, apparently the opposite is the case



Maybe when America stops swearing in it's presidents with Bibles at each inauguration, then maybe you could make such a claim.

[edit on 28/1/09 by Majorion]

reply to post by projectvxn

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Thanks for posting this. I was previously unaware why some people spell in Moslem instead of Muslim.

I truly wonder how it is people are so quick and desirous to judge an entire culture by its most radical minority elements. It doesn’t do just a disservice to the culture being so harshly judged by but has a huge detrimental impact on those rushing to judge so harshly.

Think where our economy in the United States would be at today had it not spent the trillions of dollars our Middle East policies cost us but had instead invested just a portion of that in overcoming ignorance and stereotypes and fostering a broader understanding between cultures and societies replete with truly shared common goals for the common good rather than forcing common goals at the point of a gun. I truly don’t see Muslims leading the charge for a broad cultural/religious war with the Judean/Christian West. It looks more like to me the Judean/Christian West leading the charge by claiming every outrageous way possible the Muslim/East is committed to such a war. I really don’t see them committed to anything really beyond the right to self determination which based on our own constitution we should be the first to encourage.

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler

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I'll gladly tell you how, media manipulation and Hollywood.

Not a one liner.

reply to post by Majorion

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The United States sure has morphed in some counterproductive ways since the Treaty of Tripoli in 1898 where President John Adams wrote “The United States is by no means in any way a Christian nation”.

Invariably over the proceeding centuries politicians looking for politics to be a career as opposed to a public service have become reliant upon special interest funding and voting blocks to hold on to their jobs.

Religious elements within our Union should have never received the disproportionate influence they have misused starting with their first inroads into affecting domestic policy during the U.S. Civil War and foreign policy after the creation of Israel from the ruins of the British Mandate of Palestine. It is those religious elements having such sway that has led too much of our lopsided and disastrous Middle East foreign policy. It is just the kind of hypocrisy of lambasting Muslim Nations for not separating Church and State while Israel too is clearly a form of theocracy government that is typical of that lopsided and often ingenuous approach we take towards relationships in the region that exasperates sensible and fair solutions being promoted.

I wish more moderate Arab/Muslims would take to the Internet to display just how incorrect the stereotyping is.

I would be thrilled if President Obama could help tear down those false perceptions and start building some real bridges to greater understanding and cooperation.

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler

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So would I.

But here I'm watching Fox News, and they seem to be particularly displeased with Obama reaching out to Muslims on Al-Arabiyah. They are especially annoyed at Obama NOT mentioning the "ism", like terrorism, fascism, radicalism etc..

It seems to be the only vocabulary the American media like to associate with Arabs and Muslims.

reply to post by Majorion

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There is no denying that media and Hollywood have a lot to do with it but that is an excuse that can only go so far.

Common sense says that not all of a society is influenced or under the direct control or sway of its most radical elements. I have known American Arabs and Muslims all my life practically and I have yet to meet one even remotely interested in wiping out Western culture or forcing non-Muslims to convert. They have always been like everyone else I know, just wanting to earn a decent living, takes care of their families, and to live a quality life absent of crime and violence. The only overwhelming drive I have ever witnessed amongst any of them regarding religion is to simply meet their obligation to visit Mecca on day for pilgrimage. I am sorry but I just don’t see any threat in Arabs or Muslims. Radical elements within Islam are hardly any different than radical elements within our own society. I don’t think there is a black American or Jewish American that really expects the KKK or the Skin Heads to take over the United States or a white American that thinks that the Black Panthers will.

There just isn’t much excuse in my humble opinion for people not taking the time to get to really know and understand a group of people being labeled as a threat. I think the recent War in Gaza has clearly displayed there are a vast number of Americans and Westerners if not a true majority who are challenging the media depictions and stereo types. I think there is a good chance one of the reasons Israel has had to scale back it’s operations in Gaza is because of that.

Ultimately peace only comes through words and sooner or later people who genuinely want peace have to talk about it to get it.

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler

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It's not an excuse, it's a fact. 3/4 of the major media outlets are owned by jews. And the other is more pro-Israel than the rest even though not owned by jews.

A prominent American politician would differ with you on this; I strongly urge you to watch this video in full ProtoplasmicTraveler;

YouTube Link

Yes I agree that there has been a recent upsurge in Americans challenging media and stereotypes, but still not the majority as you say;

The majority of Americans don't share the views of open minded ATSers.



Of course open dialogue is always helpful, but words aren't enough, peace only ultimately comes through actions.

reply to post by Majorion

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Part of that no doubt stems from the commercialism that has destroyed independent unbiased journalism in the United States as networks appeal to their demographics by editorializing the news to slant it to reflect their target audience’s political views.

Part of it is just shameful propagandizing aimed at societal conditioning and control.

I watched a piece on CNN that Paula Zahn hosted not to long ago about people in the United States who believe that the 9-11 attacks were carried out by Israel and not Muslims. There were three people on the panel besides Paula, a black woman who was representing the conspiracy theory side, an American representing the anti-Defamation League and another American who was an expert on various 9-11 conspiracies. Paula Zahn opened the segment visibly indignant that anyone in their right mind could even say let alone believe Israel might have carried out the attacks. That exaggerated intendancy led to her insulting the woman invited to discuss why some Americans are suspicious Israel carried out the attack, and the other two guests of the panel so that the woman hardly got a word in edgewise and valiantly but vainly tried to keep them from attacking her and to at least hear the message.

That’s what is so blatantly wrong with the media and the system is that journalists are no longer interested in considering anything openly and honestly that doesn’t fit the story they are trying to sell. In my humble opinion anyone could have carried out those attacks and until someone is convicted in a court of law no one is guilty of them and everyone who could have something to gain in carrying them out should be considered a possible suspect. Our press no longer thinks like that. In fairness though in several high profile domestic murder cases the press has become adept at convicting the accused in the court of public opinion long before the case ever comes to trial that almost always ends up in that defendant convicted in large part because of all the negative and condemning press coverage in these cases where the only real evidence is primarily circumstantial. Our Media has become the circus of the Roman days where individual people and whole societies are thrown to the lions with gusto for entertainment and political purposes. It’s a travesty.

reply to post by Majorion

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Fox caters to Neo Conservatives who are by and large evangelical Christians who lean towards Zionism. In some ways the evangelical Zionists are the most militant of all the types that make up the Zionist movement. As evolutionist theories and movements gain more acceptance and supporters the Evangelical right sees the potential promise of Bible prophecy coming true as validating their scriptures and beliefs. Even though they understand it would be the Anti-Christ ruling from it, they are more anxious than anyone to see the Third Temple built and are aware that it requires tearing down the Dome of the Rock and likely sparking a war with Islam in the process. Their agenda seems to be to vilify the Muslims to the extent that a preemptive war could eliminate a retaliatory war for tearing down the Dome of the Rock. In my humble opinion it’s collective insanity at best and mass stupidity at worst. The insane can be cured sometimes quicker and to a greater extent than the stupid and ignorant can be taught.




No it’s not a majority yet but the Internet is helping a lot. I blog on mainstream forums from my city’s newspaper online, to a number of topic forums on the Internet. I know everyone for the most part on both sides of the coin has good intentions based on their personal beliefs and level of understanding, but a lot of pro-Israel posters did not do a good job at showing any flexibility or open mindedness or considering that any of the responsibility for the troubles leading to the war could possibly be Israel’s. I don’t know if they lost many friends or any at all by that approach but they didn’t make any new ones through it as many of the pro-Israel side appeared to be overly violent. I think they know they have a real public relations mess on their hand and monitor it extremely closely.




Sage words, I too am not sure action will spring from this, but as long as a dialogue is open the chance remains that people can be challenged to live up to their words through actions.

I watched the video you posted and I have to say Mr. Duke held his position respectably and I think he got some major points across in common sense type of ways. Regardless of propaganda efforts Israel nor should any other nation or party underestimate the huge level of dissatisfaction currently felt by Americans over the economy, while the powers that be are banking on a sheepish response where Americans might compromise their core values even more than ever, the pendulum is just as likely to swing the other way where citizens become just to tired of all the economic drains of these wars, and the corruption and manipulation wrapped up in them and respond by displaying their core values and rebel against the system’s attempt to create a fear based police state. I honestly think that’s the 50 million dollar question everyone around the world right now is waiting to see. Thanks for all your great posts!

Because I did not spell something correctly I am ignorant. Thats rich. Just because I have a diffrent view than you, does not mean that I am wrong. I am not some snot nosed liberal kid, like a lot of people here. I probably have double the years and experience under my belt, than most of you have.
I respect that you have your view, so please respect mine. That is what makes freedom great, we have that right to disagree, and lobby for the cause that we think is right. There is no need for personal attacks.
So here is an offering of a solution. We need to knock off sucking up to all sides. Let them fight it out if they want to. Lets get back to basics in our country, and worry about us and our problems, not other nations.

Once we solve our own problems in this country, then maybe we will be in a position to help others.

[edit on 29-1-2009 by KnowMore]

This is all lip service and I am not buying it. Obama's words are just that, words. I prefer to call it a script. This latest show is meant to appease the Obama masses and pander to the Muslims. The Muslims are going to play Obama like Nero's violin.

Radical Muslims despise all Western Cultures period. This will not change with Obama. This will only change if the radical leaders are removed from power from within their own countries.

Recently, Iran has made statements that we need to change our approach with them. Right. We change they don't. They may only change long enough to get something from us. Are we expected to establish our foreign policy based on what they tell us to do? Push over President just like Carter. The only difference is that Carter grabbed his ankles and never let go.

Quid pro quo is the only way anything, domestic or international, gets done in politics.

reply to post by jibeho

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Yeah I know exactly where your quoting all your so called info from, none other than Fox News of course. This rhetoric is nonsensical anyway, if you have a problem with Obama's reaching out to Muslims, then you should also have a problem with the U.S' constant Israel support and lip service too.

reply to post by Majorion

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I think maybe that is part of the problem. When the most radical element on the Western side of the coin typically find its in the position to make policy it becomes harder for them to believe the most radical element on the Eastern side of the equation isn't also making policy. Of course in some isolated cases it is out of political necessity to counter the actions and rhetoric of the West. The trick is getting the decision and public relations out of the hands of the most radical elements on both sides. Then I think we would have an atmosphere where meaningful dialouge could occur.