Cooperation and Conflict: Obama's Cairo Speech

In Cairo, President Obama employed a variety of historical, liturgical, and political references to express America's hope for a new beginning with the Islamic world.

Obama also noted that, "The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars." His speech's references embody this tension, containing potential for both cooperation and conflict.

Here are ten critical lines from Obama's Cairo speech and the potential for cooperation and conflict they embody:

1. "I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum."

Obama opens by invoking the customary greeting, "Peace be upon you," and he uses the appropriate plural ending. He also sets the cooperative tone of the speech, in which he hopes for a new beginning of peace.

2. "As the Holy Koran tells us, 'Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.' That is what I will try to do - to speak the truth as best I can[.]"

This line, from Surah al-Ahzaab, illustrates the admirable desire to speak freely and frankly. However, the Al-Ahzaab focuses on the confederacy of the non-believers that the Muslim armies fought. Surrounding passages describe the "Fire" awaiting non-believers and the leaders who have misled their people.

3." I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, 'The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.'"

The history of the Treaty of Tripoli exemplifies the history of cooperation and conflict between America and the Islamic world. On the cooperative front, the Treaty's signature line reads: "Signed and sealed at Algiers, the 4th day of Argill, 1211--corresponding with the 3d day of January, 1797."

However, Obama quoted only the second half of the first sentence of Article 11 of the Treaty, likely because of the contemporary domestic conflict the full sentence would engender. The first sentence of Article 11 reads in full: "As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility of Mussulmen." Mindful of the domestic conflict the opening line may bring, Obama avoids its discussion.

Additionally, Obama does not provide the Treaty's complete title: "Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli of Barbary." There are at least two reasons for Obama's truncation. First, the full title is too cumbersome. Second, and more significantly, the complete title reflects the troubled aftermath of the Treaty: The Barbary War against the Barbary Pirates. In 1801, the Treaty was broken by the Pasha of Tripoli, and Thomas Jefferson responded with war. The conflict lives on in the opening lines of the Marines' Hymn: ""From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli."

4. "We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: 'Out of many, one.'"

These words appear on every coin minted since 1873 and on the Seal of the United States. While the phrase originally referred to the political unification of the thirteen disparate colonies into one nation, Obama employs it to reference the pluralistic and multicultural nature of America. The famous phrase echoes a tension between cooperation and conflict present in both federalism and pluralism: How much must the individual surrender to become part of the collective? How much power should states retain, and what restrictions can society place on individual autonomy?

5. "The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind."

Here, Obama quotes a famous passage from Surah Al-Maidah, This Surah is also cited by extremists, who point to the later verse: "Surely (as for) those who disbelieve, even if they had what is in the earth, all of it, and the like of it with it, that they might ransom themselves with it from the punishment of the day of resurrection, it shall not be accepted from them, and they shall have a painful punishment."

6. "Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: 'I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.'"

The preceding line in Jefferson's letter of June 12, 1815 is more ominous and less multilateral: "Not in our day, but at no distant one, we may shake a rod over the heads of all, which may make the stoutest of them tremble."

7. "All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when . . . when the Holy Land [is] . . . a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer."

The Isra is documented in the Surah Al-Isra, and is more widely explicated in the Hadith, the Islamic oral tradition. The Isra (together with the Mi'raj) is known more widely in English as the Night Journey, when Mohammed's journeyed from Mecca to Jerusalem, ascended to heaven, and returned in a single night. The Surah Al-Isra also contains the more divisive phrase: "And that (as for) those who do not believe in the hereafter, We have prepared for them a painful punishment."

8. "There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples - a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew."

Here, Obama references Luke 6:31: "Do to others as you would have them do to you," which he also referenced at Notre Dame. Luke 6:49 is less supportive: "But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."

9. "The Holy Koran tells us, 'O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.'

"The Talmud tells us: 'The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.'

"The Holy Bible tells us, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.'"

First, Obama quotes the Surah Al-Hujurat, which earlier declares: "He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience." Second, Obama references Talmud Gittin, which, on the proceeding page, refers to Solomon's execution of his teacher, Shimei Ben Gera. Finally, Obama references the Book of Matthew, which contains harsher words later in the chapter: "But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

10. The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.

Obama ends the speech with the English translation of his opening "assalaamu alaykum," which is also the traditional departing greeting. Thus, while Obama's speech contains the echoes of cooperation and conflict, he opens and closes with an unambiguous hope for a new beginning of peace, cooperation, and co-existence.

Full disclosure: I have checked all Aramaic, English, Hebrew, and Latin references myself; for the references to the Koran I have used an English translation.

Comments

[MacQ]

George Bush said most of the same thing in his speech in Cairo, and other speeches he gave after 9-11. Including the Koran quotes.
The difference is that he had no PR. The press didn't pay much attention (much less tell us how wonderful it was). His people didn't pre-arrange the situation as a media event. Obama's people are very good at that. So goo that his whole presidency seems like a big media campaign.
Nonetheless, coming from Obama with the media fanfare, it was more powerful.
Will it matter?
Americans can feel good., I daresay many in the middle east nod and smile, but it won't matter to them.
Perhaps it got some ear in the street. Who knows. It was a good speech.

[dragonlady620]

Bush was noteworthy for saying one thing and doing the opposite. And his speeches got plenty of coverage. And there was nothing to say afterwards that didn't point out how his actions completely belied his words-which is likely why the media scarcely mentioned it.

[buckcable]

I can't believe why no one has done anything about the problems in this world. They seem so simple to me. The solutions are just a matter of good common sense. .

Maybe it's because the governments like the conflicts so they can spend more money on weapons while they keep the people in a state of fear. This is the best way to keep the people under control and avoid acting on the real problems that face this planet. Just think how much better off the world would be if all of this money was used to provide jobs, alleviate poverty, feed the hungry and educate the people.

Why must we maintain military bases all over the world? Why must we waste trillions of dollars so we can act as the world's policeman? It's time the UN does it's job.

[MacQ]

The may seem simple, but they are not simple. Because PEOPLE are involved. People who have conflicting agendas. There are people in the middle east who are convinced that we are profligate and should not let our gay people exist and our women be so uppity, and that we should either change and obey their laws or die. There are people in the world who like making war. Good luck convincing them otherwise with your "it's so simple" attitude. It's simple to them too.

[livinCalDemtbubble]

An outstanding analysis of an important speech! thank you Aaron

[argon66]

I thought Pres. Obama's speech was encouraging. I don't mind reaching out to moderate Muslims to bridge our religious differences. However, I would like to hear an outcry from moderate Muslims condemning the suicide bombings and torture of innocent women and children as being against Islam.

When the many do not speak out against the few, it leads me to believe that moderates give tacit approval to the radicals activity.

[dragonlady620]

Many Muslims have publicly deplored the extremists, but the news-at least US news rarely reports it.

[swanlake2004]

After 9/11, Bin La den could easily beat Saudi king at a fair election. He is widely accepted and admired by muslim world, but only few radical openly support him. Vast majority Muslim are silent and have tendency keep their opinion private. I hope this ease your curiosity why moderate Muslim do not speak against the extremists.

We will never win war on terror on convention military war. Because our enemy is not a sovereign nation. Osama lead people by his ideology, he is a good poet and masterful in accent Arabic. We must undercut him by charm offensive. It may sound naive by most of the people here, but it's far effective if you know how. Bush simply didn't use his brain to figure out win a war without military involve.

Obama is on the right track, the Cairo speech will go into history book. It's not about what he say, most of his speech already said by many people, but he present it in a way can win minds and hearts of the Muslim. Obama is the only one in Washington can deliver such speech.

However, I am less impress Obama grab another "world police" duty to his tight schedule. We need him solve problem in America, I only hope him force other party to share the work load and responsibility, USA shouldn't act this alone.

[andycan]

Never has the United States had such a great scholar as president.

[Pquilson]

Really? Is Mr. Obama more of a scholar than Thomas Jefferson? I think not.

[emmacop]

Sorry, but Obama left out the key statement out of his 6,000 words- the Arab world's support of terrorism is not acceptable.

Obama's dwelled on every possible permutation of shaming America and so little time telling others what America's expectations are from them. It's time he grows up and becomes a real leader.


"I like to deal with rightists. They say what they really think- not like the leftists, who say one thing and mean another", Mao Tse-tung (someone who would know)..

[CognitoErgoSum]

So you would only have been happy if President Obama had gone to Egypt and dictated to the Muslim world what they should do? That was the Bush administration's attitude and see where it got us?

[confidance government]

BO essentially asked the Arab world to look away while we continue rip the ME and Central Asia apart. If these words are not followed by actions, how much are they worth?

[OliverTwist]

I was pleased with most of Obama's speech but saddened that he felt the need to offer a judgement which many haved used and will use to rationalize the actions which led to the killing of about a million Iraqis and the displacement of about three million in a nation of about 24 million.

He said: "Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.""

It may be the fundamental American corruption that the ends justify the means. It allows American to imagine themselves as exceptionally good even while others see us as exceptionally evil.

Too bad.

[1dogs2]

The lines you quote point to the opposite of your conclusion -- namely, that the ends, even if good, do NOT justify the means.

[writerroz]

I too thought as did Idog, that the one out of ten points that you mentioned from Pres Obama's talk was a very strong and positive thought for his message. That wisdom should grow with power and that power not overcome wisdom. And it has been true of the whole time of Bush & Cheney that they believed the "ends justify the means." It was a strong point, describing power growing too big for wisdom. I'm afraid that sometimes our fears or misinformation get in the way of correctly understanding the message, and that is what is wrong with taking Limbaugh and his kind seriously.

[Zentrist]

Excellent. One is reminded of the debate between a certain Spencer, who says the problem is Islam and its sacred text--and those who over and over assert that Islam, deep down, is a religion of peace. For Spencer and Company, the difficulty lies in Islam and the Quran. Especially those texts in the Quran that advocate genocide for the infidels. Let us hope that the real Islam is not that extreme, and never will be. With Obama leading the way, the world has a chance of defeating the forces of violent extremism. My concluding thought, a question actually, is this: Are the vast majority of Muslims mediocre in their practice, like the vast majority of Christians? This question is both implicit and explicit, I believe, in the work of Robert Spencer, if I have his name right, on Islam.

[Naktyvyras]

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors." Surah 2 verse 190

[UKOH]

I lived in Saudi Arabia for a number of years and will answer two of your questions from my experience of living in a Muslim country.

(1) The vast majority of Muslims are indeed moderates. I used the greeting "Salam Alekum" (the singular version of Obama's greeting) to all Muslims at work. Only 1 out of approx. 130 objected to this - an Egyption who complained that an infidel should not use an Islamic greeting. (He is wrong - I referred this to respected Islamic scholars and it is both permitted and encouraged, along with Muslims giving presents to Christians at Christmas and Christians giving Ramadan presents to Muslims for the holy month of Ramadan). That makes one extremist in 130 - you do the math.

(2) Just like there are many who think Christianity consists of going to Church on a Sunday and that is religion "done" for the week, there are Muslims who were born into their faith but only pay lip service to following it. My experience was that these are far less common than the insincere Christian. For the vast majority of Muslims, Islam is a way of life that affects their every waking moment. It is a force of great good for the vast majority of them.

[KiwisCanFly]

Thank u, I found yr contribution interesting.

[Derelict outlaw]

I can confirm UKOH's sentiments about most of Islam's devotion to the practice and tenets of their religion. Islam in Arabic actually means Peace or the way of peace, but I would add this: when a christian fails to attend services regularly or even at all no one will come to his door impertinently and incessantly and ask him why not?

He will not be shunned and harmed in his community so that he won't get a loan or zakat (charity) or some ceremony for his children, I'm saying that as a rule his cleric and pastor won't denounce him in public and pressure his neighbors and children and wife to question his faith and devotion but in Islam that is absolutely what will occur.

He will be harassed and harmed until he conforms and returns to salah and will be expected to be even more devout for his past absence. If the christian attends a different sects services out of curiosity or to satisfy his wife's requirements he will not be stoned to death or harmed and ordered to be killed for his heretical attendance by his pastor, thus does the Islamic culture offend freedom of choice and of religious tolerance with murderous intensity and ignorance, Salaam alekum.

[3dtrix]

Thank you for this excellent and informative post! I am not troubled by the proximity of uplifting verse and text to darker passages immediately following (in whichever book) - I find it the nature of religious writing to be, in the main, call-and-response; this good thing weighed against this bad consequence, this depraved corruption contrasted with this impossible purity, strength and beauty. The holy books have always seemed to me to be a series of fables and morality tales interspersed along a soap-opera narrative - the highs and lows are just to keep you turning the pages...

[brownswan]

The treachings of Jesus, at least as recorded in Matthew and Mark, have noting to do with organized religion and complicated laws. Just the opposite, he teaches a devastating simplicity that NO nation, claiming to be Christian, has ever followed or espoused.

Asked which is the greatest Commandment, Jeus replied that he First was the greatest -- love God with heart and mind and strength -- but that the Second was like unto it: love thy neighbor as thyself.

It is not easy to love a distant abstraction -- a spiritual lord of the universe -- it may be well nigh impossible. But the Second Commandment is "like unto it." We can love our neighbor as ourself, and through that we do love God. Jesus is asked "who is my neighbor:" and the parable of the good Samaritan follows. Samaritans, to the Jews of Jesus time, were much like the Palestinians of today, looked down upon by their Jewish neighbors. And that was the point!

Of course, simply following this lesson - living according to its simple truth -- does not lead to the establishment of a religion, with priests and buildings and land holdings and a complicated theology and religious wars. Jesus said. "on these two Commandments rest all the Law and the Prophets." In other words, just look to loving your neighbor as yourself, and everything else will fall into place. We have never been a Christian nation in any sense that Christ would recognize -- nor has

[regellner]

Hopefully we can all come together and start fixing the issues in the Middle East. It is achievable but it is just a question of whether we can check our egos at the door...

Following is an article concerning Obama's speech in Egypt:

http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m6d5-President-Obamas-speech-brings-hope-of-peace-through-understanding


Raymond Gellner – Charlotte Liberal Examiner at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/x-11326-Charlotte-Liberal-Examiner
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________­____

[freshnotbitter]

Which one of the 10 numbered sections of O's speech is a "new beginning"? Did I miss something?

[Scent]

I think he DID talk about new beginnings. between the lines he even listed all the peoples that have to implement them - of course only after consulting with the US, because we lead. - And not only in world class torture for 60 years, I think :o).

[Scent]

There is one thing that bothers me more than all his failiures to change anything substantial: That he after all the wars, dictators and massmurderers, terrorists, massgraves, chemical warfare, torture, ... - after all that AND no stopping any of it for good he still stand before every microphone in the world and proclaims the US must lead the planet.

Democracy is the exact opposite of what he and all others before him try to sell to people dying because of the US, having lost loved ones because of the US, being ruined because of the US, and many other modern plagues, political and commercial. Democracy means that all participants are inherently equal. Why then is it that the selfstyled defenders of democracy constantly promote dictatorship of the "good" - the US?

Isn´t it enough to not only claim to respect other nations but to ACT like we respect them and not tell them at gunpoint to do as they are told by US? - Yes, it is. The US SHOULD play an important role in the world. But respect is always doublesided or invalid. To demand respect for us only to then tell other we only respect them if they do as we think is right, has nothing to do with respect.

Obama knows that respect is vital. So he should show it to his equals - all the other leaders of sovereing nations. Then, and only then can we expect to be shown what we gave - for

[Equality4AllNow]

President Obama's speech was impressive. I am so proud that finally, after eight embarassing years, I can finally be proud of my President. I like Obama's direct and honest approach. It gives me the feeling that he wants to do what is best and that he really wants to find solutions. Unlike President Clinton, Obama appears to be acting in what is the best interest of the U.S. and the world instead of his own self-aggra­ndizement. Obama might be the first U.S. President since President Carter who is serious, skillful, and commited enough to help the Arabs and the Jews find a peaceful solution.

Currently, the main obstacle is the Netanyahu government which refuses to abide by UN Resolution 242 and finally stop colonizing Palestinian land with Jewish settlements. Israel has ignored every U.S. President since President Johnson and insisted on taking Palestinian land beyond its 1967 borders and further displacing Christian and Muslim Palestinians.

The idea of a country that is defined by religion or ethnicity is a 19th century anachronism that is unsuitable and dangerous in the 21st century. If one really believes in human rights, which is defined as individual not collective rights, then how can one advocate for or support a "Christian state," a "Muslim state," a "Buddhist state," or a "Jewish state?" How can a true democracy be exclusionary and for only certain people?

[Stirner]

Right you are. The Preface to the American Declaration of Independence, which found full reflection in the 1789 French "Declaration of the Rights of Man" stressed individual freedom of (or from) religion. To have a state linked to a religious sect cannot be a Democracy, the correct term is a "Theocracy" -- which is, in effect, a dictatorship based upon "faith". It really doesn't matter what faith it is. Theocracies are, at best, merely silly (lots of murmuring, chanting, head bumping, hand raising, unintelligible muttering, etc. etc.), but given enough time and membership, they all tend to fanaticism ("Kill the Infidels, Heretics, unbelievers, etc., etc.").

[MacQ]

Just a couple of facts, which I hope don't upset your worldview:

"Jewish state" doesn't refer to religion. It refers to ethnicity.

In Israel today, citizens of all faiths and no faith have equal rights.

You cite settlements as "the main obstacle" . Afraid not. Israel abandoned its settlements several times over the past decade. What happened after that? Did Palestinian move in and take over the rich vineyards and producing farms they left behind? No. They left them to go back to desert, and continued lobbing rockets into Israeli schools and marketplaces.
What they want is NO jews.

[PJay1]

Great comment!

[casualles]

Excellent Post!

[writerroz]

I believe Pres. Obama was saying he is working now to change, at least the last eight years of the U.S using power to bully other countries. I don't believe our Pres. meant to declare the U.S. is the leader of all, but that under the past administration, power over all has been assumed and reached for. Isn't it strange that different persons due to their experiences or who they listen to & believe, how diferent they hear the same words? A good lesson in hearing what you really hear or think you hear.

[Greyghost1]

If the last president wouldn't have robbed US blind & destroyed US as a nation in the eyes of the world, this president would have to make apoligies, grovel, & spend trillions fixing Bush's mess. Don't send a boy, should have been Obama's campaign message.

www.nextrevolution.net

All the foolish republicans who voted for Bush should write a blank ck to pay all they blame Obama for handing out, I own guns but not until now realized why republicans needed them, to protect themselves from the world for lying & murder.

Are democrats any better? NO!

Some people suggest we split the ocuntry but if it were up to me both parties would be eliminated, take campaign finance, & the entire nation back. This two party joke has ripped US off through campaign finance while they pit US against other. The only terrorist we need to fear are the ones on our payroll in DC.

We the people have been taken to the tune of trillions in the greatest scam the world has ever seen & don't for some reason never catch on. I would think watching all star wrestling would have taught US how the game is played.

[Equality4AllNow]

Obama was correct in talking about democracy and human rights without using the word "democracy." Bush discredited "democracy" by ignoring election results when the "wrong" people won elections (e.g., Hamas). Bush created the impression that "democracy" can only be militarily imposed by the U.S. on "backward" Arab countries such as Iraq. Bush reinforced the perception that the U.S. supports "democracy" only when authoritarian governments do not conform to U.S. wishes (e.g., Syria, Iraq), but if authoritarian governments are compliant, then the U.S. will only talk about "democracy" without actually doing anything tangible to help citizens of other countries themselves bring democracy to their own countries (e.g., Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Pakistan under Musharaf). Bush confused elections with democracy. If there are elections in a country that complies with U.S. interests and policies, then the government is "democratic" and "legitimate," (e.g., Jordan, Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Pakistan, Afghanistan). If there are elections in a country that does not comply with U.S. interests and policies, then that government is not "democratic" and is "illegitimate," (e.g., Iran).

[3dtrix]

Sharply argued!

[Jazzier]

The Bush Administration liberated millions of Iraqi's who suffered through decades of various forms of atrocities and genocide by Hussein while that supposed "for human rights" world sat by and did nothing. The same world that sat back and debated the definition of "genocide" while 800,000 Rwandians were slaughtered in 8 months.

After all that suffering, Iraq is finally FREE.... liberty, freedom, a duly elected government of THEIR choice, laws based on THEIR needs and culture, NOT America's, a well-trained army, upgraded rich-producing oil wells that will beneift all Iraqis not ONE MAN, countries anxious to do business there, and women who previously had NO rights are now actually part of the new government . You not only refuse to acknowledge Iraq's successes but condemn Bush for helping provide a new and better life for the men, women and children of Iraq?

An election in any country, no matter the results, is an important and necessary step in achieving liberty and freedom.

Iraq is now the envy of the rest of the Middle East. They will continue to grow and prosper with the continued support of the U.S.

Obama's playing word games will not do the trick!.

[jackwaddington]

"Faith" is a word used to give credence to believing. Believing, by definition, means "don't know". Faith (also spirituality) is meant to semantically make believing appear closer to knowing than not-knowing. We all know that there is 'something in the back of our minds' (the subconscious) and somehow we seem to have the need to know what it is (when, for the most part we don't). This is the very purpose of the 'religious­-mind-set' from way back when we worshiped totem poles, the weather and various Gods and Goddesses. Monotheism is a recent mind-set in the context of the age of mankind.