The signatories below and I welcome the many initiatives that are underway among governments, in civil society, and within the religious community to expand areas of cooperation between the Muslim community and other actors. President Obama's trip to Indonesia this week is an important example of the high-level attention that must be given to these relationships. Despite such efforts to enhance communications, serious obstacles remain. In almost every part of the globe, there continue to be people who have chosen -- whether out of ignorance, fear, or ill will -- to sow conflict where reconciliation is needed. It is up to responsible voices on all sides to make the case for constructive action based on shared interests and values. This is a duty that extends beyond governments alone, to include decision makers and other people of influence from all sectors of society. The standard we seek to achieve is not mere tolerance, but a widespread attitude of genuine mutual respect.
As former foreign ministers, we have a particular interest in solving practical problems. We favor policies and initiatives that will improve the environment for cooperation across the boundaries of nation and creed. We recognize, of course, that the present state of relations between Muslims and the West must be viewed within an historical context and that the terms "Muslim" and "the West" refer to entities that are resistant to easy generalization. We also acknowledge that the prospects for success will be profoundly affected by the future direction of events in such areas of conflict as Afghanistan and Pakistan, and by progress in the Middle East peace process. We believe, however, that certain broad steps can and should be taken to strengthen the foundation for intercultural understanding.
First, we must be willing to conduct an honest self-examination that does not gloss over differences or duck hard issues. Superficial courtesy is easy, but the path to agreement on the application of moral principles is arduous. A dialogue that matters will examine, among other topics, the legacy of imperialism, women's rights, freedom of worship, the criteria for just war, educational standards, and the appropriate relationship between religious and civil law.
Second, we must communicate better by eliminating from our vocabulary terms that recall past stereotypes or that reflect ignorance or disrespect. The idea that the West has singled out Islam as an enemy is nonsense; so is the allegation that Islam provides a rationale for terrorism. On whatever side, the actions of a few cannot be used to condemn the many.
Third, we must emphasize the firm connection that exists between democratic and Islamic values while also heeding the lesson of Iraq, which is that democracy must find its roots internally. Neither Islam nor any other religious faith should be used to justify despotism or to validate the suppression of civil society.
Fourth, we must establish common ground on questions of immigration and integration in all of our countries and others. Leaders in and outside of government must search for answers that take into account economic and demographic realities, while discouraging reactions based on prejudice or fear. Here, as elsewhere, a balance between rights and responsibilities must be maintained.
Finally, we should continue to expand business, scientific, academic, cultural and religious contacts that provide a social bridge connecting the Muslim world to non-Muslims in the West.
There exists no single instrument for transforming relations. There are, however, a number of tools that can be used by political, religious, business and academic leaders to generate progress. These include official policies, educational initiatives, and public-private partnerships of all types that reinforce certain basic precepts, such as:
Improving the overall relationship between Muslim communities around the world and the West is a task that has political, religious, intellectual, social, cultural, and economic components. It requires the best efforts of leaders from all sectors and from both sides of the divide.
Governments must not shy away from a leading role in this process but rather constantly strive to guide and develop mechanisms for integration in their societies. It will take time and require patience, but the objective is vital if we are to learn from, not repeat, the mistakes of the past.
Madeleine Albright - United States
Halldór Ásgrímsson - Iceland
Lloyd Axworthy - Canada
Shlomo Ben Ami - Israel
Erik Derycke - Belgium
Lamberto Dini - Italy
Alexander Downer - Australia
Jan Eliasson - Sweden
Rosario Green - Mexico
Igor Ivanov - Russia
Marwan Muasher - Jordan
Ana Palacio - Spain
Niels Helveg Petersen - Denmark
Lydie Polfer - Luxembourg
Malcolm Rifkind - United Kingdom
Adam Daniel Rotfeld -- Poland
Jozias van Aartsen - The Netherlands
Hubert Védrine - France
Knut Vollebaek - Norway
Last month, these nineteen former foreign ministers met in Madrid to conduct a far-reaching assessment of the relationship between the West and the "Muslim World." This post reflects their conclusions.
Azeem Ibrahim: The Biggest Lies About Islam
there are 1.5 billion muslims
only< 40% are arabs...saudi arabia has 28million muslims
"Noah Feldman, a former CFR adjunct senior fellow, writes in a 2008 New York Times Magazine article that the full incorporation of Islamic law is viewed as creating "a path to just and legitimate government in much of the Muslim world." It places duplicitous rulers alongside their constituents under the rule of God. "For many Muslims today, living in corrupt autocracies, the call for [sharia] is not a call for sexism, obscurantism or savage punishment but for an Islamic version of what the West considers its most prized principle of political justice: the rule of law," Feldman argues."
The whole article can be found at: http://www.cfr.org/publication/8034/islam.html
I think we are a long way away, as a society at least, from even wanting mutual respect and mutual understanding.... let alone HAVING mutual respect and understanding. And I'd imagine it's just as hard for muslims to try to see through our eyes as it is for us to care about seeing through theirs. We are different civilizations... we have different moral foundations (christianity vs islam)... This will take time but I believe all things are possible and eventually we will get there.
Religion - all the major faiths have same basic tenets: golden rule, treat others with respect, help the sick and poor. Any religion perverted by man's inhumanity, greed, or power is what it is: ignorance and fear. Blind Faith.
Religion, geopolitics and globalism has brought us to a point where we must reflect and put forth statements about humanity. The signatories are having a dialogue.
We are at a point in our intellectual history that we can reflect on the impact of religion, diminishing natural resources, weath disparity: Shall we continue to adhere to religion, capitalism as the primary moral base. Globalism. Profit over People.
Where are we going as a species - or do we want ignore this question too instead continue to slice and dice up each other by religion, gender, nationality, regionalism, nationalism, hate, fear . . .
We are diverse as earth itself - embrace it.
Religion is a powerful tool and for those enlightened, can be a source of hope. It is also a powerful intoxicant.
It does not address the possibility that, perhaps, Islam is not at all interested in reaching any understanding. It then becomes the sound of one hand clapping.
A curious sentence. If you're putting the blame on "Islam", is there a specific person, or group, that comes into your mind? Surely not all Muslims would want to separate themselves from the West, especially those living there, or otherwise have connections to it.
Musharraf asked if it was o.k. for Obama to visit India, he said Obama should do what he deems right for the US. HOWEVER, he then went into a long tirade, albeit carefully chosen words, that India was in the wrong with regards to the dispute over the Kashmir region. NOTHING in the world is going to change his mind. No amount of round table talk, pounding fists on the table, bribery, concessions is going to influence how he physically reacts to the mere mention of India.
Equally nothing in the world is going to change his mind that the US repeatedly lets Pakistan down. The money we GIVE them to help fight terrorism he feels should be spent as the Pakistan government chooses and having the US looking over their shoulder is INSULTING. So the fact that the Pakistan people pretty much hate the US is in fact the fault of the US according to Musharraf. No amount of talking is going to change that. Notice that Musharraf blames India and the US. Pakistan is absolved of any wrongdoing. Period. Regardless of past history, or the present relationship of these countries, each country must look out for their own interest.
Why do people immigrate? They do so because their home land is somehow letting them down. If I want to immigrate to Chile, the very last thing I would want to do is somehow impose my culture from the US on their society. I would want to blend in. I would happily learn their language as a sign of respect. I would embrace their culture and consider it an honor to do so.
Today immigrants do not want to integrate, but instead what to stand out, make demands of the host country, and basically turn the host country into the homeland where they chose to flee. All of this refusal to blend in has caused great angst across the globe. Immigrants across the world feel entitled. Where this attitude came from, I have absolutely no idea, but it needs to change ASAP.
Migration and the Changing Face of Education
Globalisation means that we now all live, work or communicate with people who are different. In this global village, religious faith plays a central role in the way that people understand or from their culture and identity. Human being is a product of his culture, language and faith. There is a positive co-relation between language and culture. Parents have the right to raise their children in faith based schools. Those who object to this right display their contempt for parental rights and sadly intolerance for the religious convictions of others. It is not only Muslims but other communities have been trying to set up their own schools for their children. I set up the first Muslim school in 1981 and now there are 166 Muslim schools and only 11 schools are state funded. There are four Sikh state funded schools. Hindu state funded school was set up in Harrow last year and next year a Hindu state funded school would emerge in Leicester. Even Black community is thinking of setting up its own schools for black children with black teachers.
The one exceptionally obvious problem with all of this, is that those "responsible voices on all sides" don't seem to have guns, while the ignorant, fearful and hateful being mentioned, do.
In my experiences, it has been really really difficult to hammer out logical, considerate, and well thought out agreements during bomb and gun attacks. Just the noise alone kind of disturbs the process, plus there's the whole "I need to bury my cousin" thing.
Have we fallen through the looking glass?
That would be one explanation. :-)
Unfortunatly, the people who need to read this will never get past what they would consider to be a balsphamous headline.
Let no one fool themselves into believing that God has any part of this. This world hasn't been under God's control for over six thousand years. The Bible tells us many times that the wicked one, Satan the devil, is under control. Look at humanity and you will see the imitate him as their father. This attack is nothing new. BUT...the end is in sight. Very soon, the governmental authorities will turn on religion, realizing her bloodguilt, and completed wipe her off the earth. The Bible has prophesied this to happen. Also, TRUE Christians have nothing to do with any of these religious or political conflicts, as commanded by Jesus Christ. They remain neutral to political affairs and have also removed themselves from being any part of false religion. They instead focus their time and energy on preaching the good news about God's kingdom, ruled by His son, Jesus Christ. The next time one of his true disciples knocks on your door, take the time to let them show you from the Bible the wonderful hope for mankinds future.
Psalms 37:9-11, 29
Daniel 2:44
Revelation 21:3,4
Where is her capacity for self examination?
So, I have a question of the moral philosopher. What was your preferred solution? My personal one, not without its own costs, was to let Saddam take Kuwait and, if he wanted, Saudi Arabia as well. I am assuming he would have had to kill some Kuwaitis and Saudis in the process. But a sin of omission is always better than one of commission, no?
Of course I would not have been arming and supporting a brutal dictator in the first place no matter the perceived "interests" in my favour, nor would I given him cause to think I would have been OK with him invading Kuwait over an oil-field dispute while we were still best buddies, but that is before the fact, sort of.
You seem to be assuming sanctions, as continued long after the Gulf War, as somehow vital to stopping Saddam taking both Kuwait AND Saudi Arabia. Now why would you believe that?
"But a sin of omission is always better than one of commission, no?"
Well of course it is, because only a sin of commission can be measurable, whereas a sin of omission, to be called so, may require we are able to see the absolute and full cost of our action our inaction, which we can't.