It was a bitter cold night in Grant Park in downtown Chicago on November 4th, 2008, but tens of thousands of people waited in the frigid weather to hear the victory speech of our 44th President, Barack Obama. Millions of people in this nation and around the world, including myself, were glued to the television to see how he would inspire us to come together after a very contentious battle with Senator John McCain. These words, in particular, have stayed with me for almost two years, as I believe they are words that define the very essence of who our president is:
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world -- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down -- we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security -- we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Americas beacon still burns as bright -- tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
For that is the true genius of America -- that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.
As I reflect upon these words and think of the furor that has erupted over the "Ground Zero Mosque" proposal, as the Chairman of The Foundation Of Ethnic Understanding, I am appalled. Am I in a dream? I can't even believe, that in this day and age, we are even discussing this. In my previous blog for Huffington Post, I expressed my dissatisfaction for the reactionary right wing's response, which opposes the very nature of our nation's values: liberty and tolerance. In this country, the fact that we still have this type of hate is disheartening, to say the least. It is like we are living in a twilight zone. As the conservatives and the right continue to preach that they are the ones who are on god's side, I am dismayed to see them behave in quite the opposite manner.
During Ramadan dinner on Friday night at the White House, President Obama's righteous stand opposing bigotry and supporting religious liberty sends a critical message to opponents of the Cordoba House Islamic Center. We must never tolerate hate and bigotry directed at any group, including Muslims. President Obama is right that we all must 'recognize and respect the sensitivities surrounding the development of Lower Manhattan.'
Yet we all have a sacred responsibility to defend the most vulnerable among us and minorities who are under attack. Not in our America will Muslims be targeted as second class citizens without the strongest and loudest protest. We welcome President Obama to this conversation. If nothing else, this president will be remembered for showing the most amazing leadership in the promotion of tolerance, love and compassion. And for that we will be forever grateful.
Follow Russell Simmons on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unclerush
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Dean Obeidallah: Why Building the Mosque is Good for America!
country? It would truly be a sad day. Another proof to the world how
hypocritical america can be. "We don't discriminate", we don't
torture.....
How stupid are the American people. This is not a supreme court of only
9 people ruling on corporate funding. That was sad enough. The world
will say "See, America is too stupid not to discriminate between their
own muslim citizens an terrorists". "American people don't even
understand their own principles".All the historic paralells that the
world loves to make will still be relevant, and they would be correct.
An opportunity missed. I'm sure hundreds of victims families will be
very sad if it wasn't built, Though like I previosly said--thats no argument either (they
have a website by the way) Used again.
I'm with Bloomberg on this one. It WOULD BE A SAD DAY If this center is not built
Lower Manhattan
May 20th, 2010
New York – Today, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a
nationwide group founded by family members of those killed on 9/11
issued the following statement, which may be attributed to their
spokesperson, Donna Marsh O’Connor:
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows strongly supports
efforts to bring an Islamic Cultural Center to lower Manhattan, near
the Ground Zero site. We believe that welcoming the Center, which is
intended to promote interfaith tolerance and respect, is consistent
with fundamental American values of freedom and justice for all.
We believe, too, that this building will serve as an emblem for the
rest of the world that Americans stand against violence, intolerance
and overt acts of racism and that we recognize that the evil acts of a
few must never damn the innocent.
http://www.peacefultomorrows.org/index.php
"I don't care what religion the President is!"
And I’m just sick of that. Absolutely sick of it.
Mosque don't generally contain swimming pools in them as a rule any where on earth for that matter.
20% think obama is a muslim. where do they get that? what are they smoking?
americans are acting less and less like the leader of the world
people living with dinosaurs all kidding aside your short post is a good example of
what America should be about but isn't. You were raised right. And I must say your
post won't but should make the bigots ashamed.
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