An Arab-American Reaction to President Obama's Speech In Cairo
As an Arab American, I had to overcome my first emotional reaction to President Obama’s speech in order to be able to analyze it from a rational, critical perspective. My first reactions were awe that an American president was speaking these words. This was a speech that was light years away from the hateful rhetoric of the Cheney-Bush years. I actually heard an American president admit that the US had overthrown a legally elected government in Iran. I actually heard an American President acknowledging the suffering and dislocation of the Palestinian people. I heard an American president deny the inevitability of the clash of civilizations.
Yes, he re-affirmed the relationship of the US with Israel and the right of the Jewish people to a state, and he called upon Palestinians to abandon violence- what has been said repeatedly by American presidents. But this time the substance of what he said was different form what we heard in the past in two very critical ways: 1) he did not call upon the Palestinian people to abandon their struggle for equality and justice- he encouraged them (us) to continue but to use the methods of the American civil rights movement and of the South Africa freedom movement and 2) he did not call for Palestinian government to be responsible for Israeli security- but rather to be responsible to their own people.
He acknowledged the righteousness of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality, and a state. He said this state was in the interests of Israel, the Palestinians, and the United States.
My thoughts as I heard his words was a fervent desire for this to be the truth- for America to act on these words. To have an American President that actually understands the Middle East at a level I have not witnessed in my lifetime is amazing, but to hear these words and not see them come to fruition would be so much more painful. I thought – my God, this man has courage.
How many radicals around the world are going to target Mr Obama for what he has dared say? I especially fear the violent reaction of Zionists and Christian Zionists and far-right nuts to what the President has said this day. I fear for him as never before and pray he is properly protected.
At the same time, reality sets in and I realize that the President does not control Congress or the Senate. There is a great deal of ignorance
in the majority of our elected officials and even more than a few who hold malice towards Arabs and Muslims and that one man cannot change that quickly or easily or perhaps ever.
Growing up in the US, I have been disappointed so many times in my life by an America that calls for the concepts of freedom and justice and then does not practice them at home or abroad. This time, I think there is a sincerity in this President, even with the forces aligned against him, that I have rarely seen before. I think it would be wrong for us to simply dismiss this man as so much rhetoric. I have not always agreed with his policies since he came to office and I was not happy with some of his choices for his cabinet – but I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and to hold him to the words he has spoken today in regards to a new policy in the Middle East.
We have several tasks set before us- to hold Mr Obama to his words, to confirm our commitments to human rights, justice and freedom here in the US, in the Middle East, and in the broader world. If there is the slimmest chance that the kind of changes that President Obama has laid out, then I see it only happening if the American peace movement, Arabs and Muslim Americans, and all others that support this vision get busy and work on raising the level of understanding of the Congress, Senate, and American public concerning the Middle East and Islam.
We need a massive effort to help Americans understand the Arab and Muslim world at the same level (or better) than the president’s understanding- and we need to launch it now. I am too old and I have seen too much disappointment in my life to be sheepishly optimistic, but I also think we may never again have this opportunity to build on the words of an American president to raise awareness on the Middle East and Islam. We would be fools not to recognize this opportunity.
Rosina Hassoun, PhD