Obama Hits Home Run In Turkey; Confronts Right Wing Anti-Islam Zealots at Home
Turkey is a secular, modern, democratic nation that is the antithesis of countries in the Middle East and Asia dominated by monarchical, theocratic, anti-democratic rule.
From the NYTimes: "President Obama, directly addressing a majority Muslim country for the first time in his presidency, said Monday that the United States “would never be at war with Islam.”
"In a wide-ranging speech before the Turkish Parliament in the capital, Ankara, Mr. Obama extended his campaign of outreach to the Muslim world, painting himself as a man who understands it and would seek to build a bridge between Islam and the West.
“America’s relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not just be based on opposition to Al Qaeda,” he said. 'We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect.'
"He drew applause when he said, 'The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam.'
"And in a move with potential political risks at home, he drew on his personal ties to Islam. Introduced as “Barack Hussein Obama,” he told the Parliament that the United States had been “enriched by Muslim-Americans.”
“ 'Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country,' he said. 'I know, because I am one of them.'
"Then he paused. And waited. And, after about five seconds, as the translator caught up, the applause came.
"The line was a bold one for Mr. Obama, who has been falsely labeled a Muslim by detractors. The accusations persist on some right-wing Web sites, which may try to interpret the last sentence as proof of those views.
"But Mr. Obama, who has become increasingly confident and sure-footed as his one-week maiden overseas trip is drawing to a close, is seeking to use Turkey as an example of the type of relationship that can be struck between the United States and a Muslim country. Turkey is a secular Muslim democracy that is pivotal to American foreign policy goals from Iraq to Afghanistan to Middle East peace.
"Earlier in the day, Mr. Obama paid tribute to the memory of modern Turkey’s founding father, laying a wreath at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In his speech, he lauded Ataturk’s political legacy.
" ' It is also clear that the greatest monument to Ataturk’s life is not something that can be cast in stone and marble,” Mr. Obama said. 'His greatest legacy is Turkey’s strong and secular democracy, and that is the work that this assembly carries on today.'
"Mr. Obama also threw his weight firmly behind Turkey’s accession to the European Union, an issue that has split Europe, with France and Germany lobbying against it. 'Let me be clear: the United States strongly supports Turkey’s bid to become a member of the European Union,' Mr. Obama said. 'We speak not as members of the E.U., but as close friends of Turkey and Europe.' "
Obama not only spoke the truth to the Turkish parliament but confronted the bigoted, lying Republican rights wingers in the US who attack him, non-believers, and beliefs like Islam, with their mean spirited, anti-human rights, anti-immigrant, anti-constitutional intolerant fanaticism that is just as poisonous and dangerous as any right wing, fanatical religious zealotry elsewhere around the globe, now and throughout history.
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