And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record, as you say, America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task.
Muslims are extraordinary and simply want to live better. Americans make mistakes.
He stated: "extremist organizations - whether Muslim or any other faith in the past - that will use faith as a justification for violence." He points out the importance of language, which is true, but labeling terrorism as an extreme position is misleading. This is an old trap of language that incorrectly labels your enemy and thus misunderstands what you are faced with. The common mistake that Obama is falling for is in mistaking that these Muslims are simply misunderstood and when all is said and done they would really rather live like Americans. In describing AQ, Obama stated that the group offers nothing to suggest that: "a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them."
When has AQ sought better education or health care for Muslims? These are American domestic issues and concerns. AQ has no desire to be American.
He is wrong. The AQ types are living the Islamic life that they prefer and are energized by their religion to act, and kill, as they see fit.
This is an odd interview to provide in any case. During the election campaign, any mention of Obama's Muslim heritage, culturally, was taboo. Now, on the other hand, he is explicitly recognizing its importance in his life.
Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.
America has a mission to Islam according to Obama.
If an investigative reporter had an opportunity to pursue his premise, and followed up with pointed questions about when, for how long, and in what Muslim countries (note the plural) he has lived, it would prove revealing. I hope that he continues to be interviewed by Arab TV.
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