Barack Obama’s speech to the Muslim world

President Obama has issued a religion-filled speech in Cairo which either reveals spectacular ignorance or dishonesty and strategy.

Either way, I think it under-estimates the enemy, because a close reading of the Qur’an shows that this book (which must be regarded as the word of God by all Muslims) not only excuses, but demands, violence and imperialism in the name of Islam. That can’t be stepped around, try as leaders might, and Muslims (at least, any who have read the Qur’an) know that.

Obama speaks of “colonialism”. One wonders, does he mean the current colonisation of Europe by Islam, or some other colonisation?

He speaks of some perceiving Islam as hostile to human rights. Even a brief examination of the Qur’an shows this to be so. In fact it is in direct violation of several articles of the European Declaration of Human Rights.

He claims Islam is tolerant. In fact he says it is “proud of a tradition of tolerance.” Did he read the same Qur’an as me? If there is one thing Islam can never be called, it’s tolerant. Of course, no religions are tolerant, but Islam is especially intolerant. Open the Qur’an on any page to see its gross intolerance, most especially of unbelievers, who so often threatened with a lake of fire it becomes tedious reading.

He explains that he has parted ways religiously from a family that included generations of Muslims. This is clearly identified in the Qur’an as the worst possible crime against Islam. It’s just possible that his audience might be aware of that.

He compliments the Muslim world on its achievements over a millennium ago and claims American Muslims still make a powerful contribution in America. I would argue any contributions made are in spite of, not because of, being Muslim.

He speaks of the way America is encouraging the practicing of Islam, the wearing of the hijab, the building of mosques, and he says people should be able to practice religion “as they see fit”. We can only hope these are shallow words of appeasement and not the real thing.

He speaks of extremists when he means fundamentalists: those who are following the fundamentals of the Qur’an, which is what every good Muslim is obliged to do. They are not allowed to pick and choose (who would have the right to pick and choose from the words of God?).

There are good parts to the speech, because Obama is a good speaker, and he points up some of the few good passages in otherwise hate-filled religious books. But there is nothing whatsoever about secularism being a better way forward. He never dares to say that certainty in religious belief is dangerous. Nothing at all to advocate the pursuit of science rather than the building of mosques. He avoids using the word “secular” but uses the word “God” six times.

This is a well-meaning speech and an effort at bringing people together, but I fear it misunderstands the basis of all religion, which is division: the saved and the damned, the right and the wrong, them and us. To me, it showed that America is on the back foot and is adopting a policy of appeasement towards Islam. And if America adopts that policy, there will be nobody left to bail Europe out when it becomes a continent of young and middle-aged Muslims governing an ever aging group of infidels, as the demographic trends now suggest will be the case.

» Interesting Telegraph article, to this same effect, with many excellent comments below it.