Barack Obama
Here's a thought: As the saying goes, "only Nixon could go to China." Well, perhaps only Barack Obama, with his oratorical talents, his ability to reconcile different perspectives, and his diverse heritage, could speak to Muslims around the world in this way?
UPDATE: Here is a transcript of the speech.
"I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect"
"I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims."
"Islam is a part of America"
"The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms."
"...we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron."
*"America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable."
*"Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong..."
*"Palestinians must abandon violence."
*"...Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements."
*"...preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path."
*"...let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."
*"Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together."
*"...I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality."
*"...it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous."
*"The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth."
UPDATE #2: Overall, I'd say this was an excellent speech, bordering on "great." The only thing I would have changed is a bit more emphasis on democracy in Egypt itself, including support for pro-democracy activists like Ayman Nour. Other than that, I thought the speech hit the right tone and was - of course - brilliantly delivered. The audience in the hall seemed appreciative, we'll see what the broader Muslim world thinks. We'll also see what progress is made, now that expectations have been raised. If, in a year from now, we're still stuck where we are today, that could be a problem as people's raised hopes turn to anger. With Barack Obama in charge, however, I'm optimistic that this is the start of great things.
By the way, the thought of Barack Obama delivering a speech like this was one of the main reasons I finally decided to throw my support behind him in early 2008. As Andrew Sullivan wrote in December 2007:
... A young Pakistani Muslim is watching television and sees that this man—Barack Hussein Obama—is the new face of America. In one simple image, America’s soft power has been ratcheted up not a notch, but a logarithm. A brown-skinned man whose father was an African, who grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii, who attended a majority-Muslim school as a boy, is now the alleged enemy. If you wanted the crudest but most effective weapon against the demonization of America that fuels Islamist ideology, Obama’s face gets close. It proves them wrong about what America is in ways no words can.Did that just happen today?
UPDATE #3: Reaction by some major newspapers. Also, click here for the view of Israeli President Shimon Peres, who writes, "President Obama's journey to Saudi Arabia and Egypt could be an opportunity. It reflects both the need for an historic change in the Middle East and a unique chance of achieving it." Finally, the BBC has analysis here.
UPDATE: Check out this great photo-diary of Obama in Egypt, including at the pyramids.
