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President Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the White House was
filled with a “can do” and “will do” spirit for millions of Americans that was
most fully realized in his campaign mantra, “Yes we can.” This mantra inspired
millions of Americans across social, economic, religious and ethnic lines to
support Obama’s candidacy for President leading him to victory.
Yet for some Americans, Pres. Obama’s “Yes we can” attitude
was largely absent when it came to him challenging ugly innuendo that cast him
as a secret Muslim with a Manchurian candidate agenda. The “smear" effort, as
Obama’s campaign called it, was seen not only as a way to cast suspicion upon
the presidential hopeful, but a way to demonize the faith of millions of
Muslims across America. It was former Secretary of State Colin Powell who
finally said: “Is there anything wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The
answer’s no, that’s not America.”
But things have greatly changed in the president’s first few
weeks in office and many Americans have taken note, including those who are
Muslim.
The change has been palpable because it comes as a
180-degree turn from when Obama was a candidate and did not once visit a mosque
or meet with American Muslim leaders.
The change toward a more inclusive approach included the mention of Muslims in his inaugural address as a fundamental part
of American society, the acknowledgment of his Muslim roots in his first
television interview and the appointment of a number of American Muslims to high
level positions in his administration.
His inclusiveness has also been rhetorical including his
likening of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad, "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he
wishes for himself" to the Biblical Golden Rule of “Love thy
neighbor as thyself” at the National Prayer Breakfast that took place on
Thursday, February 5.
The President went on to say, “In this way, the particular
faith that motivates each of us can promote a greater good for all of us.
Instead of driving us apart, our varied beliefs can bring us together to feed
the hungry and comfort the afflicted; to make peace where there is strife and
rebuild what has broken; to lift up those who have fallen on hard times. This
is not only our call as people of faith, but our duty as citizens of America …”
Responding positively to Obama’s inclusion of Prophet
Muhammad’s saying, prominent Beliefnet.com blogger Aziz Poonawalla wrote, “What
is beautiful about this is that Obama explicitly ties together and emphasizes
the common heritage of faith, and the sense of civic purpose that churches and
mosques alike engage in as essential components in our social fabric. It's also
worth noting that Obama alludes to those who have no faith at all - after all,
it makes no sense to exclude atheists from that sense of shared purpose.”
Posted on February 6, 2009
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