More perspective from the target audience. The correspondent who wrote this, Seham, is a Palestinian American...


http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/06/obama-cairo-followup.html

If only he would have mentioned that Al-Azhar University was a beacon of Islamic and Arabic thought before it was plunged into backwardness by U.S. supported dictators in Egypt. If only people knew that under Mubarak, Al-Azhar represents little more than a place where regular book burnings occur and where extremists can be taught how to sow sectarian discord against their Shia brothers and sisters...

I don't know where to begin, there are so many things I took issue with, but I guess I'll start with the 9/11 lecture. In the last six years, Arabs have witnessed the slaughter of over one million dead Iraqis and thousands of dead Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. Americans sent to Iraq wearing military uniforms have raped and killed children and tortured many, many others. Yet, I'm sure Americans don't want to be judged by rapists like Steven Green or murderers like George Bush. Well Arabs don't want to be reminded about the hijackers at every opportunity, either. Especially considering that those hijackers were not the democratically elected representatives of the Arab people.

Obama also talked about bus bombings, the last of which was carried out in 2004 and about his upcoming visit to a concentration camp in Germany. But he did not mention the more recent slaughter of thousands of people in Lebanon and Palestine by Israel. He couldn't bring himself to condemn the war when it was happening, he didn't want to step on toes, it was a bullshit claim but I cut him some leeway anyway. But five months later he has yet to utter a condemnation of the indiscriminate slaughter of Palestinian civilians and he has no plans to visit Gaza. And I wonder why he mentioned the holocaust and holocaust denial to his Arab audience, Arabs are not responsible for the holocaust and while I denounce the stupidity of those that deny history, I am baffled as to why the holocaust is being viewed within the frame of Muslim denial instead of Christian criminality. And, as far as Palestinians go, we are very aware of the holocaust and we know who perpetrated those crimes because we have been paying the price ever since.

He insulted my intelligence when he talked about Muslims and the founding of this country. There was no mention of how those first Muslims ended up in the US, but they got here on slave ships and they were black Africans and Arabs. And yes, they fought in America's wars, some were even injected with syphilis in the process. Maybe these half-truths were easy for his audience today to accept because they seem to giddy to be recognized and spoken to, even if it is done so condescendingly. I can't blame them because they are just so delighted that they aren't being portrayed as sandal wearing terrorists for once. But I wasn't impressed with the revisionist history of how black Muslims first got to the U.S.

On Palestine and Israel his statement on the settlements were disturbing. He said that Israel must halt settlement growth but he doesn't say anything about the ones that are already there which are just as illegal as the ones that are currently being built and expanded. Does he think that the "old" settlements are legitimate negotiating factors?   I was confused when he said that Hamas should recognize Israel, which Israel is it that Hamas should recognize? 1948 borders or 1967? Or Israel within the borders of 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009? Considering that the illegal settlements are constantly expanding, I can see how confusing it must be for Hamas to figure out which Israel to recognize.

His lecturing to Arabs about how they need to take "responsibility" were laughable in light of the fact that this week he reiterated his full support for Israel at the UN and has stated repeatedly that he will not halt welfare to Israel. Meanwhile, Richard Goldstone is leading the UN investigation team in Gaza and he says he is amazed by the devastation which he has seen. He also says that Israel is doing nothing to assist his investigation--an investigation for a war crimes that were funded by the U.S.

Angry Arab says it best:

    "Shoukran," Mr. Obama replied, which in Arabic means "thank you." Look how nice, how sensitive, and how humane. Why did not other presidents think of that. If only that word was used before. I mean, if you print the word "shoukran" (it should be "shukran" but hey, it is the New York Times), on bombs and missiles that are being dropped on Arabs and Muslims, I think that they will no more mind US wars. Really. Just by using the word, Obama guaranteed a switch in Arab/Muslim public perceptions of the US. In fact, I once entered a French restaurant in Paris: and I started to hit customers and trashing the place. When some customers gathered to attack me, I yelled: "Merci." With that, the entire crowd started to cheer and they went to the kitchen to bake me a croissant. You should try that trick sometimes. "Thank you." -As`ad.

Oh but thanks for telling us that we have pretty calligraphy, Obama.