Dr. Tawfik Hamid- Speaker, Author & Muslim Reformer

www.TawfikHamid.com

After the president of the United States gave his speech to the Muslim world, it is important to evaluate how the Muslim world and its leaders will respond. Their response must be in actions and not just in words.

President Obama insisted on “mutual respect” in the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. In any mutual relationship, both sides have to contribute.

Let us examine some questions related to the concept of “mutual respect:”

Question #1: President Obama bowed to king Abdulla of Saudi Arabia as a sign of respect. Is the Saudi king ready to do the same to the President of the United States in order to show “mutual respect?”

Question #2: President Obama gave the king of Saudi Arabia a gift on which a Quranic verse is written. Will the Saudi king reciprocate the gesture by giving the President a gift on which a verse from the Bible is written?

(In my opinion, President Obama should have given the king a gift from the United States. An icon of the Statue of Liberty would have been ideal. The symbolism of the American monument would have sent a necessary message to the king and the people of Saudi Arabia.)

 Question #3: In the same way the United States respects the rights of Non-Muslims who convert to Islam; will the Muslim world respect the rights of Muslims who convert to other faiths?

Question #4: Will the Muslim world defend the rights of women who do not wear the hijab just as the United States defended the rights of Muslim women who do wear the hijab in the United States?

Question #5: Is the Muslim world ready to fight negative stereotyping of Non-Muslims (particularly the Jews) to reciprocate President Obama’s offer to fight stereotyping of Muslims in the United States? 

A “mutual” relationship between the United States and the Muslim world can only be accomplished if the Muslim world answers the above questions in a positive manner.

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1. Kylie Batt says:

   May 4, 2010 at 5:27 pm

   Совершенно верно! Мне нравится эта идея, я полностью с Вами согласен….

   http://www.TawfikHamid…..