Obama promises new start with Muslims
U.S. President Barack Obama promised a new start with the Muslim world in his inauguration address today.
"To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect," said Obama, who became the first black president of the United States.
Obama, a practicing Christian, spent several years of his childhood in Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world.
Under President George W. Bush, U.S. relations with Muslim nations have often been tense, particularly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Many Muslims were particularly angered by the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the opening of a prison for foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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Joe Xuereb
Jan 20th 2009, 23:43
Inaugural speeches famously ride on euphoria. A dispossessed individual may well be jubilant at Obama's ascendancy. But such an individual's desperate 'poverty' yesterday will be equally desperate tomorrow. He can of course hope for a better future. Itwillbe anything but automatic. I watched the news and it was remarked that the president's family seemed to be having fun. Maybe the American Dream is being revived. Maybe it never went away. If I were being inaugurated president of America, I would be careful not to appear to be having 'fun'. It is not like to happen of course. I practise Christian values of course but never set foot in a church unless as a sightseer (magnificent mosques and other temples too are on any itinerary of mine). Nor am I married with 2.4children. So my presidency is not exactly on the books. Nor would I be in the running for any presidency of an institution that makes a point of proclaiming its Christian values. Maybe I am cynical. No, I am cynical. Certainly, time will tell.
James De Giorgio
Jan 20th 2009, 23:39
Not a surprise, seeing as his second name is Hussein...