Why I didn’t listen to Obama’s speech
June 4th, 2009
As an Arab and a Muslim, there was nothing much I can benefit from what Obama has to say. I’m so tired of these tedious speeches and words and praises and promises that no one, including the target audience, ever lives up to. Despite not watching this speech due to lack of interest, I sat down on Twitter and was frankly disgusted at the hype, the way people were mindlessly cheering his words on, as if they don’t understand the sources of our issues to begin with. Suddenly Obama was here to “fix things,” while reducing our problems to the size of a footnote.
I support Obama, at least in comparison to his war-mongering colleagues. But we don’t need his leadership, or anyone else’s for that matter. Feeling hopeful and optimitic should start with believing in yourself, not in some other leader whom we cannot rely on. Obama’s administration certainly helps by not bombing us to oblivion, but it ends there. His team won’t mobilize millions of people into sincere action for the benefit of their societies. That’s up to us, and the inspiration is not going to come from a foreign leader who is unaware of the true magnitude of what any of us are going through. It’s going to come from your neighbour, your classmate, your favorite blogger, your local activist. It’s going to come from involving ethnic and religious minorities in shaping our own future. It’s going to take a whole nation to truly inspire serious and positive outcomes, but in the end, the change you take pride in will be of your own making, and that’s what matters.
If each person makes a consistent commitment to actual, homegrown change within our countries, you would be building an indestructible society that NO leader can destroy. Foreign or local. That’s what we want, a society we can rely on, a community we can turn to for support as opposed to further oppression, a mentality that encourages growth. Outside influence is destructive in this regard, they are completely powerless, but some tend to think otherwise, which I feel is arrogant. No foreign government can “fund” our progress.
I’m all for hope and optimism, but political naivité makes me ill. One thing is for certain: We’re on our own. The Obama team are not going to solve the crimes and injustices that we witness every day of our lives. Obama is a fine president so far, and should be thanked and encouraged for speaking widely against the abuses of the “war on terror” and referring to us in a tone that doesn’t reek of bigotry and racism. But in a few years his administration will be replaced. And then what?
Everything is entirely up to us. You can applaud to these kinds of speeches all you want, but realize that none of it is a reality or is representitive of who we are and how we think. We decide that.
Obama will give these speeches over and over again in the coming years.
Are we going to obsess over each?
While he talks, injustices will double and triple. And the sources of these crimes aren’t just from our governments. We have severe societal issues throughout the Middle East that leaders themselves have little control over. These include anything from women’s rights to free speech to minority issues.
And these continue not only because of our truly incompetent and self-serving leaders but also because frankly, not enough of us are taking action, and keep waiting for that “savior.” That one leader who can change everything. Well guess what, that person is you.
You should be extremely hopeful that change will definitely occur. But you should also be just as hopeful that you’re good enough to create it yourself: and it’s NOT going to start with a political revolution, or simply overthrowing a government with another. It first starts with changing the perceptions of those around you in favor of all human rights and the society that you wish to live in.
You don’t need anyone else. You certainly don’t need the support of some foreign government that doesn’t understand you and your needs. You just need to be hopeful about what YOU as a person can achieve and give back to your country. And if you can’t do that, you can’t expect anyone else to. This is our responsibility.
Loading ...
Loading...
Well said.
Esra’a thanks for the post. “Well guess what, that person is you.” — well said. I do think it helps to have a well meaning president in the US, intent on cooperation and resolution of issues. I also believe that change comes from the individuals building their communities, but governments that are intent to assist or at least not to hinder are a plus. I think in US we need his rhetoric, if to just remind the biased bigots out there that Islam and Muslim communities must be respected. Maybe we in the US needed his talk more than people in Middle East.
Hi Daniela, I obviously don’t mind a U.S president with decent intentions, but I don’t want any change sponsored by the USA because it wouldn’t be real. I disagree that the USA should have this sort of impact on anything “positive” we do. We don’t need the U.S’s call to action or approval whenever we do anything, they are in no position to tell us what to do and how, the U.S government doesn’t know a single thing about us as people.
We need something concrete, not something temporary and artificial, or that comes with the political baggage of being pro-USA (I think “change” funded by the State Department has such strong elements of propaganda.)
I think encouraging people to look beyond themselves for help and support is wrong, especially if they’re looking at the U.S government. What we need from the USA is to respect our rights by not consistently bombarding us, and using our lands for strategic military operations, which they have done for decades without a single person saying anything. We are in many ways under a silent occupation that will soon expand beyond our control. On one side we have Iran funding political movements, and on the other we have the USA doing the exact same thing, and people in between are losing their lives and minds in the process of this chaos.
Yes, for us it was meaningless, and basically common sense. All those nice things about women and Islam, etc, we didn’t need a U.S President to come and verify these. These are values that many people are already fighting for and Obama makes no difference sweet-talking us, even though it’s nice to hear, considering all we ever heard in the past was “war” and “terrorists” and “evil-doers.” Believe me it’s a great change to see him standing before us – but it contributes nothing. His words didn’t piss me off, it’s mostly the over hyped reactions that sickened me.
We’re not chess pieces so that some President can come and consider what to do with us. Only we make that decision and we don’t need the U.S government to move forward with it. We just need them to withdraw their aggression.
Mideast Youth: Why I didn’t listen to Obama’s speech http://tinyurl.com/qtplgn
Esra’a, I wholeheartedly agree that we should become the change we want to see. It really is up to us as you suggest. But it is also necessary for leaders to provide guidance and inspiration, not unlike what you do in your posts. I don’t think it is realistic to expect that people will all of a sudden know what to do, and find the courage to do it. They have to be inspired by a vision that makes them feel that they are part of something greater than themselves. And Obama is in a position, and has the ability, and inclination, to do that.
He did show courage and wisdom in his speech. Think about it. He first went to visit Saudi Arabia, and then basically proceeded to suggest a complete restructing of their system. He went to Egypt, and was warmly received, but he also suggested changes that go to the heart of what’s wrong there. He is a friend of Israel, but also made statements that added up to one huge wake up call, and so too with Palestinians.
Of course you’re right that it’s up to us, but he is one of us, and his help could be pivitol in moblizing support on the street, not unlike what the extremists do when they fight hard for hearts and minds.
Came across your post after a web search. I understand your sceptical reaction, but please realize that in the American political context this was far, far more than “words.” To call on Israel to abandon settlements this forcefully is in itself a major policy change, and one that will open him up to all sorts of attacks. And if this risky gamibit fails, it will haunt him (as he knows).
If the Arab/Muslim sides responds to this cooly, it will frankly be their own fault when nothing comes of it. For Obama to continue moving in the right direction, away from the destructive and self-defeating policies of his predecessors, he needs diplomatic results to silence his critics and that vindicate his vision. It’s a two-way street.
Yes, various policies are inherently unjust and their repudiation shouldn’t be dependent on any actions by any third party, but politics is about give and take. If one side folds its arms and demands “concrete action” before responding positively to obvious (and unpopular) attempts to reach out, they miss the boat and then have nobody to blame but themselves. Then Obama will look to the general public like a dupe for “kissing up” to Arabs and Muslim and have no ability push any reforms whatsoever through the system.
I think part of being the change yourself is seeking to make your engagement–at whatever level of the system it may occur–ulimately constructive towards your goals and those more likely to support them. If you want positive change in Washington Mideast policies (as I certainly do), second-guessing Obama’s outreach efforts is unlikely to do you any favors.
[...] at Mideast Youth, fellow Bahraini Esra'a explains why she did not tune into the speech: As an Arab and a [...]
i strongly believe that arabs need to rely on themselves, not their own governments, not America, not England or any other entity. I agree with the author of this post, who is obviously arab, that outsiders will never change our destiny for the better, we are on our own. I personally respect obama, and know that he was well-intentioned in his speech and genuinely wanted to narrow the gap of trust deficit between america and the arab/muslim world. But i also honestly believe that while he means good, he underestimates the power of potent lobbies inside the american political system, one of them being the AIPAC mafia gang in washington d.c. After his speech, many American news analysts on FOX such as the rednecks Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Newt Gingrich were basically calling him “arab/muslim sucker” or “traitor” etc. I doubt there is going to be much change in American policies concerning the Arab/Muslim world. We need a serious change in attitude in the Arab/Muslim world and have to struggle for our own causes, whether it be free speech, human rights, democracy, women’s rights, rule of law etc and at the same time need to stop expecting that “outsiders” will do anything for us because they wont. We need to stand up for our rights, and i know personally some people who are already doing that in the arab/muslim world but we still have a long way to go. It will take time for the fruits to ripen but slowly but surely they will. We need to stop believing this s–t that America will help bring democracy to the region like it claims to be doing in Iraq. Why the hell would America spend so much of its energy, money,men and resources to fight and die for us for nothing in return?? its something to ponder over. I can understand the frustration. I personally due to lack of opportunities left my maternal homeland of egypt for greener pastures over two decades ago. But i know that the arab youth of today are very different than the arab youth of my times during the early eightees. They dont accpet their sorry fate without a struggle and have shown much more determination and aspiration than one can imagine. They have and continue to shed tears and blood for rightful causes such as freedom of expression, right to assemble, right to dissent etc. Their cause is a just one and one day whether the world likes it or not, the arab/muslim world will once again regain its position as the center of tolerance,human rights, civilization, culture, knowledge,innovation and creativity , god willing. Just dont lose hope,faith, and patience and one day, we will be masters of our own destiny.
Ah! I’m glad someone eventually writes this.
You’re more than right, we can’t rely on an artificial depiction of peace if we don’t act ourselves. In the Mideast people have either too much depended on outer powers or have flirted dangerously with carrot and stick(s).
All over the region chaos has spread its feathers over the people. We are entirely oblivious to our surroundings in the Middle East. It gobsmack you first when one reads your article but this is only because one likes to think of a prince that saves one from thorns and buckets.
Of course a favourable US administration is a ‘plus’ as daniela puts it, however, all plusses are useless if we don’t take responsibility of what is in our hands.
Quote: The Obama team are not going to solve the crimes and injustices that we witness every day of our lives… As an American, I think that Obama’s speech is just cute words with little or no content. He is still campaigning.
A very good commentary and for the most part I agree. The problem is that so many of your injustices are directly linked to your religion and culture. For a generation we have seen these things grow worse, but for the most part Arabs and Muslims limit themselves to blaming others. At look at Islamic websites shows that all the problems of Muslims in the world are caused by… The jews, Israel, the Jewish lobby, USA, Bush, right-wing evangelicals, Western support for dictators, Obama, Colonialism, the Crusaders, Imperialism, India, Capitalism, Europe, Britain, poverty, lack of education, the media, culture, traditions, globalization, Hollywood, and so on… The role of your religion in any problem is quicky dismissed as “some people interpret Islam incorrectly” even when that “incorrect” interpretation is exactly what the words say. The “Islam is perfect” principle always is applied, so the only alternative then is to find someone to blame….
Yes, I know Muslims are frustrated… They should be. Don’t look to Obama or anybody else for most answers. Look in the mirror.
Daniela, I am offended by your words. Why should “Islam and Muslim communities must be respected”? People yes, but not an ideology. Tell me, do Muslims respect others? Note the phase above about problems relating to “women’s rights to free speech to minority issues”. Many of these are directly linked to your religion. In case you haven’t read the Quran and hadith, please take note that there are hundreds and hundreds of passages that offend me. For every ‘nice’ verse you can find, I can give you two that teach hate and violence against non-Muslims (and don’t waste my time with the “out of context” excuse). Until I see a change of heart and attitudes toward non-Muslims in those societies where Islam dominates, I see no reason to respect an ideology that discriminates and even encourages violence.
I am pessimistic. The comments above about the need for change and the need for Arabs/ Muslims to do it are good. However, I believe that this change requires a hard look at Islam and a rejection of many of its doctrines. Muslims will not do this so there will be no change, except maybe for the worst. I have seen the “We need to stand up for our rights” comment many times in Muslim blogs and websites, but as soon as somebody puts the issues as being an aspect of Islam, everybody sits down and shuts their mouth.
Look at the victory of right wing parties in Europe this week. This is a reaction to Islam and the behavior of Muslims. Is it biotry? yes, but it is a reaction to Muslim bigotry. It seems that Muslims cannot live with Non-Muslims without trying to impose their values (or lack thereof) on others. I don’t know the future but I am sure it will not be nice.
Have a nice day,
Kactuz
[...] via Mideast Youth – Thinking Ahead » Why I didn’t listen to Obama’s speech. [...]
Don’t feed the troll, as they say. This Kactuz character wanders the Internet injecting trite propaganda into any article and or blog post about Islam and Muslims he can. If you do a search for “kactuz islam” you’ll see he’s just another post-9/11 heckler. Every kook fancies himself an expert on Muslim culture, Quranic exegesis and Hadith criticism these days.
Dear svend, it’s pretty unfortunate. The attacks against Islam and Muslims is now a typical reaction to anything Obama-related, even if he wasn’t addressing the “Muslim World” so to speak. There were a few other extremely hateful comments here that were so inciteful and disturbing, such hatred is not welcome here as it adds nothing to further a dialogue.
I used to think that we have a responsibility to sit down and refute every single attack against Muslims or Islam, but these are bigots whose opinions we can never change no matter what facts we provide. Look at the Jihad Watch crowd and what they’re equating the Obama speech with, and how violent they are in their hatred of Muslims.
It’s quite scary but this is not the kind of crowd that has any interest to what others like us would think or say, they’d attack no matter what.
[...] at Middle East Youth however, Esra’a justifies why she didn’t listen to the speech: because no foreign leader [...]
Dear Esra’a,
Some people are influential, Obama is as well, his tone did appeal to some people who otherwise were much compelled by the Western World. Not speaking about this latest of the speeches, the one before Nowrooz made people whop celebrated Nowrooz feel good. Obama’s speeches are delivered exactl when the candidates for presidency my country ( Iran) are delivering speeches and debating and we do compare these speeches. Obama sounds more honest, more in favor of real change, and more reasonalbe than what we hear in these debates, that my uncle told me on the phone.
The fact that a black Ameircan, highly educated and charming is elected by Americans to lead a vast country of 52 states speaks a lot, and vast democracies are inpiring for countries that are in the transitionla phase of absolute dictarorship to a more fitting state that would include more of the will and power of the people of the countires.
If we want to think about the mistakes in the name of democracy or people, or what had been just or unjust, we are faced with a very vast criterion of picking what or who? We are all faulty, and we should all join forced and efforts to make this world a better place. Esra’a, I agree with you when you say the change has to come from within. In our souls we should have this peace that we attribute to the pretty name of Middle East.
The change that you have called for with this forum is the one that bulds the ground for the interaction of people of the Middle East as human beings who are not necessarily opposed to one another and for me that is very positive and I am very proud of you. Amen to a better Middle East and Better world
Elinor, I couldn’t agree with you more.
The change we seek, not only in the Middle East, but in the world as a whole, is so vast, that we will need the help of anyone who is willing to help, including President Obama.
The problems we face are so all-encompassing, that to solve them we will need nothing less than a realignment of some very basic aspects of human nature. So, for example, if some people are greedy, we will have to sell them on the idea of sharing, on giving everyone on earth a place at the table, a stake in his or her future. If some people are power-hungry, we will have to sell them on empowering the man on the street. Give the man on the street a sense of hope, and you will have turned the corner on world peace. Nothing more is needed, and nothing less will suffice. If some people want to consume the environment until nothing is left, we will have to sell them on sustaining the environment so that we all have a world we can live in.
The list goes on and on. But the basic point is that human nature, as presently constituted, and many of the models that have been put in place in both the West and the East, will have to be re-looked at, and revised, so as to be made more consistent with a vision of hope, a vision of peace, prosperity, and freedom for all.
The United States prides itself on perfecting a better union. It is time to take that up one notch and to perfect a better world, and a better sense of who we are as human beings.
Hi dear Nissim
It is always good to read what you post. Let me tell you that the motto of change has spread every where,even in the current ellections of Iran, you hear some potential winners of the campaign talk about change and I see that the word is being printed and handed out to people on the streets, the desire for change is burning in the hearts of people who truely look forward to that and I feel it is an encompassing and exponential desire, which we all hope would spread and finally mould into substantial frames and models that would truely serve people considering their dignity, their indiiduality, their needs as human beings and as individuals who form masses of current and dynamic cultures and traditions and religions, in essence we all need a change in one direction: crairy, truthfulness and reviving human vlaues. The rest will follow, Amen
It is amazing how many times the old “divide and conquer” tactic has worked.
US leadership has completely failed to live up to promises to America – Our new president is reverting back to Bush policies more and more every day.
Don’t you people know anything about American deception and political rhetoric !
Different faces yes, but same old path. Wake up the new “Gitmo” is in Afghanistan and we now
limit ourselves to exposure by outsourcing harsh interrogations.
I love my country and our people, being a traditionalist I still believe that America should not interfere with your affairs. We certainly shouldn’t be starting civil wars like in Pakistan. I heard our leader taking about retaliation, but I hardly think that the millions of refugees caused by our meddling should be punished.
Most Americans voted for change (end of war), instead we are escalating troop levels and are being told that we should be prepared for lasting war for at-least 4-8 more years. Amazingly war protesters in America have stopped protesting, they to have been flam-boozeled by our new leadership.
This should be a sounding alarm, what is our “new purpose” in the Mid-East and will everyone be forced to adopt the “American way” before we will stop ?
Thank you for You Post.
Finally got a chance to read this, since the site has been down forever. Well worth the wait.
Wow, Esra’a, you went all over the place in this tome. I had no idea what I was to respond with until the last paragraph of sentences.
Good concluding thoughts. If the government of the nation you reside in is conducive to working class people, and you can create a business employing ten, a hundred, a thousand or more people and supplying regular paychecks to the employees, why you’re a pretty good person in the community. If more people thought how to create jobs and give steady paychecks to people, this would go a long way to solving much of the worlds problems, everywhere.
Esra’a, do you have a Twitter account? I’m k24anson. Follow me …?
[...] الزميلة البحرينية إسراء كتابةً في Mideast Youth [بالإنكليزية] لماذا لم تستمع إلى الخطاب: كمسلمة [...]
well said , and again it is up to us . Because i am 15 and nobody will tell me what to do , besides my parents . He has NO controll in my life , he is not even apart of it . So why should i listen to him , just because he is our ” leader ” our ” president ” – it has nothing to do with me , well atleast not right now .