A new face for American diplomacy

Parent Cafe
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<p>Advantage or Disadvantage?</p>

<p>Barack Obama is perceived by Muslims abroad like no other candidate. He would begin a presidency with tremendous potential to heal U.S. relations with much of the world.</p>

<p>By Hooman Majd</p>

<p>When I was in Tehran, Iran, a year ago, I was asked by several senior government officials, including former President Mohammad Khatami, what to make of Barack Obama’s candidacy for president of the United States. The young senator from Illinois was still barely on the international radar then. My response was that I couldn’t see Americans nominating, let alone electing, a black man whose middle name was Hussein. My answer, clearly wrong in hindsight, stirred smiles and raised eyebrows among the Iranian leaders because they’d had no idea that Obama had a Muslim father. Even more surprising to them was that he carried, apparently without shame, a Muslim name. From Khatami this elicited an “Ajab!” – Farsi for, essentially, “You’ve got to be kidding!” There were also many nods of agreement with my conclusion about Obama’s chances.</p>

<p>At this point in the presidential race, although it is deeply heartening that I was so wrong in my judgment of American voters, Obama’s great potential to connect with the Muslim world, and to change how Muslims perceive the United States, is conspicuously absent from our national debate. A crucial question about who should be the next president is whether Obama, Hillary Clinton or John McCain is most likely to be able to heal the rift between the U.S. and much of the rest of the world, a rift not created but dangerously widened by the administration of George W. Bush. What is abundantly clear now – at least to many foreigners and particularly to Muslims in the Third World – is that Barack Obama is the candidate by far the best suited to begin healing that rift and restoring America’s global reputation, and perhaps even to begin reversing decades of anti-Americanism. Obama would begin a presidency with a huge advantage in terms of world perception.</p>

<p>[A</a> new face for American diplomacy | Salon](<a href=“http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/02/21/obama_muslims/index_np.html]A”>http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/02/21/obama_muslims/index_np.html)</p>

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<p>Simba—is that really you?</p>

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<p>Fallacy of association.</p>

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<p>I have been traveling overseas (not in Muslim countries) and the faqscination with Obama and the possibility of an African-American POTUS ia just amazing. People have not expressed as much interest in Hillary Clinton or John McCain; and most don’t know Obama’s middle name or understand its significance. They know about women prime ministers, so HRC’s candidacy is not barrier-shattering for them. But Obama’s is. And they do think more highly of the US for it.</p>

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<p>For that reason alone, I’d be all for him. Visible demonstration of our good intent toward all ethnicities could heal many wounds. </p>

<p>Last year after the Virginia Tech shootings, Korean students were frightened of a backlash against all Koreans. Their govt warned them to watch for a backlash. As there was no backlash, it was instructive that we are able to separate the individual from the mass as a culture. Of course, not in all cases, not everywhere. But we’re working on it, care about it. </p>

<p>Having traveled, I’ve come to appreciate the general American good intent in our dealings with each other races. Yes, we stumble, are less than bright about things many times. But that general positive intent is a wonderful thing to show the world, and supporting Barak possibly shows that more clearly than anything in a long while.</p>

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<p>I know Simba didn’t write those words, Razer. I’m just amazed that he/she posted them.:eek:</p>

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<p>marite, I had the same experience traveling overseas recently. In France, among the left – so bitterly angry with the US these days – there was a palpable sense of excitement about Obama. And a real sense of hope about US international relations. I’ll probably catch hell for saying this, but I got the sense that the American electorate would almost somehow redeem itself with Obama for its choice in the last two presidential elections.</p>