After making his June Cairo Uiversity Speech, his start of Ramandan speech, and others, Obama's outreach continues after his return from Martha's Vinyard.
Obama's Ramadan Speech Targets Muslims Abroad—and Non-Muslims at Home
Obama's Ramadan Speech Targets Muslims Abroad—and Non-Muslims at Home
2 Sept [USNews] By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
President Obama's speech at last night's White House Ramadan dinner (excerpt below) revolved around stories of American Muslims that seemed calibrated to appeal to two very different audiences: Muslims abroad and non-Muslims at home.
Obama spoke of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq whose grave at Arlington National Cemetery bears a crescent, an Islamic symbol. He applauded a Muslim student in Oklahoma who fought for her right to wear a hijab, a traditional Muslim head scarf, to school—and won. And he told of a Muslim high schooler from Massachusetts who broke her state's record for the most career points scored by a high school basketball player.
For the international Muslim audience—much of which has come to see the United States as anti-Muslim because of its actions in its war on terrorism—the stories spotlighted Muslim Americans whose struggles, accomplishments, and contributions have been acknowledged and rewarded by their country. For the domestic, non-Muslim audience, those same stories served to normalize a community that is often perceived as "other."
Here's the relevant passage:
So on this occasion, we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, and we also celebrate how much Muslims have enriched America and its culture—in ways both large and small. And with us here tonight, we see just a small sample of those contributions. Let me share a few stories with you briefly. ....
President Obama's speech at last night's White House Ramadan dinner (excerpt below) revolved around stories of American Muslims that seemed calibrated to appeal to two very different audiences: Muslims abroad and non-Muslims at home.
Obama spoke of a Muslim American soldier killed in Iraq whose grave at Arlington National Cemetery bears a crescent, an Islamic symbol. He applauded a Muslim student in Oklahoma who fought for her right to wear a hijab, a traditional Muslim head scarf, to school—and won. And he told of a Muslim high schooler from Massachusetts who broke her state's record for the most career points scored by a high school basketball player.
For the international Muslim audience—much of which has come to see the United States as anti-Muslim because of its actions in its war on terrorism—the stories spotlighted Muslim Americans whose struggles, accomplishments, and contributions have been acknowledged and rewarded by their country. For the domestic, non-Muslim audience, those same stories served to normalize a community that is often perceived as "other."
Here's the relevant passage:
So on this occasion, we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, and we also celebrate how much Muslims have enriched America and its culture—in ways both large and small. And with us here tonight, we see just a small sample of those contributions. Let me share a few stories with you briefly. ....
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