ADC Commends President Obama's Historic Speech in Cairo

posted on: Jun 4, 2009

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee commends remarks delivered by the President of the United States in a historic speech on U.S. relations with the Arab and Muslim World this morning in Cairo.

The President, who had made a commitment as a candidate, to deliver an important address to the people of the Arab and Muslim world in the early days of his Presidency fulfilled that promise today. In that address, President Obama touched on a number of key issues in the relationship between the United States, the Muslim World and the entire population of the world.

By acknowledging the accomplishments and contributions of Islamic civilization, the President already began to fulfill his commitment to dispel harmful and inaccurate stereotypes about Arab and Muslims throughout the world, an effort at the center of ADC’s mission for the past 29 years. Also, President Obama’s commitment to help Muslim Americans fulfill their religious obligation through charitable giving supports an ongoing ADC objective.

The President’s speech in Cairo is one of the first major steps in improved relations based on “mutual interests and mutual respect.” Of the many issues addressed by the President, many in Arab and Muslim communities in the Middle East and the United States waited anxiously to hear his remarks on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. ADC commends his approach to the Israel-Palestinian conflict which recognizes the 60-plus years of suffering and dispossession that Palestinians have experienced.

Furthermore, his continued commitment to end torture, close the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, support women’s rights and safeguard the civil rights of all persons protected by the Constitution, projects an image of American values which is held in high regard, not only by Arabs and Muslims, but by people throughout the world.

ADC looks forward to administration’s continued efforts to make changes in the policies of the past eight years that reflect the hopeful sentiment and mutual respect which were featured in the President’s remarks this morning. As Arab-Americans, ambassadors between both worlds, ADC looks forward to working with the President’s Administration domestically to bolster the message he delivered in Cairo and have a direct impact on the lives of Arab and Muslim Americans.