President Obama Advisor in an Interview with London-based Saudi Daily 'Al-Sharq Al-Awsat': Someday America Will Have a Jewish or Muslim President
The Saudi London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat has published an interview with researcher and author Eboo S. Patel, who was the first Muslim to join the Obama administration's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Patel, an Indian-American, is founder and executive director of the Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Corps. He blogs on "The Faith Divide" at The Washington Post.
Following are excerpts from the interview:[1]
Our Goal is to "Bring the Muslim Voice to the American Decision Makers"
Q: "Could you tell us a bit about the advisory team you are part of?"
A: "Of course. I was honored when President Obama appointed me to the Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. We are a council of 25 religious and civil leaders, each from a different background. It is an honor to [serve] alongside my colleague Dalia Mogahed, one of the prominent Egyptian Muslim leaders in the U.S.
"Our first task is to find a way to bring together people from different religious backgrounds and to encourage positive dialogue among them, even on issues of contention. We will try to promote common interest, what is termed in Arabic maslaha. Our task is to formulate a list of recommendations for the President on ways to form better partnerships between the federal government and religious and secular organizations in the U.S., the better to serve the common good. Our goal is to bring the Muslim voice to the American decision makers... Obama, for his part, is regarded as a keen supporter of inter-faith cooperation."
Q: "Is Dalia Mogahed the only Arab among you?"
A: "Yes, she is."
Q: "What is the nature of the recommendations you have presented to the Obama administration so far?"
A: "We aim to submit a list of official recommendations by February. So far, we have not submitted any recommendations, though we have had some opportunities to advise.
"An issue I wish to emphasize is the importance of having young people play a pioneering role in interfaith cooperation, because young people are a very big part of the world today. In the Arab world, 60-70 percent of the population is under 30, and we think that the members of this generation are capable of [promoting] interfaith cooperation, and have the ability to build bridges between individuals of different faiths..."
Q: "Did the team you are on... play any role in advising President Obama [on his June 2009 Cairo speech, and if so], who was involved in [writing] the speech?"
A: "I do not know who wrote the speech, but I had the honor of participating in two conference calls with the [team] that was in charge of writing it. Their names were not mentioned, but they listened to our ideas over the phone."
Q: "Was more than one person involved in writing the speech?"
A: "President Obama has a team of speech-writers, and I imagine that the writing of this speech involved many people, considering its great importance..."
The Fort Hood Shooting Was a Heinous Act
Q: "The events involving Major Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood - what was their impact on [American] Muslims, both those serving in the military and others?"
A: "[The shooting] was a heinous act. I was recently on an American radio program. [During the program], a soldier called in, and said that despite the deep sorrow over the Fort Hood incident, his relations with his Muslim fellow soldiers are still characterized by strong friendship and a deep sense of mutual trust, in that both [Muslim and non-Muslim soldiers] are part of the military... I believe that [this statement] is a powerful reason for hope."
Q: "What was the impact of this incident on [America's] six million Muslims?"
A: "It is difficult to make generalizations, but I know that the Muslim American organizations like the Islamic Association of North America, the Muslim Public Affairs Council, and the Adam Mosque have condemned Nidal Hasan's act. They said that it contravenes the commandments of Islam and stressed that they are proud of the young Muslims serving in the [U.S.] military."
Q: "What sort of reactions do you get on your Washington Post blog?"
A: "The people who write reactions on the blog are part of a small though vociferous minority. They want to spread Islamophobia. I don't think they represent all the people who read my blog. For instance, there is a great number of young Muslims who read my blog and thank me for the information I provide them. That's why I will continue writing it, and I hope that the truth, as I see it, will lead to positive achievements, Allah willing."
Q: "When you travel abroad or in the U.S., what advice do you give young Muslims?"
A: "First, you should feel pride in your faith. It is a glorious and divine faith, which has contributed greatly to human civilization throughout history, and which still has much of importance to contribute to society. [I tell them:] you do not have to feel responsible for the extremists who destroy Islam with their violent deeds. They are not your responsibility, because they are nothing but extremists. They do not impinge on the image of your faith or on your own image.
"The second thing I wish to say is that now is the time for young Muslims to become religious leaders and fulfill what is said [in the Koran], in Verse 49 of Surat Al-Shura [sic],[2] which teaches us that Allah made us into nations and tribes so that we get to know one another. This is the time for young people to play a pioneering role in this domain."
Islam in America Is Prospering and Contributing to American Society
Q: "In London, Birmingham, and Manchester, we have recently seen a growing nationalist front against the Muslims, whose members hope to get rid of the Muslims. [In addition], we have recently witnessed the Swiss decision to ban the building of minarets. What is your reaction to all this?"
A: "Our understanding of it has to do with the societies we are trying to build. First of all, we must define ourselves. I think the societies around the world are trying to build themselves around [the ideal of] pluralism. To me, pluralism means building societies in which all individuals enjoy equal dignity [and treat one another with] mutual integrity. [Such societies] regard as a danger anyone who opposes pluralism or opposes the [right of] different people from different backgrounds to prosper."
Q: "As a Muslim, do you think Islam is prospering in the U.S.?"
A: "Yes, definitely... [Muslims] are making a great contribution to American society in different areas such as art, sports, trade, politics, and NGOs. I am proud of their contribution and proud of the fact that I live in a country where people from all backgrounds, including Muslims, can prosper."
"Someday, America Will Have a Jewish President...And Someday, Allah Willing, Also a Muslim President"
Q: "As a young Muslim, do you think that sometime in the future, say in 50 years, [America] could have a Muslim president?"
A: "I definitely think it's possible. In America anything is possible. Obama's election is seen as the latest chapter [in the history of] American opportunity and possibilities. This opportunity is available to all.
"Someday, America will have a Jewish president, one of African or Mexican origins, and someday, Allah willing, also a Muslim president.
"The important point is not the president's background, but how he uses this background to promote the values in which he believes. Obama is not a president [only] of the African-Americans, but a president of African-American heritage who wishes to help all the Americans and all the peoples of the world."
Endnotes:
[1] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), December 16, 2009.
[2] This actually appears in Verse 13 of Surat Al-Hujurat
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