This Weeks Sound Off

Obama Lauds Indonesia As A Model Of Religious Tolerance

Indonesia and the United States share principles of unity and tolerance and both can benefit from strengthened ties that will bolster trade and combat terrorism, President Obama said in a highly anticipated speech Wednesday.

As the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia was chosen as the site for Obama to further address U.S. relations with the Islamic world following his speech on the topic last year in Cairo, Egypt.

He referred specifically to the Cairo speech of June 2009, noting he called there "for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world -- one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences."

"I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust," Obama said. At the same time, he promised that "no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress."

America "is not, and never will be, at war with Islam," Obama insisted. "Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion -- certainly not a great world religion like Islam."

Indonesia has been rocked by terror attacks such as bombings on Bali in 2002 and 2005, and Obama noted the nation's progress "in rooting out terrorists and combating violent extremism."

However, Muslims staged rallies across Indonesia on Sunday to protest the American president's visit, and about 20,000 people attended the demonstrations, a spokesman for a protest group said.

"We don't see the differences between Obama and (former U.S. President George W.) Bush. They both oppress Muslims. They both have blood on their hands," said Ismail Yusanto, a spokesman for the Muslim group Hizbut Tahrir. "That's why we reject Obama and we don't believe that he's reaching out to Muslims."-Read more at CNN World

Woooo, hold on Obama! Not so fast! Building a relationship with Islam? All well and good, but not until the Islamic Nation publicly and politically denounces radical Islam and turns over those who murdered Americans in the 2001 attack on our country. I’m not exactly in the mood to simply forgive and forget and become bosom buddies with a nation that is willing to kill us and destroy what we now know as America.

The Islamic nation has to understand that there are consequences for their radical beliefs, hellish actions and murderous ways … to simply say we need to improve relationships, I’m not ready for that until I see some radical changes, not only from overseas, but right here in our own country where radical Islamic Muslims have more rights than American citizens do. Change, yes!, I’d like to see it come about, but it’s not us Americans who needs to change … it’s the Muslims. Until then, yeah!, we’re at war!