"We want to tell him that it's now okay to embrace us"

Jihad Watch

I expect he knows, given his inaugural remarks. And one final thought about those remarks: Obama said, "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect." Given the context of his thinly veiled attacks on Bush Administration policies during his Inaugural Address, it seems likely that by this Obama meant to reassure the Islamic world that the respect that had not been given them by Bush would now be given them. But on what grounds does Obama assume that that respect will be mutual? Will he address the doctrines of Islamic supremacism and the replacement theology that makes Muslims view non-Muslims with contempt, as "the most vile of created beings" (Qur'an 98:6)? Will he discuss with Muslim leaders the Islamic concept that Judaism and Christianity are merely perverted forms of the original Islamic message of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus?

A pre-Inauguration story: "US Muslims: Obama's use of Hussein in oath sends message," by Anindita Ramaswamy for the Hindustan Times, January 20 (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):

Muslim Americans view Barack Obama's intention to use his middle name Hussein during the reciting of the oath of office as a sign that he's heeded their call for greater inclusion....

To Imam Yusuf Salim of Masjid Muhammad, a mosque in Washington, it will be a statement of intent.

"Obama may be Christian, but he cannot deny his roots, his heritage. Hussein is a beautiful name, meaning 'good' or 'handsome.' It was in honour of his grandfather. Why would anyone hesitate to proudly state it?"...

"By reclaiming Hussein in his name, which he had to avoid during the campaign, disappointing and angering many Muslims, Obama will tell Americans and the world that he does really stand for change we can all believe in," said student Rashid Rizvi Mohiuddin, 21. "If not, we'll know it was all eloquence without substance."

Hodari Abdul Ali of Muslim Alliance in North America, a national network of mosques and Muslim organisations, said that while Obama's campaign disappointed him, he held out hope of his potential to heal the Muslim world "damaged" by President George W Bush.

"Obama distanced himself from our community during his historic campaign. It was such a dichotomy - we felt we were being kept at arm's length and yet we funded his campaign and voted for him," said Ali, a fixture at Iraq and Palestinian demonstrations.

"We want to tell him that it's now okay to embrace us," Ali said....

Others spoke of how Muslims were the "most peaceful group in America," their reputation tarnished by the "media and US policy." Teacher Masooma Khan, 44, said: "One of Allah's names means peace, another means justice. We want peace and justice for all, especially minorities, to be the cornerstones of his administration."...

Yeah, that's it. It's the media and US policy that keeps mounting all those jihad terror attacks.