From: "Gary Britt" 

Pretty hopeful sounding stuff.  I'm glad you posted this.

Gary

"Ellen K."  wrote in message
news:vom5j1teqsoo8vjsgt0snk3gkbnp7kjqg9{at}4ax.com...
> Musharraf's Historic Speech
>
> by Daniel Pipes
> New York Sun
> September 20, 2005
> http://www.danielpipes.org/article/2963
>
> When the Malaysian currency tanked in late 1997, the country's
> then-prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, said he had "definite
> information" that Jews were the cause. "We do not want to
say that this
> is a plot by the Jews, but in reality it is a Jew who triggered the
> currency plunge, and coincidentally [financier George] Soros is a Jew."
> Mr. Mahathir went on to say that just as "the Jews would rob
> Palestinians  this is what they are doing to our country."
>
> Mahathir's antisemitism is so typical of discourse in the Muslim world
> over the last generation that I have found an "uneasy
parallel" between
> it and Nazi Germany of the 1930s.
>
> This background makes clear the historic nature of a speech by the
> president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, to the American Jewish Congress
> on September 17. More coincidentally, he too singled out George Soros as
> a symbol of Jewish financial prowess, but very differently.
>
> Lauding Jewish groups in the United States, Mr. Musharraf remarked that
> they "were at the forefront in opposing the ethnic cleansing of Muslims
> in Bosnia," adding: "I am told that the largest contributor to the
> Bosnian cause was the Jewish-American businessman and philanthropist,
> George Soros."
>
> Most news coverage of the Musharraf speech focused on the prospect of
> Pakistan opening diplomatic relations with Israel (Reuters: "Pakistan
> leader urges US Jews to help make peace"), but what is potentially of
> lasting importance about the Musharraf address  beyond the mere fact of
> its being delivered to a Jewish organization  was the president's
> respectful, accurate, and constructive comments about Jews.
>
> He began with the important observation that Jews and Muslims "have many
> similarities and few divergences in their faith and culture," then
> listed three specifics: belief in the oneness of God, shared ways of
> greeting, and a common phrase in the Talmud and Koran. And Moses, he
> pointed out, is the prophet most often referred to in the Koran.
>
> Mr. Musharraf noted how "our experiences and histories intertwine" and
> then elaborated on what he called the two communities' "rich and very
> long" history of interaction. He mentioned the "shining
examples" of
> Cordova, Baghdad, Istanbul, and Bukhara, the golden period of Muslim
> Spain, and the joint experience of the Spanish Inquisition. Generalizing
> from the inquisition, he correctly asserted that Jews and Muslims "have
> not only lived together and shared prosperity, but also suffered
> together."
>
> Against this background, Mr. Musharraf portrayed the period since 1945
> as an aberration. As I have also noted, 1945 was the pivotal year when
> Jews stopped leaving Christendom for Islamdom and reversed directions.
> The past six decades, in other words, broke a pattern of 13 centuries.
> Mr. Musharraf resisted ascribing blame for this gulf but limited himself
> to noting that the problems occurred during the "bloodiest century in
> human history."
>
> He commended American Jews for their role in protecting Bosnian Muslims
> and praised them for offering "legal and other assistance"
to Muslims in
> the United States. "I wish to acknowledge and appreciate
this," he said.
> Mr. Musharraf also flattered Jews as "probably the most distinguished
> and influential community" in America Looking to the future, he
> emphasized the role of compassion in repairing Muslim-Jewish relations.
>
> Properly to appreciate the significance of this speech means hearing it
> with Muslim ears. It may not sound like much, for example, that he
> referred to the Holocaust as the Jewish people's "greatest
tragedy," but
> the profusion of Muslim Holocaust deniers, including Palestinian leader
> Mahmoud Abbas, makes this an important statement.
>
> Mr. Musharraf's speech can significantly affect Muslim views of Jews
> only if it is part of a larger effort. So, in the question period, I
> asked him if he would take steps to ensure that his vision of Jews be
> spread. He admitted he had not thought this through but on the spot
> there, in public, in view of a bank of television cameras, he made a
> commitment to do precisely that.
>
> Mr. Musharraf's reaching out to Jews is part of a much broader project
> of developing what he calls "Enlightened Moderation" in
Islam. Although
> until now more talk than action, even the talk is a major achievement.
> Sadly, only he and one other Muslim leader, King Abdullah II of Jordan,
> are articulating a moderate version of Islam, but at least those two are
> doing so.
>
> For his efforts, Mr. Musharraf deserves appreciation and encouragement.
>
> To comment on this article, please go to
> http://www.danielpipes.org/article/2963#comment
> To see the Daniel Pipes archive, go to http://www.DanielPipes.org
>
>
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