Skip to main content

The Speech Heard ‘Round the World'



"Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action -- whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster....If we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country -- you, more than anyone, have the ability to reimagine the world, to remake this world." -Barack Obama, Cairo, Thursday, June 4, 2009.

Early in his speech, Barack Hussein Obama clearly identified himself as a Christian, while also acknowledging his Muslim family heritage. Embodied in his personal story is a path of reconciliation of apparent opposites. Boldly and brilliantly, he spoke the truth in love about Jewish suffering and Israel's right to a secure homeland, as well as Muslim oppression and the Palestinian and right to an independent state, and the need for mutual understanding, compromise and reconciliation. In the spirit of shalom, the President showed himself to be a true peacemaker, and time will tell how his speech 'heard around the world' will play out in the lives of Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Communities of Shalom is involved in interfaith peace justice work in Newark. What follows is a sampling of affirmations to President Obama’s speech in Cairo from members of our Newark Interfaith Coalition for Hope and Peace:

I found President Obama's address at Cairo University remarkable on many fronts-its frankness about American foreign policy, its honoring of Islam, but most especially for his call not only for interfaith dialogue and understanding, but joint action. This is surely the way forward in a world of so many perils and challenges, and a wonderful endorsement of efforts such as the ones we are involved in.
Rev. Robert Morris, Executive Director, Interweave

It is my sincere belief that G-d has provided the world a sincere friend who because of his purity of spirit and profound clarity of intellect is and will continue to be instrumental in reminding us of who we are and what we are suppose to represent. President Obama’s speech was balanced and uncomplicated. He delivered enriching words that can reach the hearts and minds of all people who are sincere about wanting to see the world a better place for all of us. May the Creator and Sustainer give us the best intentions and guide our actions to please Him. Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, Imam


…what I can say passionately is that I feel extremely hopeful that as American people we are headed for a wiser, more compassionate, more visionary time in our history...and I will be extremely grateful to the Holy One if our humble efforts can help to make a change! Peace to all.

–Rev. Tanya Bennett, Director of Religious Life, Drew University

…the President’s address was thoughtful, visionary and inspiring. To make this new vision a reality, it will require all of us individually and collectively to act… It is hard work and will require vigilance. We are so blessed to have President Obama to guide and to lead the world in new ways of knowing/being. Barbara Bell Coleman

I watched the speech on the computer throughout the day. And I reflected on our work together while watching.
I felt proud to be American, and also honored to be connected to the Interfaith Coalition. With Peace and Hope,
Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz

Obama is reframing the conversation. I believe that that is what we are trying to do in Newark.
Mark Beckwith, Bishop of Newark

Wow, Thank you, Bob, Matthew, Michael and everybody for also articulating what's in my heart concerning our President. Can you believe that a son of a slave, now speaking to our world about God's love for everybody. I am so proud to be a part of our interfaith group. Love you all.
Rev. Reggie Osborne

Popular posts from this blog

Mother Shalom

South Central, Los Angeles, was the neighborhood in the city where Communities of Shalom began in 1992. I met Marx Gutierrez from El Salvador who was there attending High School at the time. He remembers what happened at the corner of Florence and Normandy Streets in South Central, LA, when Reginald Denny was pulled out of his truck and beaten while the crowd looked on and the police did nothing; and how the Rodney King beating resulted in a not-guilty verdict for the police and resulted in a major, 3-day uprising in the neighborhood, until the National Guard came in and finally imposed law and order. He can still remember the fires, the bright orange night sky, the mass looting, 45 unsolved killings, the social chaos...And how the United Methodist Churches responded by creating a zone of shalom in 7 neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Today, Marx is a community organizer, and married to Jennifer Gutierrez, Conference Shalom Coordinator in the Calif-Pacific Annual Conference, and Rev. Vilma

First Generation Lambs Club Reunion

Fifteen of us gathered Saturday night at the Lambs Club for a 35 th year reunion of those who helped start the Lamb’s Church in Times Square in the mid to late 1970’s, including: Rev. Paul S. Moore , Founder of the Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene, and his wife, Tamara Dr. Michael J. Christensen , charter member and former associate pastor, and his wife Dr. Rebecca Laird Fr. William (BJ) Webe r, former Associate Pastor and Director of the Lamb’s Residency, and his wife Sheila who lived at the Lamb’s Jim and Dustee Hullinger, who were on staff together and made the Lamb’s their home for over 25 years Effie Canepa , who was the church pianist under 3 pastors, and her husband Peter Shirley Close, who attended the Lamb’s in the late 1970’s while studying, performing  and teaching music and voice Carl "Chappy" Valente , former associate pastor Rev. Bob DiQuatto , lead singer of the Church’s “Manhattan Project” and staff member of the Lamb’s, and his son Jason Rev. Gabriel

Liberation Spirituality: Henri Nouwen and Gustavo Gutierrez in Dialogue

Liberation Spirituality: Henri Nouwen and Gustavo Gutierrez in Dialogue Lecture Notes: Presented by Michael J. Christensen, Ph.D.,  Associate Professor in the Practice of Spirituality and Ministry,  Drew University;  and  International Director, Communities of Shalom, The United Methodist Church Introduction “There is a little man in Peru, a man without any power, who lives in a barrio with poor people and who wrote a book.   In this book he simply reclaimed the basic Christian truth that God became human to bring good news to the poor, new light to the blind, and liberty to the captives.   Then years later this book and movement it started is considered a danger by [the USA, or Rome], the greatest power on earth.   When I look at this little man, Gustavo, and think about [the President of the US, or the Pope], I see David standing before Goliath, again with no more weapon than a little stone, a stone called A Theology of Liberation (Henri Nouwen