« When Both Sides See The Other As Evil | Main | Terrorism In The Name of Judaism »
January 22, 2009
Barack Obama and The American Gospel
[Originally published in Hurriyet Daily News]
I was among the billion people who watched the inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama. And like most of those people, I was moved and filled with hope for a better world.
For me, one of the striking points in the inauguration ceremony was that it started with a prayer by pastor Rev. Rick Warren, and ended with a benediction by pastor Rev. Joseph E. Lowery. During the whole ceremony, repeatedly, God was praised, His blessing was asked, and His Scriptures were evoked.
Imagine if something similar would happen in the inauguration of our next prime minister, who will probably be, again, Mr. Tayyip Erdoğan. Imagine if an imam would open his ceremony with prayers, and another imam would close it with blessings. Imagine if verses from the Koran were read out loud in the nation's capital, Ankara, in order to sanctify its leadership.
Let me tell you what would happen: Turkey's secularist establishment would go crazy and the country would fall into an acute crisis, and even come to the brink of a military coup. Thousands would rush to visit Anıtkabir, Atatürk's tomb, and beg for his help against the "Islamists" who had taken over his legacy. Fellow columnists would tell you that the country was falling into "darkness," and that we couldn't waste time with childish things like democracy. Tanks could even hit the streets, as they did in 1997, to stage yet another "post-modern military coup."
Self-evident truths
But let's be fair and see the other side of the picture, too. Had imams blessed the inauguration of Turkey's new prime minister, neither these clerics nor the PM himself would probably mention Christians, Jews, Hindus and "unbelievers" as our fellow citizens, as it was the case in Obama's inauguration. Theirs would probably be a less pluralist and inclusivist form of faith. (One has to give credit to Mr. Erdoğan for trying to achieve progress in that regard, such as his campaign to reach out to the unorthodox Alevis, but Turkey has more way to go.)
Beneath this difference between Ankara and Washington, there lies the genius of what author Jon Meacham calls "the American Gospel." The Founding Fathers of America enacted a public faith that embraces all of "God's children" regardless of their race, creed and sect.
This "national religion" is based on various religious sources such as the Bible, but also, and maybe more so, on human reason. Thus the Deist, the Jew, Muslim, Christian or Hindu can interpret references to the "Creator," "Nature's God," "the Supreme Judge of the world" and to "divine providence" in their own way. At the end of the day, the "self-evident" truth which matters is that the Creator created all men equal.
To be sure, it has taken a long time for America to realize and fulfill this principle. It has taken, for example, two centuries to overcome the suppression and exclusion of African-Americans. And many Americans continue to have a much less ecumenical understanding of religion that divides the world between friends versus foes, the chosen versus the damned.
This Manichean view get much worse and more severe when America feels itself under threat. After Pearl Harbor, all Asians were seen as the enemy's fifth column. After 9/11, some Americans, including policy makers, started to see the world's 1.2 billion Muslims as potential terrorists. Such cases of paranoid bigotry had harmed not just America itself, but, especially in the recent case, also the world.
All men, indeed
Yet the American Gospel still stands out there as a source of inspiration that will help overcome these crises and move toward the principles of justice and liberty for all. Today President Obama is the right person to carry that banner and lead America forward. I had personally canvassed for him in Virginia three months ago. I am now so happy to see him in the White House.
His presidency definitely signals a triumph for America's civil rights movement. But there is much more way to go. Americans need to fully realize that all nations, including the ones with which they don't have too many cultural ties, deserve justice and liberty as well. Yes, all men are created equal, and this dictum includes, for example, the downtrodden people of Palestine, too, who also deserve a "land of freedom."
President Obama has given us the hope that he understands this and he will lead his nation accordingly. So help him God. He should proceed bravely and unyielding. If he does, he will be indeed a leader dear to all of us. But if he fails, alas, so will the American gospel.
Posted by Mustafa Akyol at January 22, 2009 2:13 AM
I wonder where Mr. Akyol's excessive sympathy and public support for Obama comes from? Canvassing for Obama in Virginia? Why?
Since the US revolution, the history of US foreign policy has been highly expansionist Republic (Cuba, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Iraq and etc.), and based predominantly on the hierarchy of races and the perceived divine right to rule those that were not enlightened by Christianity (e.g. the Manifest Destiny). In other words, there is significant undertones of racism and religious references in the history of US foreign policy. Is that the kind of foreign policy the Turkish Republic should adopt? Apparently, it sounds like music to the ears of some. Perhaps, the secular adjustment was right in abandoning the US type crusader mentality long ago.
Mr. Akyol seems to be one of those who fell victim to the perception that Obama will bring "change" to the world because he is "different" despite the fact that there is very limited change he promised during his campaign in terms of the US foreign policy. Do I have to remind that the slogan of "Yes we can" was intended for domestic consumption? but who knows? May be Mr. Akyol may have heard something only available to the "islamo-liberal" club when he was canvassing in Virginia.
Posted by: cingoz at January 22, 2009 11:03 PM
If one think I have to choose one idea NOT to import from the US, that would be the increasingly frequent use of religious references in government.
In a secular country, religion should be kept out of government. Obama had to prove that he was not muslim to win this election. What would it matter if he were a muslim? The US is a constitutionally secular country and a muslim has the right to be the president.
By the way religious reference in public places is unconstitutional in the US. The reason why there are so many religious reference is that the district attorneys do not bring the case to the supreme court. That should be lesson for all secular countries. Once the religion reference got into the government it is almost impossible to take it out since it would be a hugely unpopular move.
Posted by: nyoped at January 26, 2009 9:29 AM
Religion in the US and in the "Christian" world is very different from what religion means in Islamic countries. Of course if Erdogan would do the same thing as Obama did, people would get crazy...but for a simple reason...and Mustafa should know better (ps: why didn't you explain it?)...Chritianity advocates distinction beteen God and "Cesars", while Islam does not..simple reason
PS. I cannot understand all this euphoria with Obama. He is very skilled in rhetoric but more than that?...do you know that before the inauguration he went to Mess, that was held by a Rev that was once married with two sons, but the left his family to get married with a man?
Do you know that Obama has voted against the ban of the late abortion method (ie: you could still kill a baby even in his 9th month, by extracting just his head, and with a syring you would then take out his brain, so that you have no troubles with the law bcs the child was completly born without brain)!!!
Is this a man? He's the same tenor as Bill Clinton, that has introduced this law.
A morale invertebrate
Posted by: echnaton at January 27, 2009 1:07 PM
And yet, Mr. Akyol's sympathy and loyalty for Obama extends to a level that would make the US democrats jealous. Since when the US led a "world full of hope"? Where does this naive expectation come from?
The US desperately sought change; and they would have voted for anyone different to overcome the domestic and international mess they have never seen before. Obama is lucky that E.T. was not running for Presidency. I think he would have won.
Posted by: cingoz at January 27, 2009 9:45 PM
I too am surprised by Mr. Akyol's support for Obama, who is clearly a clever political chameleon. How can Obama, a champion of abortion rights, a supporter of homosexual lifestyles, even in the clergy, a blatant socialist whose religious affiliation was used solely for political capital in the black areas of Chicago, be someone that Mr. Akyol puts his hope in?!?! It is amazing how "hope" can cloud one's judgment and "optimism" can gloss over the realities of the world we live in. We have seen enough of Obama's change! He changed all of Bush's cabinet and put in life-long Clintonites, tax-evaders, and big money men. I expected nothing different but his supporters should be hanging their heads in shame.
Posted by: Robert at February 3, 2009 5:11 AM