The full text of President Obama’s speech at the University of Cairo is posted at WhiteHouse.gov.
An excerpt:
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As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. It was Islam — at places like Al-Azhar — that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities — (applause) — it was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
I also know that Islam has always been a part of America’s story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President, John Adams, wrote, “The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.” And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, they have served in our government, they have stood for civil rights, they have started businesses, they have taught at our universities, they’ve excelled in our sports arenas, they’ve won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers — Thomas Jefferson* — kept in his personal library.
He would not receive an outstanding grade from me were he to submit this speech to me as a complete historical recounting. So much is left unsaid or ignored that interpretation is misled and understanding clouded.
Rather than accept this version of history, read Islam and the West
* I want to know more about the Jefferson Koran. Obama attempts to assert Jefferson’s approval of Islam from the Founder’s ownership of a Koran. As context, consider that Jefferson wrote an abridged Bible, keeping only portions meeting his enlightened worldview. If you have never examined a copy of The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
