I owe President Obama a thank you — and maybe an apology.
It turns out that I was too quick to criticize and challenge him in my last blog about not really “speaking his mind” concerning the Muslim Center in lower Manhattan. Two days after I posted the blog, in which I quoted from his speech in Cairo and implored him to, more or less, give the same speech here in the States, the New York Times, in today’s edition, announced that the President, at an Iftar dinner at the White House, came out clearly, strongly, courageously in support of the Muslim Center.
Obama explained that he didn’t speak up earlier because he “did not want to weigh in until local authorities made a decision on the proposal.” I should have thought of that.
In my previous blog, I urged Obama to provide the presidential leadership he promised in his Cairo speech “ to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”
He has provided such leadership. And we are all grateful.
I was also very happy to hear Mr. Obama’s remarks. However, in a day or two he finessed his position – his leadership – by questioning the wisdom of situating the mosque among the blocks in proximity to ground zero. Tragically, really, he had the opportunity to do just the opposite – to inform the world that two mosques have been serving the community in that very part of the city for a number of years PRIOR to 9/11. Leadership has to be consistent and courageous and I think President Obama chickened out, with all due respect to chickens.
Kevin, You’re so, and unfortunately, right. Obama chickened out. On my Twitter and Facebook, I gave a connection to Maureen Dowd’s op-ed piece in today’s NYT. It’s the response that I, and it seems you too, would have wanted to make.
Leave it to Maureen Dowd. I’ll take a look. Thanks.