Egypt Wants Obama to Deliver June 4 Address from Historic 1,000 Year Old Mosque
Oh brother, the right-wing birther nutcases are going to have a field day with this. MSNBC and the AP are reporting:
CAIRO - When President Barack Obama addresses the Muslim world from Cairo next month, Egyptian officials hope he will choose 1,000-year-old Al-Azhar mosque, the heart of a revered institution for Islamic study, as his backdrop to convey U.S. respect for Islam.
The American Embassy in Cairo said no decision has been made yet on a venue for Obama's June 4 speech on U.S. relations with the Muslim world. But two Egyptian security officials said Thursday that an American advance team scouted five potential sites this week and narrowed it down to a short list of three -- the Al-Azhar mosque and two other locations connected to it.
Al-Azhar is one of the oldest, most prestigious and most influential institutions of higher learning for Sunni Islam.
Persoanlly, I love the symbolism. But as an art historian and architectural preservationist, I guess I have my own agenda for calling attention to historic architecture. Oh yeah, and I love anything that makes the wingnuts scream. Here's a view of the Al-Azhar mosque:
There is no valid reason I can think of for him not to do this...
Because it is a small segment of those who, although calling themselves Muslims, do in truth only abuse and disparage the Muslim faith. Much like the KKK and others who used the cross and their distorted interpretations as justifications for their horrific acts.
I hope he does choose to do this. It will send more of a positive message than negative to the world. At least for those who truly endorse change for the better.
May 17, 2009 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope so, too. And for the same reasons. It will mark a significant break from the apocalypse now, end-of-times, right wing fundamentalists that were guiding Bush's hand for the past eight years.
May 17, 2009 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm curious, why do you think wignuts will scream over his choice of that or other mosque?
May 17, 2009 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because he's a Manchurian Candidate, a closet Muslim radical who educated in a madrasa and was sworn in to office on the Koran, and is now going to Egypt to raise the Muslim world against the infidel Crusaders?
That's just a guess, but you're welcome to stop by redstate or freerepublic to see what the haters are actually saying. I'm sure it's a lot more creative than anything I can make up.
May 17, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
'Yowser!'
May 17, 2009 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Today, the Right "enjoys" the same validity with American voters that hollow-earth theorist have with legitimate science. Every time the fringes scream, Obama's polls uptick 3-5 points.
Of course, he'll accept the mosque engagement!
May 18, 2009 10:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I look forward to the screams.
May 18, 2009 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Beautiful, picture Astral. And I love to read the news behind the news.
May 18, 2009 7:03 PM | Reply | Permalink