A PROMISING PROPOSAL:

From American Muslims to Obama



Dear President Obama,



This is an extraordinary time in history – especially for you, as you have become the president of the most influential nation in the world.



This could be a formative period in history when certain decisions influence humanity’s direction for generations to come. The entire world – facing enormous challenges simultaneously with enormous possibilities -- seems to be in a reflective and transformative mood, waiting for a visionary leader to set milestones towards a better world.



Your recent election has raised hopes and aspirations around the world -- even in the Muslim world, which has often maintained a confrontational relationship with the United States. We must capitalize upon this opportunity, for the present and future welfare of both this nation and the Muslim world.



We, American Muslims along with other supporters from around the world, feel that our nation can offer the leadership towards a better world -- not because of our military strength or wealth, but because of the fundamental ideals upon which our nation was founded 233 years ago: equality, dignity and liberty. Through our often-arduous attempts to implement these ideals, our nation has developed unparalleled strength and resiliency, and it has consolidated its status as a world leader. Let us not allow vested special interests to degrade this esteemed status for our country.



We believe that America has not succeeded fully in its goals towards positive and constructive leadership around the world. Many parts of the world, including the Muslim world, view the US with distrust and resentment. This diplomatic failure has been enormously detrimental to our interests and the interests of other nations. Through our pursuit of short-term gains -- often lobbied for and encouraged by special interests -- our leadership has failed to achieve our long-term national interests. Our tax payers have paid an enormous price for the blunders our leaders have committed, often under the influence of a few financially and politically powerful organizations. Our national values have fallen victim to mistaken ideologies and policies that prefer special interests over common dreams.



These failed policies have resulted in enormous amounts of death and destruction in the Muslim world. As a result, negative and confrontational relationships have intensified between this superpower and the Muslim world.



If the US had retained the trust and goodwill it once commanded over the Muslim world, this country could have achieved its objectives for a fraction of the enormous price it has already paid. At this time, much of the Muslim world harbors a deep degree of cynicism and distrust when mentioning the United States. One of the greatest challenges before us, therefore, is to regain that former trust and goodwill. American Muslims are a common denominator between these two camps, and they could potentially serve as effective bridge-builders.



CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT



Numerous scholars have successfully demonstrated that geopolitical and social benefits for all can be achieved through cooperation and constructive engagement. In this intensely interdependent and globalized 21st-century world, exploitative ideologies should remain erased from our mindset and forbidden in our modus operandi, especially since national interests have seen the consequences of these ruthless ideologies in the colonial and neo-colonial periods. These ideologies, which often force citizens of other nation into economic and social subservience to a greater superpower, remain morally evil and politically counterproductive.



America should know the power of constructive engagement. This nation led the world towards higher standards of collective responsibility through the Marshall Plan, which rebuilt “enemy” countries – Germany and Japan – and reshaped Europe towards progress and prosperity after the devastation of World War II.



During the Cold War, America finally abandoned the ideology of “containment’ and achieved victory through “détente,” a policy much closer to constructive engagement than previous Cold War policy decisions. America reached out to China when it became a closed-door society during its “Cultural Revolution,” and helped the nation towards its emergence as a global partner, a benefit for itself and the world.



While America has exemplified true political leadership throughout the world, it has failed to carry this leadership on to the Muslim world, a vast swath of nations -- one-fifth of humanity, in fact – which controls 76% of the oil reserves of the world. This is an utter failure! The foreign policy towards this large portion of humankind has remained narrow and self-defeating, and has created one of the greatest national security liabilities for America itself. This must change now.



Vested interests have often attempted to stifle America’s enormous moral successes during its 233 years of existence. This represents a failure of leadership. America’s true interests, in both the short-term and the long-term, could have been served by taking those principles it struggled to attain for itself and upholding them for others. History testifies that trust and goodwill provides a long-lasting and profound basis for peace and security. Let not this great possibility get destroyed again for the vast majority of the world, due to the economic interests and ideologies of a few powerful men and women.



Due to enormous political difficulties that have remained unsolved, the patience in the Muslim world towards positive social change runs thin. Time is running out for true peace, and more dangerous possibilities lurk on the horizon. Also, it is important to note that what America calls “the Muslim world” is in face a mosaic of different tribes, sects and cultures. In many areas, sectarian wars and economic policies of vested interests, both within and outside national borders, have threatened massive disruption of local and regional stability. A vast and fast- growing youth generation in the Muslim world remains deeply troubled, because their societies are managed by Authoritarian and corrupt governments and supported by outside vested interests. This younger generation has the potential for either democratic progress or violent extremism. We desperately need effective leadership, leadership which can generate an extraordinary speed of social transformation. Your administration needs talented, knowledgeable, and committed individuals to work with you on this problem.



THE UNIQUE POSITION OF AMERICAN MUSLIMS



One talented and experienced group of experts exists within America now -- the American Muslims. We are the common denominator of the two polarized camps of humanity, and we are conversant with both of these mindsets and lifestyles. We believe we are at the right place in a critical time in history to be agents of change. A visionary leadership from among us could become a powerful tool in your pursuit of dialogue and diplomacy with the Muslim world.



Recently, the PEW report reported that the majority of American Muslims – 65% -- were born in their native land. These Muslim immigrants have close ties with those Muslim- majority societies, and a better understanding of them than many scholars. We could use our American immigrant population as a common denominator to help establish ties and trust amongst those societies.



The American Muslims, due to their exposure to two broad distinctly different mindsets and lifestyles, are versatile and resilient. They are well educated and well-established people with moderate and mainstream ideas in America, as the PEW survey discovered. Many of them are the cream of the crop from many societies -- at least 56 different countries, in fact!



These diverse backgrounds could be enormously helpful towards mediation and bridge-building. We could raise a dynamic and forceful leadership from among American Muslims, if your administration could reach out to us. We would like to work closely with your administration.



The US is the superpower of our time. It intimidates many places of the world, especially the Muslim world, with its wealth, power, and influence. We must initiate a leadership of transformation from the heart of this nation, working from the moral high ground with diplomacy and dialogue. This is the fastest way to penetrate and dissolve the layers of distrust and antagonism that exist today.



CAUSES OF DYSFUNCTION IN THE “MUSLIM WORLD”



Many places in the Muslim world are repressed by Authoritarian rule, or have become dysfunctional through internal dissension and conflict. America is rightfully or wrongfully blamed for both of these unfortunate circumstances. American foreign policy, from the past until today, has supported unjust and undemocratic political Authorities, and has aggravated internal sectarian conflict within the regions of interest. To help change these situations, this superpower could launch an aggressive diplomatic agenda in the Muslim world.



Good governance can stabilize both types of dysfunctional states. An accountable, transparent and representative government stabilizes a society. The legitimacy of that governance builds up the trust and confidence among its people, and sustains a stable and consistent pattern of rule. A broad and impartial due process based on the principles of equality, dignity and liberty of all citizens exerts an enormous force of societal integration. Self-rule offers extremely important incentives for a society to be stable and progressive. Through peaceful coexistence and constructive engagements, a society can achieve its potential and prosper, as idealistic as that may sound. Successful democracies in the world have successfully demonstrated these ideas in action.



The challenge in our time is to make these ideas at home successful within the volatile areas of the world, in order for them to become conducive to constructive engagements. As the world is becoming an intensely interdependent global society, democratic governance in the Muslim world can help promote a healthy political homeostasis for our collective global interest.



We need progressive American leadership in order to bring about these changes, and an American Muslim leadership could become instrumental towards this cause by spearheading a transnational dialogue with Muslims of other Western nations to generate momentum.



The Muslims who have a deeper understanding and appreciation of both sides – the West and the Muslim world -- have a deep-seated understanding of how to successfully achieve political goals between these communities. Many American Muslims also have life experiences that can engender dedication to uplift countless people out of misery and hopelessness. We invite your leadership to engage with us, and we would like to work with you to help achieve these goals.



TRANSFORMATION FROM MILITARISM TO DIPLOMACY



Given modern circumstances, however, a philosophy of understanding and dialogue cannot be effectively expounded through military engagement. More than ever before, effective social change demands the power of persuasion through diplomacy. Vested interests stand in the way of that persuasion, as well as any overall zeitgeist of cynicism. We must generate goodwill and trust through an atmosphere of mutual respect and interest. American Muslims are the beneficiaries of democratic governance and self-rule, so they have a unique understanding of these political concepts with respect to much of the “Muslim world.” Therefore, they could be some of the most powerful advocates of these ideas.



While we look to the Marshall Plan as an effective example for reform, we need new ways to pursue that vision. The old methods of the Marshall Plan – nation-building under the wing of military occupation -- might be counterproductive, as the mindset and the modus operandi of humanity have changed substantially since post-World War II Europe.



Networks of transnational vested interests have increased substantially, making a Marshall Plan exorbitantly costly and potentially corrupt. We need a powerful diplomatic agenda to replace military engagement in order to achieve mutual cooperation and mutual success.



Wars, at best, could achieve only short-term and limited objectives. Long-term transformation can only come about through constructive engagement and diplomacy. This would be the challenge of your leadership and our dedication, as we could help change the direction of nation-building as the Marshall Plan once did.



The modern world harbors much more sensitivity about human rights, and has become much less tolerant towards military occupation and much more cynical towards the military-industrial-complex.



Our nation requires a serious procedural overhaul to help change the negative public image America now presents to the rest of the world. Why has a vast segment of humanity, once endowed with ample trust and administration for the United States, lost this trust within the span of a few decades?



JUSTIFIABLE REASONS FOR DISTRUST



The world has witnessed how the CIA, under the secret persuasion of the British government and British Petroleum, ousted the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953. The world has witnessed how the US nipped a burgeoning democracy in the bud, thus destroying the possibility of self-rule and progress in the region, perhaps within the entire “Muslim world.” The US further solidified this mistake by placing the Shah in power, supporting and sustaining his 25 years of repressive rule. Americans have forgotten this blunder, but for the Muslims in general and the Iranians in particular the memory remains intact. Once the 1980s revolution deposed the Shah and instituted Khomeini, the Hostage crisis angered Americans. Vested interests capitalized upon this public outrage, and reached out to another puppet government in the neighborhood – Iraq’s Saddam Hussein - to conduct a proxy war with Iran for eight years, resulting in two million deaths. Further bloodshed and conflict resulted in a much larger gulf of distrust between Muslims and Americans.



The US failed to institute proper damage control for these mistakes when it could. This sequence of events consequently took another wrong turn: Saddam invaded Kuwait. America conducted the Gulf War, and Americans paid the price. In the name of sovereignty, the tyrant and mass-murderer was not deposed. This inaction caused another 11 years of turmoil. Over 100,000 Kurds and 350,000 Shiites were slaughtered, and over 50,000 children starved to death. Eventually, the US became awakened to the dangerous reality of years of pent-up frustration, as the 9/11 terrorist attacks metastasized their way onto the American landscape.



Vested interests again took full advantage of the fear and the anger Americans felt and legitimized military interventions without adequate post-war planning in the most complex and disjointed regions of the Muslim world. Again, mishandlings and blunders were made, and again, the horrendous suffering in the region continued. This time, the price became so high that our nation had to borrow money, and the liability got thrust upon the shoulders of Americans of later generations.



Many American citizens do not fully understand the long chain of causes and consequences that began with Iran in 1953 and continued with more failed maneuvers. Although America undertook the Marshall Plan to help transform the world, it utterly failed to transform most needed areas of the Muslim world. Under what kind of influence and manipulation did this great nation lose vision and leadership regarding the Muslim world?



We can cite Afghanistan as another example of failed leadership in the 1990s. Afghan Mujahideens fought and defeated Russians in 1989, but American leadership left them and neighboring Pakistan helpless to deal with their own to deal with arms overflow in their regions. This lack of foresight has become noticeably significant nowadays, as the lack of accountable political and social infrastructures and the prevalence of narcotic economies has severely disrupted regional stability. Was it surprising to find the Taliban and al-Qaeda replacing the Russians during a decade of neglect? Could Americans blame distrust of America in these regions, if America disrupted their lives? Is it too difficult to see that terrorism would find a safe haven in that part of the world? The costs of these failed policies have been incalculable.



We see staggering death and destruction in many Muslim-majority societies. We see the loss of American lives. We see staggering costs to American taxpayers due to the lack of proper planning. Without adequate diplomatic reinforcements, even more serious long term consequences may occur down the line -- unless something substantial changes in our modus operandi and in our minds. You, Mr. President, need fresh new agents to work with you to help bring about a new visionary path. We, as American Muslims, can help you in that endeavor.



PALESTINE AS A VITAL CONCERN



A high-level political leader must also understand one of the deepest source of grievances and resentments for the “Muslim world,” as well as all peoples around the world who respect peace, justice, and progress. Over a period of decades, the Palestinians have lost countless numbers of homes and lives, often struggling to maintain the dignity of peace in surroundings rife with resentment, frustration, and reactionary extremism on the part of many mentally unstable terrorists. In their policy decisions, the US has lost its moral voice and leadership in the “Muslim world,” accrued a heavy burden of costs, and accepted its role as a disingenuous promoter of peace, disliked and distrusted. Many of the 13 million Jews of the world lost goodwill with many of the 1.3 billion Muslims of the world, an incalculable loss in collective peace, security, and welfare. As a nation, Israel failed to uphold either the dignity or the security of the Israelis, and did terrible disservice to the true Jewish cause in the ruthless and unjust ways it pursued its national interests.



Humans cannot claim dignity by denying dignity to other humans. If a people live incarcerated in a tiny land -- an ivory tower guarded by military forces, without freedom of movement or trade -- that people has neither freedom nor security. No wealth or military power could offer those people liberty! Israel defeated the true Jewish cause in Israel. And the superpower became a supervictim -- the greatest enemy of the Muslim world, with its conscience paralyzed, its due process biased and infiltrated by hawkish vested interests, and its leadership blindfolded. All these parties – the Palestinians, the Americans and the Israelis – have become victims, and all need to be emancipated from bondage. This includes the bondage of injustice, the bondage of poor leadership, and the bondage of rigid adherence to tradition. If wisdom fails to prevail, the largest possible “wall” and the most mentally unstable suicide bombers cannot stop the verdict of history.



It is still possible to reclaim the situation, reconcile seeming irreconcilable differences and reinstate goodwill among the followers of three great religions who lived in peaceful coexistence for thirteen centuries before the state of Israel. The pursuit of justice, balance, courage and vision requires a new approach. God willing, it is doable in our time.



We are faced with an unfortunate irony. The leaders and representatives of a great nation -- a nation that proclaims inalienable rights of all people, defines nationhood on the fundamental principles of equality, and advocates an impartial due process irrespective of ethnic or religious differences -- consistently violates its standards by supporting a state that violates all these values and principles.



If we don’t move towards real change, future generations will look angrily upon a superpower that failed to convince Israel to change the oppressive aspects of its policies, even though it successfully helped its arch-rivals within China and the USSR to change profoundly. History would not be kind to the factors and the forces responsible for such a derail and failure: they, individuals and institutions alike, would be discovered, exposed and targeted as culprits for generations to come.



PAST OPPORTUNITIES MISSED, FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT



Many chances to harness forces for change came and went, while this superpower remained callous and careless. Many opportunities for reconciliation knocked at our door and left, and we remained a closed door. America had many chances in the past to create a safer and better world, and save itself from self-inflicted wounds. In 2001 and 2002, Iran helped America defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan. In spite of all the past grievances, Iran then stepped forward in 2003 and offered a comprehensive proposal of reconciliation and long-term cooperation with the US. This proposal was truly visionary, and gave inconceivable amounts of the upper hand to the US. This historic proposal was also kept hidden from the American public, and was trashed by the vested interests for purposes of convenience. We must stop these costly and detrimental ways of doing business.



Why should America maintain a constructive partnership with the Muslim world? What direct bearing would a stable and prosperous Muslim world have on the security and welfare of America? These questions were answered succinctly by Aaron Miller, a long term Middle East negotiator and scholar, on PBS’s Charlie Rose. "The greatest threat to our national interest is not going to come from an ascending China or economically powerful Europe or former Soviet Union seeking to regain its glory. It is going to come from divided, angry and dysfunctional and conflict ridden Middle East and Arab and the Muslim world,” Miller said (June 2, 2008).



The great failure of this great nation is that the world envisions America as a monolithic villain, with the intent to intimidate, manipulate and dominate others through an enormous military presence, purely to satisfy the hands of the special interests. The world has failed to notice that America is not a monolithic nation - this is the most diverse, open and pluralistic nation in the world. The world fails to realize that America is the most self-reflecting, self-critical, self-correcting society in the world. Amongst advocates and opponents of any given issue, many good people struggle against evil people. Unfortunately, we often only see the final outcome of these struggles, or the media debate on these struggles which only scratches the surface of discourse.



It pains us, the American Muslims and their supporters, to witness the confrontational relationship between America and the global Muslim community (“umma”) we belong to. We, therefore, desire a win-win proposition: Please help us to help you to get there.



Our world has become increasingly more complicated, as wealth and power has increasingly concentrated into the richer nations, with unfair, unjust and manipulative economic and social structures. Most of the time, “one country against another” ideologies disguise the collaborative collusion efforts between vested interests in all nations, at great detriment to the vast majority of the world’s citizens. Elite interests have created formidable barriers in our time. This disturbing state remains as a primary cause for instability and volatility, and can lead to tragic and catastrophic political upheaval, a phenomenon occurring more and more in our time. We must take lessons from the past to engender non-inflammatory dialogue, thus laying the foundations for a better world.



A sincere and visionary leader like yourself could help dissolve these barriers, as you have a forceful national mandate as well as overwhelming international goodwill. We are counting on you, as you could count on our sincerity and dedication to this great vision.



Sincerely,



Ruby Amatulla, President, Muslims for Peace, Justice and Progress (MPJP)



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Supported and endorsed by the following Muslim leaders (in alphabetical order, new names will be added every week):

ABDULLAHI AHMED AN-NA'IM, J.D, Professor of Law at Emory University, USA
ABDUR RAB, PhD, Author, USA
AISHA JUMAAN, PhD, MPH, President of Islamic Society of Atlanta, USA
AISHA MUSA, PhD, Professor of Religious Studies at Florida Int'l University, USA
ALI BAHZADNIA; MD, Former cabinet member of the Islamic Republic of Iran, USA
ALIA HOGBEN, Activist, Executive Director at CCMW, CANADA
ALTAY UNALTAY, MD, Author, Activist, TURKEY
AMANULLAH DE SONDY,
AMINA WADUD, PhD, Author, Activist, USA
ARNOLD YASIN MOL, Activist, Thinker, Founder of Dean Research Center, NEATHERLAND
ASLBEK MUSSIN, Activist, Entrepreneur, KAZAKHSTAN
CANER TASLAMAN, PhD, Author, Activist, founder Quran Research Group, TURKEY and USA
CEMAL AKTAS, Author, Activist, TURKEY
CHIBUZO CASEY OHANAJA, Student, Activist, USA
CHRISTOPHER MOORE; Activist, UK and TURKEY
CUMHUR ERTURK, Author, Activist, TURKEY
DILARA HAFIZ, PhD, Author, Activist, USA
EDIP YUKSEL, J.D, Author, Activist, Professor of Philosophy, Founder of Islamic Reform, TURKEY and USA
EL MEHDI HADDOU, MD, Activist, Author, CANADA
EMAN AHMAD, PhD, Project Coordinator at CCMW, CANADA
FARHAD MOEENI, PhD, Professor at Arkansas State University, USA
FAROUK PERU, PhD, Author, Activist, MALASIA and UK
FEREYDOUN TASLIMI, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Co-founder of Noor Research Corp, USA
GERMAINE HOSTON, PhD, Professor of Politics at the University of California San Diego, USA
GHGAYASUDDIN SIDDIQUI, PhD, Founder of Muslim Institute, London, UK
HAROON KHAN; Activist, Businessman, UK
HASAN MAHMUD, Author, Activist, Director Muslim Canadian Congress, CANADA
HOSSAIN KOWSARI, Author, USA
HUSSEIN NAJAFI, Businessman, Activist, USA
KAAN GOKTAS, Author, Activist, TURKEY
KANI XULAM, Activist, Author, Founder of American Kurdish Information Network, USA
KASSIM AHMAD, Author, Political leader, MALASIA
KHALEEL MUHAMMAD, PhD, Professor of Religion at San Diego State University, USA
LAYTH SALEH AL-SHAIBAN, Author, Activist, Free-minds, SAUDI ARABIA
LINDA MOORE, Activist, UK
MAHYAD TOUSI, CEO and Founder of BoomGen Studios, USA
MARTHA SCHULTE-NAFEH, PhD, University of Texas at Austin, USA
MELODY MOEZZI, J.D, Activist, Author, USA
MIKE GHOUSE, Activist, Businessman, Author, Founder of World Muslim Congress, USA
MOHAMED HEDJAJ, PhD, Engineer, TUNUSIA and FRANCE
MUSTAFA AKYOL, Author, Activist, TURKEY
NAHID TASLIMI, Activist, Philanthropist, Co-founder of Noor Research Corp, USA
NASER KHADER, Author, Activist, Member of Parliament, DENMARK
OCT, PhD, Author, Activist, fellow at Harvard University, TURKEY
RAYMOND CATTON, Activist, Co-founder of Quran Society, CANADA
REZA ASLAN, PhD, Author, Media Consultant, USA
RICHARD S. VOSS, PhD, Professor at Troy University, USA
RIFFAT HASSAN, PhD, Professor of Humanities at Louisville University, USA
ROY MARTIN, JD, Lawyer, Tucson, USA
SHABBIR AHMAD, MD, Author, Activist, Founder of Our Beacon, USA
SOPHIA CATTON, Activist, Co-founder of Quran Society, CANADA
SUBHY MANSOUR, PhD, Author, EGYPT and USA
T.O. SHANAVAS, MD, Author, USA
TAJ HARGEY, PhD, Activist, Professor at Oxford University, MECO chairman, UK
TAYFUN TIMINCI, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, TURKEY
YASAR NURI OZTURK, PhD, Author, theologian, Political leader, TURKEY
JEWISH, CHRISTIAN and OTHER SUPPORTERS (This list will be updated every week):

SIGNE WILKINSON, Cartoonist/Author, Philadelphia Daily News, USA
GERSHOM KIBRISI, Rabi, ISRAEL and HOLLAND