Obama fights dogma and stereotypes as he reaches out to Muslims - it's good to see, and long overdue

SHOOT: It's dogma that dogs nations more than anything else. If various societies treated other societies like brothers, rather than as rivals to undermine and treat with suspicion, we could look forward to co-operative and prosperity-enhancing results for all. It's good to see such altruism from Obama, but I fear less enlightened folk will hate him for it. In America.

clipped from news.yahoo.com Obama said the actions of violent extremist Muslims are "irreconcilable with the rights of human beings," and quoted the Quran to make his point: "be conscious of God and always speak the truth ..." "At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements" on the West Bank and outskirts of Jerusalem, he said. "It is time for these settlements to stop." As for Jerusalem itself, he said it should be a "secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims ..." He treaded lightly on one issue that President George W. Bush had made a centerpiece of his second term — the spread of democracy. Obama said he has a commitment to governments "that reflect the will of the people." And yet, he said, "No system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other."