Obama's Advice to Muslims

President Barack Obama advised Muslims in his inaugural speech Tuesday "to seek a new way forward based on mutual respect." Without specifically referring to terrorists, he warned Muslim leaders that "your people will judge you on what you can build and not what you destroy."<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

His only reference to Jews was that the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />United States is a nation "of Christians, and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers."

Speaking to approximately one million flag-waving spectators in frigid weather under mostly sunny skies, President Obama added that the U.S. will not agree "to suffering outside our borders" and that the "world has changed and we must change with it."

He did not refer to any specific foreign or domestic issues except for the current financial crisis, Iraq and a vague mention of the nuclear threat, without mentioning Iran or North Korea. "We will remain the strongest country on earth," said the president. "Our capacity remains undiminished and... starting today, we must dust ourselves off and begin the work of remaking America."

We will remain the strongest country on earth.

His speech was laced with patriotism and the belief that the U.S. will strengthen and lead the world.

"There is work to be done," he continued. "The state of our economy calls for action, strong and swift… We will restore science to its rightful place…we will harness the sun…to fuel our cars and run our factories."

Concerning American leadership in the world, he addressed "all the other people and governments who are watching, know American is a friend of each nation" wanting peace and "we are ready to lead once more."

He said that his government "will return Iraq to its people" and overcome nuclear threat.