Obama for Supporting Religious Diversity of Lebanon”s Maronites
U.S. President Barack Obama said Thursday that the religious diversity of Lebanon”s Maronites and Egyptian Copts must be upheld.
"The richness of religious diversity must be upheld whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt," Obama said in a speech at Cairo University.
"Among some Muslims there is a disturbing tendency to measure one”s own faith by the rejection of somebody else”s faith," he said.
"Frontlines must be closed among Muslims as well. As the divisions between Sunnis and Shiites have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq," Obama said. "Freedom of religions is central to the ability of people to live together."
He also promised that the United States would encourage more educational exchanges with the Muslim world and invest in technological development.
The president said trade can "bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities."
"In all nations — including my own — this change can bring fear … but I also know that human progress cannot be denied."
Yet "no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground (a reference to oil), nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work."
The president said "education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century."
Obama also addressed the issue of women”s rights.
"A woman who is denied education is denied equality," he said.