Programs and Events
“A New Beginning” – Reaching out to the Muslim World
On Tuesday June 4, Embassy Kinshasa held two events for local journalists and opinion leaders to watch and discuss President Obama’s speech “A New Beginning.” The speech concerned U.S. relations with the Muslim world. More than thirty journalists watched a live broadcast of the speech (simultaneously translated into French by France 24 news channel) in the American Cultural Center. Officers in attendance were Political Counselor Phil Nelson, PAO Katya Thomas and APAO Stephen Weeks. The journalists listened attentively to the President’s speech, and there was even applause at the end. During the Q&A session that followed, the journalists both expressed their appreciation of the speech, and tried to gauge the impact a new relationship between the U.S. and the Muslim world would have on the DRC.
Later in the day, the speech was rebroadcast in the American Cultural Center before an audience of twenty-five Congolese opinion leaders, many of them Muslim. After the speech, Deputy Chief of Mission Samuel Brock chaired a lively discussion that raised many important and deeply felt concerns shared by leaders of the Muslim community in the DRC.
“We are among the largest Muslim countries in Africa” one participant said, “and we offer our congratulations and encouragement to your President on this important step he has taken.”
The guests and the officers present were equally frustrated that the event could not last longer. There was still much left to say. Yet President Obama’s speech was seen, not as the final word, but as the beginning of a conversation, in which the audience felt both the desire to be heard, and the expectation that they would be listened to.
Those who would like to participate in this conversation are invited to visit the links below. Also please check back at this website for upcoming events.
Links on Obama's speech
Read the speech http://www.america.gov/st/texttransenglish/2009/June/20090603171549eaifas0.6576807.html
See the video http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/NewBeginning/
Write a comment or read comments from all over the world http://www.america.gov/sms-comments.html
Read President Obama’s blog http://blogs.america.gov/obama/