Amid tough campaign talk, Obama pays his first visit to a U.S. mosque By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela on 02.05.16 Word Count 802 President Barack Obama (center) meets with members of the Muslim-American community at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, Maryland, Feb. 3, 2016. Obama made his first visit to a U.S. mosque at a time Muslim-Americans say they're confronting increasing levels of intolerance. Photo: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais CATONSVILLE, Md. President Barack Obama paid his first visit to a U.S. mosque on Wednesday. He appealed for tolerance for the millions of Muslims in the U.S. and called for an end to the bias and stereotyping that he says is on the rise amid tough talk on terrorism in the presidential campaign. The Islamic Society of Baltimore is a suburban campus with a mosque and a K-12 school. On a visit, Obama sat down around a large table with Muslim university chaplains, community activists and public health professionals. They discussed religious tolerance and freedom. He planned an afternoon speech focused on how the U.S. can more successfully confront extremism if the country works with Muslims instead of branding all of them as potential enemies. For Muslim advocates, Obama's visit was a long-awaited gesture. The Muslim community has warned of escalating vitriol against them as the public's concern about the Islamic State and other extremist groups has grown. Although Obama has visited mosques overseas in the past, he waited until his final year in office to make such a visit at home, reflecting the sensitivity of the issue.
Speaking Out Against Bigotry, Indifference One of the participants meeting with Obama was Ibtihaj Muhammad. She has qualified for a spot on the United States Olympic fencing team for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games. The White House said she'll make history as the first United States Olympian to compete in a hijab. "They all have their own story to tell about the way that they contribute to and enrich the communities in which they live," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. Last week, Obama became the first sitting president to speak at the Israeli Embassy, where he warned of growing anti-semitism. Obama's message at the mosque will follow a similar tack. The White House said he will focus on the need to speak out against bigotry and reject indifference. It's the kind of effort that Muslim-Americans said they've been waiting for from America's political and religious leaders. "We never thought that when we held our first prayers in the small room nearly a half a century ago that we would be hosting the president," said Muhammad Jameel, the mosque's president. "Today is a new starting point. It is also a continuing journey a journey steeped in American history and tradition." Fear And Apprehension Among Muslim-Americans The Council on American-Islamic Relations has tracked a growing number of attacks on mosques and on individuals in the months following the Paris terrorist attack and the shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California. A severed pig's head was delivered to a mosque's doorstep in Philadelphia. Someone attempted to set fire to a mosque in Southern California. Ibrahim Hooper, the group's spokesman, said harassment and bullying are also on the rise. He cited Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the country as an example of how bias toward Muslims has become part of the American mainstream. "I don't think there's ever been this level of fear and apprehension in the Muslim-American community," Hooper said. Obama More Willing To Face Controversy For Obama, the visit in his final year in office reflects a willingness to wade into touchy social issues that often eluded him earlier in his presidency. For years, Obama has fought incorrect claims that he's actually a Muslim and was born in Kenya. Polls suggest these beliefs remain prevalent among many Republicans, although Obama, a Christian, was born in Hawaii.
With no plans to ever again appear on a ballot, Obama faces less pressure to avoid political controversy. Before his visit Wednesday, White House officials readily acknowledged the visit could spark controversy. However, they suggested that would help make his point about ignorance and religious bias. White House press secretary Josh Earnest predicted Obama's visit would "prompt exactly the kind of discussion and debate that the president thinks is worth having." Islam Troubles Many Americans In 2001, President George W. Bush visited a mosque on Washington's Embassy row just days after 9/11. He urged Americans to get back to everyday business and not turn against their Muslim neighbors. Nearly half of Americans think at least some U.S. Muslims are anti-american, according to a new Pew Research Center poll released Wednesday. Two-thirds of Americans said people, not religious teachings, are to blame when violence is committed in the name of faith. However, when respondents were asked which religion they consider troubling, Islam was the most common answer. Meanwhile, some Republicans have criticized Obama for not linking attacks like the one in Paris to "radical Islamic terrorism." Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Trump have voiced that concern. Obama has said describing the Islamic State and other such groups that way only fuels their false claim to be fighting on behalf of Islam.
Quiz 1 Read the selection from the article. Last week, Obama became the first sitting president to speak at the Israeli Embassy, where he warned of growing anti-semitism. Which of the following can be inferred from the selection above? Most people in the US hold anti-semitic and/or anti-muslim beliefs. Obama is planning to build a coalition between the Israelis and the Muslims to fight extremism. Obama is very concerned about harmful stereotypes against other groups besides Muslims. Obama is more concerned about anti-semitism than he is about anti-muslim stereotypes and attacks. 2 Read the following statement. Some Americans believe things about President Obama that are not true. Which selection from the article BEST supports the statement above? Although Obama has visited mosques overseas in the past, he waited until his final year in office to make such a visit at home, reflecting the sensitivity of the issue. For years, Obama has fought incorrect claims that he's actually a Muslim and was born in Kenya. Polls suggest these beliefs remain prevalent among many Republicans, although Obama, a Christian, was born in Hawaii. Before his visit Wednesday, White House officials readily acknowledged the visit could spark controversy. However, they suggested that would help make his point about ignorance and religious bias. Meanwhile, some Republicans have criticized Obama for not linking attacks like the one in Paris to "radical Islamic terrorism." Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Trump have voiced that concern.
3 Read the last sentence of the article. Obama has said describing the Islamic State and other such groups that way only fuels their false claim to be fighting on behalf of Islam. What is meant by "fuels"? powers disputes fractures lights up 4 Read these sentences from the introduction [paragraphs 1-3]. For Muslim advocates, Obama's visit was a long-awaited gesture. The Muslim community has warned of escalating vitriol against them as the public's concern about the Islamic State and other extremist groups has grown. What is the meaning of "escalating vitriol"? loud debates decreasing friendliness increasing harsh criticism unchanging levels of attacks
Answer Key 1 Read the selection from the article. Last week, Obama became the first sitting president to speak at the Israeli Embassy, where he warned of growing anti-semitism. Which of the following can be inferred from the selection above? Most people in the US hold anti-semitic and/or anti-muslim beliefs. Obama is planning to build a coalition between the Israelis and the Muslims to fight extremism. Obama is very concerned about harmful stereotypes against other groups besides Muslims. Obama is more concerned about anti-semitism than he is about anti-muslim stereotypes and attacks. 2 Read the following statement. Some Americans believe things about President Obama that are not true. Which selection from the article BEST supports the statement above? Although Obama has visited mosques overseas in the past, he waited until his final year in office to make such a visit at home, reflecting the sensitivity of the issue. For years, Obama has fought incorrect claims that he's actually a Muslim and was born in Kenya. Polls suggest these beliefs remain prevalent among many Republicans, although Obama, a Christian, was born in Hawaii. Before his visit Wednesday, White House officials readily acknowledged the visit could spark controversy. However, they suggested that would help make his point about ignorance and religious bias. Meanwhile, some Republicans have criticized Obama for not linking attacks like the one in Paris to "radical Islamic terrorism." Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Trump have voiced that concern.
3 Read the last sentence of the article. Obama has said describing the Islamic State and other such groups that way only fuels their false claim to be fighting on behalf of Islam. What is meant by "fuels"? powers disputes fractures lights up 4 Read these sentences from the introduction [paragraphs 1-3]. For Muslim advocates, Obama's visit was a long-awaited gesture. The Muslim community has warned of escalating vitriol against them as the public's concern about the Islamic State and other extremist groups has grown. What is the meaning of "escalating vitriol"? loud debates decreasing friendliness increasing harsh criticism unchanging levels of attacks