Secretary Clinton
delivered a powerful and personal speech about religion at an Eid
ul-Fitr reception, marking the end of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. The
speech, at times, was a direct response to the attacks on U.S.
diplomatic missions in the Middle East, and the deaths of four diplomats
at the hands of militants in Libya.
In her remarks, Clinton repeated much of what she's said in the last two days. Namely that the Benghazi attack was carried out by a "small and savage group," and that the United States
completely rejects what she called the "inflammable and despicable"
anti-Muslim film circulating the Internet. However, Clinton pointed out
all religions have faced insults and denigration, but that's no
justification for violence. The response to such insults is what
separates people of true faith from those who would use religion as an
excuse to commit violent acts, she said.
"When Christians are subject to insults to their faith, and that
certainly happens, we expect them not to resort to violence. When Hindus
or Buddhists are subjected to insults to their faiths, and that also
certainly happens, we expect them not to resort to violence," said
Clinton. "The same goes for all faiths, including Islam."
She spoke movingly about her own personal beliefs as a way of re-enforcing her point.
"I so strongly believe that the great religions of the world are
stronger than any insults. They have withstood offense for centuries,"
said Clinton."Refraining from violence, then, is not a sign of weakness
in one's faith; it is absolutely the opposite, a sign that one's faith
is unshakable."
She asked the crowd to work towards building a world where if one person
commits a violent religious act, millions of people will stand up and
condemn it
"We can pledge that whenever one person speaks out in ignorance and
bigotry, ten voices will answer," Clinton said forcefully. "They will
answer resoundingly against the offense and the insult; answering
ignorance with enlightenment; answering hatred with understanding;
answering darkness with light."
The secretary urged the audience not to be discouraged by the hatred and
violence that exists, but instead resolve to do something tangible to
promote religious tolerance in their own communities.
"In times like these, it can be easy to despair that some differences
are irreconcilable, some mountains too steep to climb; we will therefore
never reach the level of understanding and peacefulness that we seek,
and which I believe the great religions of the world call us to pursue,"
she reflected. "But that's not what I believe, and I don't think it's
what you believe… Part of what makes our country so special is we keep
trying. We keep working. We keep investing in our future," she said.
This year's annual Eid event honored three young Muslim-Americans who
are part of the State Department's Generation Change program. The
initiative, launched by Clinton two years ago, supports young Muslims to
develop positive organizations and movements around the world.
Clinton acknowledged given deaths of the diplomats killed in Libya this
week, the event had a more somber tone than in years past. But she also
highlighted the outpouring of support the United States has received
from the Muslim world. She thanked the Libyan Ambassador, Ali Suleiman
Aujali, who gave a heartfelt tribute U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens ,whom
he called his dear friend, killed in Benghazi on Tuesday.
"I must tell you, Madam Secretary, and tell the American people, that
Chris is a hero," said Aujali. "He loves Benghazi, he loves the people,
he talks to them, he eats with them, and he [was] committed - and
unfortunately lost his life because of this commitment."
