"I am a Muslim Arab, in my actions oriented very to the left, in my convictions"
- Ahmed Ben Bella
About this Quote
In this quote, Ahmed Ben Bella, a Muslim Arab, is explaining his identity and beliefs. He specifies that he is a Muslim, which is a faith that follows the teachings of Islam. Being a Muslim is an important aspect of his identity and influences his actions. He then goes on to state that he is "oriented really to the left," which recommends that he holds progressive and liberal views. This might mean that he supports social and political change, equality, and human rights. Lastly, he discusses his convictions, which are his strong beliefs and concepts. In general, this quote highlights the complexity of Ben Bella's identity and his commitment to his faith and progressive values.
"Given my last position, that I was the first U.S attorney post 9/11 in New Jersey, I understand acutely the pain and sorrow and upset of the family members who lost loved ones that day at the hands of radical Muslim extremists. And their sensitivities and concerns have to be taken into account"
"Fundamentalism as it is called is not confined to the Muslim world. It is something that we have seen in different parts of the world. Let us hope that a dialogue between the followers of the three great monotheistic religions could help in putting an end to this"
"Well, you know, Thomas Jefferson, who was the author of the Declaration of Independence said he wouldn't have any atheists in his cabinet because atheists wouldn't swear an oath to God. That was Jefferson and we have never had any Muslims in the cabinet"
"It took the Gulf War to demonstrate that America did want more than one friend in the Mideast, and also was willing to take and make major risks to prevent a small Muslim country, Kuwait, from being overrun and in effect stolen by Iraq"
"It is impossible to deny that Christians and Muslims have a common agenda here: both faiths have at their heart the living image of a community raised up by God's call to reveal to the world what God's purpose is for humanity"
"Look at the Afghans, during the time of the Soviet invasion. They were among the poorest Muslims in the world, yet they were sustained by their faith in God, and God alone"