Global expert advises, Don't use the term "Freedom" around Muslims

Words Muslims particularly dislike include "Freedom" and "Tolerance"

Dr. Chris Seiple is President of the Institute for Global Engagement. It's purpose is to spread peace and brotherhood to distant relgions and cultures around the world. He also serves on the Council on Foreign Relations.

Seiple has written an op-ed for the Christian Science Monitor: "10 terms not to use with Muslims"

Seiple advises that there's a "big difference between what we say, and what they hear." He continues that when dealing with Muslims, that's it's better not to talk of Western concepts like liberty and democracy. If Westerners use these sorts of words in conversation or diplomatic dealings, it's likely to cause offense. Among these include: "Secular," "Moderate," and even "Interfaith." Writes Seiple at CSM:

As President Obama considers his first speech in a Muslim majority country (he visits Turkey April 6-7), and as the US national security establishment reviews its foreign policy and public diplomacy, I want to share the advice given to me from dear Muslim friends worldwide regarding words and concepts that are not useful in building relationships with them... we do need to be very careful about how we use them, and in what context.

But the ban on the use of two other words around Muslims, might cause the most concern from libertarians, "Freedom," and "Tolerance."

Continuing from Seiple's column:

8. "Freedom." Unfortunately, "freedom," as expressed in American foreign policy, does not always seek to engage how the local community and culture understands it. Absent such an understanding, freedom can imply an unbound licentiousness. The balance between the freedom to something (liberty) and the freedom from something (security) is best understood in a conversation with the local context and, in particular, with the Muslims who live there. "Freedom" is best framed in the context of how they understand such things as peace, justice, honor, mercy, and compassion.

10. "Tolerance." Tolerance is not enough. Allowing for someone's existence, or behavior, doesn't build the necessary relationships of trust – across faiths and cultures – needed to tackle the complex and global challenges that our civilization faces. We need to be honest with and respect one another enough to name our differences and commonalities, according to the inherent dignity we each have as fellow creations of God called to walk together in peace and justice, mercy and compassion.

Note - Anyone wanting more information as to why Seiple and his institute believe Freedom and Tolerance to be negative terms, can write to Dr. Seiple to at: info@globalengage.org

Side Note - The International Society for Individual Liberty website, which lists more than 400 libertarian, and libertarian-aligned organizations and think tanks around the Globe, lists only 3 in the entire Middle East/Muslim South Asia: One in Turkey called "3H," and two other "classical liberal/free market" groups in Israel. No libertarian groups exist in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, UAE, Somalia, or other Muslim Middle Eastern nations.

(H/t Michelle)