ISRAEL HAYOM
by Elliott Abrams
September 5, 2014

What is the mission of the U.S. State Department, or more precisely what are its core missions? Diplomacy? Avoiding war? Solidifying alliances? Explaining American policy?‎ Here’s a new one:‎

“America’s faith communities, including American Muslims, are sources of strength for all of us. They’re an ‎essential part of our national fabric, and we are committed to deepening our partnerships with them. We’re ‎making these efforts to unite religious communities a core mission here at the State Department.‎” These remarks were made on September 3 by Secretary of State John Kerry, on the occasion of the “Ceremony ‎in Honor of Special Representative to Muslim Communities Shaarik Zafar‎.”

‎”Efforts to unite religious communities” are now a “core mission” of the State Department? The first ‎problem with this is the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Should the federal government really be ‎trying to influence the actions of religious communities in this way? But forgetting about that detail for a ‎moment, the second problem is that the phrase “efforts to unite religious communities” has no actual ‎meaning. Unite them how? Apparently, to “work for peace and put our universal commitments and universal ‎beliefs into action.” Which commitments and beliefs do we all share, universally? “We share a moral ‎obligation to treat one another with dignity and respect,” based in essence on the Golden Rule.‎…..

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