Jun 04 2009
Barack Obama’s Cairo Speech
I did not get the opportunity to watch President Obama’s speech in Cairo this morning. When my local news switched over to carry the speech, I was getting ready to head out for my paying job out in the real world. So I only got to see bits and pieces between brushing my teeth, showering, and getting dressed.
Having not seen the entire speech, I am in no way able to critique the content or effectiveness of the speech. There was one segment of the speech that did stick with me, and tells me all I need to know about the Arab world and their view of the Unites States.
President Obama gave a synopsis of his life and experiences with Islam. To quote the President, “So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn’t. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.” That last statement drew an immediate and loud round of applause.
The next statement the President makes tells me all I need to know. Obama continues, “But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.” This statement was met with no immediate reaction, but silence. Eventually some polite applause came, but the initial silence was telling.
They want their world, their culture, to be respected and honored. They do not want to extend the same courtesy to us or others.
Obama tends to speak of the United States in a manner that indicates his main priorities depend on what is best for him, his country will just have to suffer the consequences. There is no room in Obama’s agenda for the little people who do worship God, and have to actually lay their hands to manual labor to survive. This is really what Obama’s change was about, not his country, but his own agenda in which he becomes one of the God-like, and others will serve his needs. Anyone who did not see him before yesterday, and who will not admit to his agenda today, will serve his needs tomorrow.
gyroscope2000.today.com
Great points, all.
Bobo, you know how politicians intentionally insert pauses into their speeches to allow for applause? Well, Obama paused at that point in anticipation of applause and it was slow in coming.