Obama's Cairo speech

[Kenza 1]

I was overall impressed with how Obama gave the speech, despite some errors here and there, but I give him credit for not using notes. For the extremists, his speech does nothing until he acts on it. But for the western world, it has somewhat reached out to those who are ignorant and helps to change the misconceptions and stereotypes about Muslims.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

I think you need to look at the very top. The Grand Puba himself. Hes the one injecting the spitituality into his speeches. His speech was all about religion not individual people.

Not???

Bad sock puppet, bad.

No, the address itself wasn't about religion.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

I think you need to look at the very top. The Grand Puba himself. Hes the one injecting the spitituality into his speeches. His speech was all about religion not individual people.

Not???

I don't "see" him saying who is a good or a bad Muslim/X-ian/whatever.

[scandal 951]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

I think you need to look at the very top. The Grand Puba himself. Hes the one injecting the spitituality into his speeches. His speech was all about religion not individual people.

Not???

I don't "see" him saying who is a good or a bad Muslim/X-ian/whatever.

Well, I'm willing to say who is a good or bad Muslim/X-ian /whatever.

A good one loves his/her God/Allah. A good one devotes himself to following the precepts. A good one takes care of his family, provides for them honorably. A good one has compassion for the poor and sick and hungry, gives of his time and treasure to charity. A good one respects the fact that all men are brothers, we are all sons and daughters of the same Creator, and that God/Allah put us all here to serve his purpose. A good one thus practices his faith and understands that others have a different faith, a different path in life, and some perhaps choose to serve no God at all, and that this too is part of God's plan for the world. A good one rejoices in these things and finds comfort in this diversity in the world.

A bad one allows his hatred for those different from him to overtake his love of God/Allah. A bad one allows his conviction that only his chosen path is right to allow himself to disdain and resent and hate those who are not on his path. A bad one rationalizes and justifies violence against innocents to overtake the very scriptures of his Holy books "Thou Shalt not kill", says the book. A bad one is capable of rationalizing the murder of a churchgoing doctor in Kansas. A bad one is capable of plowing an airliner into the World Trade Center.

See, I have no problem whatsoever drawing a distinction.

[alienlovechild 75]

The issue is that every terrorist was once a little boy. With a family, and a school, and an imam at mosque. And those little boys need to be prevented from turning to hatred. They need to be given an alternative, a view of the world that gives them hope and dignity and a future - and an alternative that teaches them to respect others with different religions and cultures.

There are few alternatives in societies ruled by kings, military dictators and mullahs and no real division between Islam and the state. The idea that Obama will somehow right a civilization in decline for at least 300 years is kind of a stretch. Islam does teach respect for others but clearly that alone isn't the answer for many.

The real strategic fight, the fight for years and even generations to come, is to ensure that the child who is an 8 year old kid in Cairo or Rawalpindi or Riyadh stays more interested in soccer, mathematics, Bollywood movies and -yes- the Koran, and does NOT become interested in seething hatred against Christians, Jews, America, Israel, and the West.

It's more than cultural as even American culture has its fans in the Islamic world. The reality is that there almost no economic growth or not enough to match the birth rate and very little real political reforms beyond the window dressing.

is the fact that 8 years later, we've made zero real progress in getting those imams in the madrassahs to tone down the hatred rhetoric and preach true Islam - a benevolent, loving, tolerant Islam - to their young pupils. The kids who were 8 years old on 9/11 are now 15, and many of them have already turned to the darkness. The sooner we engage, the better. There is no time to waste on this subject.

8 years? The problems go back to at least 30 years when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and got that hornet's nest buzzing. You could go back centuries but there's no development in Pakistan either. They are martial societies that can only revel in fighting. Not everyone but it doesn't take that many to cause mayhem.

The idea of winning over the enemy didn't work with the Soviets who simply collapsed when they couldn't keep up the West. Most Muslim countries have little contact with Christians and it's no surprise that the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis with not single Christian Church nor any in Afghanistan home of the Al Qaeda and the Taliban. By contrast, the U.S. has 1,500 mosques so who needs to learn something about the other?

[The_Dude 1,142]

The issue is that every terrorist was once a little boy. With a family, and a school, and an imam at mosque. And those little boys need to be prevented from turning to hatred. They need to be given an alternative, a view of the world that gives them hope and dignity and a future - and an alternative that teaches them to respect others with different religions and cultures.

There are few alternatives in societies ruled by kings, military dictators and mullahs and no real division between Islam and the state. The idea that Obama will somehow right a civilization in decline for at least 300 years is kind of a stretch. Islam does teach respect for others but clearly that alone isn't the answer for many.

The real strategic fight, the fight for years and even generations to come, is to ensure that the child who is an 8 year old kid in Cairo or Rawalpindi or Riyadh stays more interested in soccer, mathematics, Bollywood movies and -yes- the Koran, and does NOT become interested in seething hatred against Christians, Jews, America, Israel, and the West.

It's more than cultural as even American culture has its fans in the Islamic world. The reality is that there almost no economic growth or not enough to match the birth rate and very little real political reforms beyond the window dressing.

is the fact that 8 years later, we've made zero real progress in getting those imams in the madrassahs to tone down the hatred rhetoric and preach true Islam - a benevolent, loving, tolerant Islam - to their young pupils. The kids who were 8 years old on 9/11 are now 15, and many of them have already turned to the darkness. The sooner we engage, the better. There is no time to waste on this subject.

8 years? The problems go back to at least 30 years when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan and got that hornet's nest buzzing. You could go back centuries but there's no development in Pakistan either. They are martial societies that can only revel in fighting. Not everyone but it doesn't take that many to cause mayhem.

The idea of winning over the enemy didn't work with the Soviets who simply collapsed when they couldn't keep up the West. Most Muslim countries have little contact with Christians and it's no surprise that the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis with not single Christian Church nor any in Afghanistan home of the Al Qaeda and the Taliban. By contrast, the U.S. has 1,500 mosques so who needs to learn something about the other?

I will agree that the problems in the Middle East are far more pervasive than the Bush administration. It didn't really help that when the Soviets were fighting the Taliban that we decided to fight a proxy war of hegemony and supply the taliban with weopons and funds. Irony anyone? I take aim at your assumption that the Middle East is a civilization in decline. By what measure do you base this assumption. Furthermore, what do you suggest we do? Continue the Bush Cheney Middle East tour of the Middle East? There has to be a better solution than war. If war is the first thing that comes to mind to change things, then we have a problem there.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

I think you need to look at the very top. The Grand Puba himself. Hes the one injecting the spitituality into his speeches. His speech was all about religion not individual people.

Not???

Bad sock puppet, bad.

No, the address itself wasn't about religion.

Nice pic of brother Dean and brother Scandal.

[scandal 951]

Amen brother. it is called diplomacy ffs. This OMG they are the enemy mentality is very Iron Age.

I seriously wish people would just STOP assessing other people's spirituality. Who the FFFF is who (and this is not directed towards Tamara, it's in general) to say so and so is a good x-ian, catholic, buddhist, muslim, etc. How very arrogant and non-spiritual.

I think you need to look at the very top. The Grand Puba himself. Hes the one injecting the spitituality into his speeches. His speech was all about religion not individual people.

Not???

Bad sock puppet, bad.

No, the address itself wasn't about religion.

Nice pic of brother Dean and brother Scandal.

I'm the one with the commie-red tie!!

[alienlovechild 75]

I will agree that the problems in the Middle East are far more pervasive than the Bush administration. It didn't really help that when the Soviets were fighting the Taliban that we decided to fight a proxy war of hegemony and supply the taliban with weopons and funds.

The Soviets left in 1988 and we weren't supplying the Taliban which didn't exist until later. Hegemony implies we wanted to rule Afghanistan but the truth is we simply ignored it once the Soviets left.

I take aim at your assumption that the Middle East is a civilization in decline. By what measure do you base this assumption.

No inventions, nothing of value beyond oil, tiny economies with combined is smaller than the GDP of Spain, no political reforms. . . What makes you think there's anything new beyond new ways to kill people or spread Islam? Where's the positives?

Furthermore, what do you suggest we do? Continue the Bush Cheney Middle East tour of the Middle East?

Add Obama to your list and his green light for a Persian nuke which isn't going to help.

There has to be a better solution than war. If war is the first thing that comes to mind to change things, then we have a problem there.

War wasn't the first option after UN resolutions, UN inspectors, no-fly zones, embargoes, food for oil, foreign aid, diplomatic isolation, freezing assets. . . all those things were done in the last 20 years. We've had no war with Iran, for example, yet our relations aren't exactly rosy.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It was very inpirational. I think I cried a little. Just breath taking

troll

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I do not agree with Obama. To the enemies (referring to extremists/terrorists) we will never win them over. Obama spends too much of his time talking about islam and muslims. Muslims are not the only Americans in this country and islam is not the only religion. For someone who says hes a christian, he spends less time talking about christianity as he does islam.

Hes handing America over on a golden plate to our enemies. Do you think the extremists are going to be won over by his speeches? It doesnt matter if he wins over the American people or not, if Extremists dont stop nuking, bombing or beheadhing other people as well as their own, its not going to make a peaceful world!

and from what it seemed like to me, he either didnt talk at all or much about the issues with Iran and N Korea. Muslims Christians, Jews, Buddists, Atheists all are humans on the same level. Terrorism and extremism is on its own level. l

Tamara, you speak as if the Muslim World is our enemy. It's insane, INSANE to believe you can fight a war against extremist views for one, and second, it is short-sighted to believe that you can never change a person's mind about things. What we should be concerned about, which Obama is addressing, are those among the Muslim world who empathize with terrorism as a political tool to achieve a favorable result. If you approach the rest of the human population in this world with the general assumption that we all want the same basic things in life, then you begin to see people beyond religious identity or geography and begin to see they too are your brother and sister.

No, we will never eradicate extremism in this world militarily or any other way, but we can fight the thinking behind it as well as those who empathize with terrorism through diplomacy.

Edited June 5, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[nowhereman 1]

I do not agree with Obama. To the enemies (referring to extremists/terrorists) we will never win them over. Obama spends too much of his time talking about islam and muslims. Muslims are not the only Americans in this country and islam is not the only religion. For someone who says hes a christian, he spends less time talking about christianity as he does islam.

Hes handing America over on a golden plate to our enemies. Do you think the extremists are going to be won over by his speeches? It doesnt matter if he wins over the American people or not, if Extremists dont stop nuking, bombing or beheadhing other people as well as their own, its not going to make a peaceful world!

and from what it seemed like to me, he either didnt talk at all or much about the issues with Iran and N Korea. Muslims Christians, Jews, Buddists, Atheists all are humans on the same level. Terrorism and extremism is on its own level.

You completely missed the message of the speech.... for example:

"So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace," the president said.

Obama's remarks were designed to reset relations after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. Yet he also called sternly for Israel and Palestinians to live up to their obligations in seeking peace, demanded Iran bow to international demands to halt its nuclear weapons program and bid Muslim countries help in eradicating the threat of fundamentalist' violence across the globe.

"It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true," he said. "Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed."

Obama said it was part of his responsibilities as president "to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

He quoted the Quran: "be conscious of God and always speak the truth" to underscore his call for a new relationship based on mutual interest and respect. He referred to Iran by its full name, the Islamic Republic of Iran, said Islamic countries had been victimized by colonialism as well as the Cold War era struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union.

The battle against terrorists will continue, in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere, Obama said, despite the animosity the operations have helped created toward the U.S. among Muslims. "America's commitment will not weaken."

But calling Iraq, unlike Afghanistan, "a war of choice," he explained his plan to withdraw American combat troops next year and his reversal of Bush-era policies in the pursuit of terrorists that have enraged Muslims the world over. Obama said flatly that he has banned torture and will close the detested Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba next year.

He asked Muslims to join the fight. "The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer," Obama said.

Summary: Mend relations with non-extremist muslims & continue the fight against terrorists. He made no attempt to "win over the extremists" as you suggested.

[alienlovechild 75]

Obama said it was part of his responsibilities as president "to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

He can't speak louder than the actions of Muslims themselves.

he explained his plan to withdraw American combat troops next year and his reversal of Bush-era policies in the pursuit of terrorists that have enraged Muslims the world over.

What reversal? The surge enabled conditions for a drawdown long before Obama took office.

Obama said flatly that he has banned torture and will close the detested Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba next year.

Ho hum. Wonder if the Arabs will close all their resort-like prisons or stop widespread human rights abuses before, during and after Gitmo.

He asked Muslims to join the fight. "The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer," Obama said.

There was nothing stopping the majority of peace loving moderate Muslims but choose not to do so until they get sick of the violence like the Iraqis did.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I was overall impressed with how Obama gave the speech, despite some errors here and there, but I give him credit for not using notes. For the extremists, his speech does nothing until he acts on it. But for the western world, it has somewhat reached out to those who are ignorant and helps to change the misconceptions and stereotypes about Muslims.

I hope it also does the same to those who have misconceptions and stereotypes about Americans. As for the extremists I dont think Obama had any intention whatsoever to reach out to them so I dont know what you mean by until he acts on it, I think he was trying to reach out to the much greater part of Islam, moderates.

Overall I liked the speech, I think he did a good job.

[nowhereman 1]

Obama said it was part of his responsibilities as president "to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

He can't speak louder than the actions of Muslims themselves.

he explained his plan to withdraw American combat troops next year and his reversal of Bush-era policies in the pursuit of terrorists that have enraged Muslims the world over.

What reversal? The surge enabled conditions for a drawdown long before Obama took office.

Obama said flatly that he has banned torture and will close the detested Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba next year.

Ho hum. Wonder if the Arabs will close all their resort-like prisons or stop widespread human rights abuses before, during and after Gitmo.

He asked Muslims to join the fight. "The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer," Obama said.

There was nothing stopping the majority of peace loving moderate Muslims but choose not to do so until they get sick of the violence like the Iraqis did.

There's a fundamental flaw in your reasoning... you seem to assume that to be a muslim means you are probably a terrorist, which is exactly the stereotyping that Obama was talking about. I spent a year in Iraq working directly with muslims & I can tell you from first hand experience most are decent people. Sure they are different & I didn't agree with certain aspects of their culture, but I didn't assume they were terrorists (even though in all likelihood some that I came into contact with were).