I’ve come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.
We can’t have justice in the Moslem world as long as the Moslem world – outside of Iraq and Afghanistan – remains unfree. No justice, no peace – but, no freedom, no justice. All human beings like justice, but most Moslems have no chance at it as they labor under various tyrannies.
As a student of history, I also know civilization’s debt to Islam. It was Islam — at places like Al-Azhar — that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe’s Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities — (applause) — it was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.
Obama is a pretty poor student. This is the grab-bag of achievements Islam is supposed to have done as a means of denigrating the real source of Europe’s Renaissance – Christianity, especially the Catholic Church, East and West, which preserved the Greco-Roman heritage and instructed Europe in those universities invented by the Church to promote deep learning. I mean, come on, Barry – I think there was a German named Gutenberg who had a bit more to do with printing than any Moslem did…especially given that it was centuries after Europeans started printing books before any Moslem nation would tolerate a printing press. As for majestic arches and soaring spires – didn’t stop in any Gothic cathedrals in your European travels, huh? Racial equality – tell that to the black Africans enslaved in Moslem countries right up to today…
As a salve to wounded Moslem pride – they have a hard time understanding how they fell so far behind when they were allegedly once so far ahead – this is good stuff. As a statement of truth, it falls very far short.
And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States.
Anyone have the name of any American who was Moslem in 1776?
Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; our progress must be shared.
Shared by whom? By the American people and the Moslem governments, corrupt and wicked? Or by the America and Moslem peoples? That is the crux of the matter, Mr. President – are you working for our peoples to get together, or for our people to accommodate their leaders?
And that’s why we’re partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. And despite the costs involved, America’s commitment will not weaken.
A coalition of 46 countries? I thought we were going it alone over the past 8 years? Whence comes all these countries in the coalition?
Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the center of America’s founding. This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It’s a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign neither of courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That’s not how moral authority is claimed; that’s how it is surrendered.
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people. Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have to recognize they have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, recognize Israel’s right to exist.
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel’s right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine’s. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. (Applause.) This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop. (Applause.)
Please note, Mr. President, that you got no applause when you talked about Palestinians renouncing violence and building a government, but got applause when you condemned Israeli communities living in what radical Islamists consider to be Moslem territory. These Islamists consider Tel Aviv to be Moslem territory, Mr. President. Unless and until you can get applause for both ending settlements and ending Moslem violence, your efforts here are wasted.
Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance.
Well, its really a matter of Moslem rulers being tolerant as long as their power is unchallenged. As soon as Moslem powers start to crumble, tolerance goes right out the window.
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God’s vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth.
I think its more of a fact that we will live together in peace – as soon as we accept God’s laws about the inherent dignity of all men…and this means we must end abortion, Moslems must end suicide bombings and all of us must strive mightily to cease viewing each other as objects for personal gratification. I know, your speech wasn’t about this at all – in the end, it was about nothing…but you almost reached a point where you could start talking.
And then you stopped.
UPDATE, by Matt Margolis: Finally got to read Obama’s speech tonight… It’s hard to know where to begin, but, I guess the only thing to say is that I found it to be another apologetic speech, making bizarre comparisons (the Holocaust comparison was beyond insulting), harsher on America and our past actions than on Iran or other Muslim countries and their actions. Any positive things said about the United States, coming from him, seemed to be more boilerplate rhetoric you’d expect from any American leader speaking overseas, than genuine sentiment… especially when you consider his willingness to defecate on this country for applause.
David Frum says the speech was worse than feared
Charles Krauthammer called the speech abstract, vapid, and self absorbed..
Karl Rove:
UPDATE II, by Mark Noonan: You gotta know it sucked if Huffington Post thinks it was bad. On the whole, I’d say there hasn’t been a more damaging speech made by an American President since the Carter Administration.
UPDATE III, by Mark Noonan: The more I think about it, the more ashamed I am that President Obama thinks it important for we here in the West to accept Moslem women wearing the hijab…its a symbol of subjection, not of modesty. Its a fraud perpetrated on Moslem women as even Mohammed’s wives weren’t required to wear it. Its a disgusting cover for Moslem men who insist upon their women being subordinate, but then go out and try to pick up foreign men in various flesh-pots around the world, even in Moslem countries (yes, I’ve seen them with my own eyes – behind the ornate decor of western-style hotels, off the ground floor, kinda ’round back…where the common schlubs can’t go…). American women don’t put up with that sort of nonsense…
Blogs For Victory 