President Obama’s Speech to the Muslim World was Filled with Hopes of Change but Will it Ever Happen? While most in the U.S. were asleep in their beds, President Obama gave a speech to the Muslim world asking them to accept certain ideologies they do not believe in.
Is President Obama a dreamer or a realist? Listening to his speech, I’m going with dreamer. Some of the President’s talking points were on the subjects of embracing democracy, religious tolerance, women’s rights and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All of these are dreams we would like to see come true in this part of the world.
Sadly, just giving a speech will never make it happen. To begin, its not up to US. The Arab world has to want this to become reality.
However, I’m afraid this will never happen anytime soon. It could but it is really out of our hands at this point in time. During the speech, and at times, it sounded like apologies for our way of life once again.
All in all, President Obama’s speech was a flawed one. In his weak attempt to “connect” to the Islamic sect, Obama quoted from the Koran (Quran) on several occasions but his downfall was the quote “Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.” How can you state that quote and then go into a diatribe about how you are a student of history and how the world owes a debt of gratitude to Islam?
Obama continued to talk about education and all the advances that arrived from Islam but what is great about a history that is against women’s rights? Besides denying women the rights to education, where was any statement about the other abuses women face in the Arab world? Our great orator of a President did not mention anything about a religion that stones its women for being raped by Muslim men.
These abuses were not spoken of. No, our President criticized those in the West (see Americans) who have objected to the Muslim women wearing the hijab. Another apology on our behalf but why didn’t he apologize for the treatment women suffer while under Islam?
Is this being honest? The stonings, rapes, mutilations and slaughters that happened on a daily basis in the name of a peaceful religion. Maybe our President isn’t a student of history and should research the story of Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow. http://www.undispatch.com/archives/2008/11/i_want_to_go_ba.php
Another kumbaya speech by President Obama. Apologies for our way of life once more. The man has been in office for only five short months and has already apologized more than any other President in history. Another first for Obama?
What I took notes on was the number of times Obama mentions the words terrorism or terrorists. The answer is ZERO. How many times did he quote from the “Holy Koran”? THREE. How many times did President Obama quote from the Holy Bible. ZERO. Makes you sit up and think.
Our president basically threw our country’s military and intelligence community under the bus with his comments: “And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.”
TRAUMA? How about “9/11 was an enormous TERRORIST ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY BY THOSE WHO DID IT UNDER THE NAME OF ISLAM” Lets be truthful, Mr. President. Guantanamo Bay never caused 9/11 and no matter how many times you make this claim, you should remember that it was built after 9/11.
Another item to be concerned with is Obama’s stance on Israel. Israel has and always will be our only friend in the Middle East, yet President Obama wanted to get his applause and turned his back on Israel. Sure he touched basics with Israel’s right to exist. But he flubbed up in a big way.
This is the part of Obama’s speech that should have, not only Israel, but every American worried: “I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America’s commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation – including Iran – should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the Treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.”
Mr. President, our student of history, what are you thinking? Iran is hell bent on “wiping Israel off the map” as claimed by its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Wonder how Obama would feel if, lets say, Mexico was our mortal enemy and Israel supported their right to “peaceful nuclear power?” Yeah, that is what I thought.
Another sticking point is Obama’s stance on bringing democracy to the Middle East. Our President stood in front of the Muslim world and basically blamed the Bush administration. So, we should believe that Muslims and those that follow Islam do not believe in democracy because of the war in Iraq? Give me a break.
They have never believe in democracy. Blaming former President Bush for such ills is really getting ridiculous. If the Muslims want democracy, let them do like our forefathers did. LET THEM FIGHT FOR IT. Making them out to be victims is a art form that Obama is good a painting.
Another group being held back by the imaginary “man?” Another apology, which I found to be shocking is how we in the West, are not allowing freedom of religion.
This is the President’s quote from his speech: “Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat.” “Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit – for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism.”
So, let me understand. In the U.S. we have laws that Muslims shouldn’t have to obey? I never knew there were any limits on charitable givings. Maybe Obama is talking about political givings because I have never heard of a limit on “charitable givings.”
As far as the hajib issue. If I cannot wear my ball cap when I have my driver licenses picture taken, you should not be able to cover your entire head with cloth. Fair is fair. Nothing against your religion as President Obama wants the Arab world to believe.
Be truthful Mr. President. There are some good points and lofty dreams in President Obama’s speech. Honestly, the Muslim world will have to change all of their ills on their own. We should help out if asked but if not, we should mind our side of the hemisphere. Cue up some John Lennon music. I hear “Imagine” is a good one to listen to.
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