Read Along Fun! Obama's speech is in black type and my rant in red
I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world – tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and cooperation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.
I love how he assumes it is up to America to achieve co-existence. He only recognizes what the West has done while ignoring the Islamic imperative to make war against and subjugate non Muslims. This assumption that Islamists hate us because of what WE have done is a foolish notion and admitting such a notion is a dangerous move.
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.
Yet violent extremists are following the religion's texts and it's prophet's example so there is reason for the fear and mistrust.
So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
This statement is well directed at Muslims.
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon 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.
Hello, my name is Barry and I believe in fairies, unicorns, big foot and Islam as a religion of peace.
Of course there is no mention of Sharia law which prevents justice, progress, tolerance and dignity of non believers and women.
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground. As the Holy Koran tells us, "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do – to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.
Of course this same Holy Koran (HOLY???) also allows lying as long as it is to non Muslims and is done in order to further Islam's agendas. This is called “al taqiyya” . A good percentage of this speech is taqiyya.
Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims.
Note that he avoids saying his father was a Muslim, which would open him up to charges of apostasy and make him eligible for the death penalty.
As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.
As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam – at places like Al-Azhar University – 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 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.
Yes, there was a time when Islamic culture was more advanced than that of Europeans, but that superiority corresponds exactly to the period when Muslims were able to draw on and advance the achievements of Byzantine and other civilizations. Islamic progress is almost always the progress of a parasite drawing off the host. When the Muslim overlords had taken what they could from their subjugated peoples, and the Jewish and Christian communities had been stripped of their material and intellectual wealth and thoroughly subdued, Islam went into a period of intellectual decline from which it has not yet recovered. This is part of why they have such a thirst to conquer again. It's been a while since they could boast of the booty they gleaned from their victims.
I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims."
HELLO!!!??? The treaty of Tripoli was the solution for our first encounter with Islamic terrorism! Barbary pirates were attacking our ships and taking booty and selling the captives into slavery (the slave trade funded Islam) WHY? Because we did not believe in Islam so they had the right to attack non believers - just like they still do.
"The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims." What a shame that statement does not apply to Islam's views of the rest of the world. For Islam, the world is divided into two parts, Dar al Islam and Dar al Harb which means “House of Islam and House of War” There is only Islam (which means “submission) all the rest of the world is to be at war with until ALL submit. THAT is the main point and goal of Islam.
And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our Universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch.
Won Nobel prizES? Ahmed Zewail the only U.S.-based Muslim to have won a Nobel Prize. But wait, didn't Obama win a Nobel peace prize? Of course he's not a Muslim but he proved it doesn't take much to win one of those things. Arrafat got one too I suppose that was for all of his efforts towards peace.
And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.
Thomas Jefferson purchased that Qu'ran in order to try to figure out how to deal with these Barbary Pirates as they did not honor the treaty they signed and continued to demand tribute (extort money) as the price for safe passage. His conclusion: That these people could not be reasoned with! They would respond only to their own language, the language of war!
The goal of the Muslim Brotherhood is stated clearly to destroy the West from within it's “miserable house” The senate is close enough to the house and seems a logical place to start. fact that the Muslim Keith Elllison infiltrated our congress and added insult to injury by using this Qu'ran to be sworn in, would have Jefferson spinning in his grave. To be sworn in using a bookkk that promises to eradicate any other system of government other than Sharia is like using Mein Kampf in a Bar Mitsvah.
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed.
"First revealed" Rather than just say where it originated or “started” he chooses the word “revealed” By doing so, he is acknowledging that he believes Islam to be a revealed faith - brought about by means of a divine, supernatural force dictating it. Some might say Islam was the result of an insane man having seizures in a cave. (I favor that view)
That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't.
Um, yeah, so when are you going to cut the crap and talk about what Islam really is?
And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.
Would that include all occasions when Jihadists kill innocent people in the name of Islam? That sounds like a good plan to me. I would say these acts are the main contributor to those negative stereotypes. Now what about negative stereotypes of Jews that promote attacks. After all, when it comes to hate crimes in America, Jews are the most attacked group of all and Muslims are the least. Oh they don't get your support or protection eh? Did you get these attitudes from that lovely church you went to where Jeremiah Wright preached anti antisemitism? Oh wait a minute. In twenty years of attending services you never heard him say any of those things. But in no time at all people dug up his racist propaganda on YouTube. Isn't the internet amazing? No wonder you need Cass Sunstein to control it.
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. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words – within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum: "Out of many, one."
Thank you Barry, you finally spoke well of the country you serve. That doesn't happen very often does it? But you might have also included a bit about all the tons of money we give to support Islamic societies even thought that money is often misused and even funds terrorism.
Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected President.
Indeed, it was even considered "racist" and "Islamophobic" to mention the President's middle name. It was criticized as an attempt to remind people that the name was shared with Saddam Hussein and that would be an unfair subliminal comparison. I can agree with that and I would also agree not to overuse the name because of it's real impact: an American president with such an Arabic middle name tells the Muslim world that Islam has infiltrated America and is now in the White house. Seems curious that once you were elected, the ban on the name was lifted and you began using your middle name quite a lot.
But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores – that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.
"Nearly seven million American Muslims" I am grateful that this is an inflated figure.
Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders.
And that's in spite of studies that revel that 80% of them promote the overthrow of the American government. We have laws against sedition but we suspend our laws to accommodate religion. Isn't that nice?
That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hi jab, and to punish those who would deny it.
A curious misuse of American law. If I am not allowed to walk into a bank wearing a ski mask, how is it alright for a Muslim woman to wear a hi jab? This is about safety and security and those laws should prevail over religious law! This is still America and our laws are still secular (no matter how much the religious right want to instate their own form of Christian Sharia) Is it Islamophobic of me to notice the vast amount of dangerous things that can be concealed in a burqa? Is it intolerant of me to see the bagging of women as sexist because it is done to prevent a woman's body from being seen as that would be her invitation to rape? In Sharia a woman's entire body is considered a sex organ (because a woman's entire being is considered a sex object) a man is not expected to control any urges he may get so if a woman reveals her body, it is considered an invitation to rape. Pardon me if I see this practice as inconsistent with American human rights and find it offensive. What a shame Mr. President that you do not see the infraction of secular law as an opportunity to draw the line where it needs to be drawn in order to protect the citizens of the country who hired you and pay your salary. But that's not really the way you see things is it?
So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations – to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.
OK that's pretty much the way we see things over here in the U Sofa. Now how bout you Muslim nations do the same? Please? How about acknowledging the Islamic supremacist agenda that denies the hope of all humanity to all who do not worship Allah.
Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all. For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience.
This would be great and it looks like you are finally addressing the Muslim world except you picked two places where you believe that the chief victims are Muslims.
That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.
I agree, totally.
This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests.
I am assuming this is again directed at the Emma (Islamic world) for they wrote the book on subjugation of other people (it's called the Qu'ran) Christians and Jews are allowed to live and practice their religion but live in subjugation (dissimilitude) and pay a tax (the Jidda). Of course they are the lucky ones. All other faiths have only two choices: convert or die.
Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. 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 of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared. That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension.
So this must be why you invited members of the Muslim Brotherhood to the speech. The Brotherhood is dedicated, in its own words, to "eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and 'sabotaging' its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God's religion is made victorious over all other religions." Yes we must not ignore such sources of tension., but I must say I question why you would appoint them to positions of power. http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-national/report-obama-quietly-appoints-muslim-brotherhood-to-key-posts
Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.
In Ankara, I made clear that America is not – and never will be – at war with Islam.
Well I'm sorry Mr. President but Islam is and has always been at war with America and declaring otherwise doesn't make it so. While it has been going on for as long as America has been a nation (Barbary coast pirates) and Islam has always considered itself at war with non believers, Osama Bin Laden made it official in 1996. Refusal to see this is dangerously blind. You can say that you are not a fighter until you are blue in the face. But if somebody comes up and cold cocks you, guess what? You're in a fight.
We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security. Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as President to protect the American people.
That would be nice but the definition of innocent is different in Islam. No non Muslim is considered innocent so even a small baby born to infidel parents is fair game.
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity. I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.
Make no mistake: we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can.
Good!
But that is not yet the case.
Bummer!
That's why we're partnering with a coalition of forty-six countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries.
Yes!
They have killed people of different faiths – more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam.
Yes...
The Holy Koran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
Again this depends on the interpretation of “innocent” which can only mean a Muslim. This is Surah 5:32 It is often used to show that the Qu'ran is against killing. It was originally directed at Jews but let's not nit pick shall we? Let's pretend that Allah and his messenger were speaking to the Muslim people, because that is more convenient. However, it is not convenient to include the following verse which says what should happen to someone who kills an innocent Surah 5:33: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;
So this passage is only a warning of what can and should happen to anyone who kills a Muslim certainly no evidence that Islam disproves of killing. If that were remotely true, the prophet himself would be in great disagreement with his own religion for beheading 700 people simply for being Jews (and that was just in one day) Killing of non Muslims who offend the religion of piss (an unfortunate typo no doubt) in any way is perfectly condoned in Islamic scripture and further exemplified in the life deeds of the Prophet. Trying to convey an opposite meaning is a deliberate deception.
The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism – it is an important part of promoting peace.
I beg to differ, texts like the one above prove that it is Islam itself that is the main stumbling block to peace.
We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
This is based on the naive assumption that violent jihad will go away if we use kindness. Sadly this has never worked and is only seen as weakness. Didn't Dhimmi Carter prove that? Even grade school kids know that if you give the school bully your lunch money, he will be back the next day for more. Throwing money at Islam only goes to fuel terrorism and bleeds the American economy. It would seem that the latter is the primary objective of your presidency. You certainly have a talent for it.
Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."
Please stop quoting Thomas Jefferson, you have disturbed his rest enough.
Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future – and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its Security Forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.
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.
So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.
Extremists aren't even being isolated and unwelcome in NON Muslim communities. Look at Europe!
The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.
Oy vey
America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
A tragic history that has usually, if not always had Islam as a source, even in Nazi Germany, Is;am provided the inspiration and plenty of man power. The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem was BFFs with Hitler.
Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Antisemitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed – more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction – or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews – is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.
On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people – Muslims and Christians – have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than sixty years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations – large and small – that come with occupation.
Why did no one ever complain about Egyptian and Jordanian occupation of Palestinian land between 1948 and 1967, when they controlled Gaza and the West Bank?
So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.
What is intolerable is that they are being forced to negotiate with people who refuse to allow for their existence. Until Palestinians love their children even as much as they hate the Jews, there can never be any progress made. The Palestinians were offered a state of their own, they refused it! If they accept one then they would have to stop playing the victim. They refuse to do so until Israel is gone. This is an impasse. One side will have to give and it is time to tell Palestine to cut the crap. Israel is a tiny gem in an Arab wasteland it is time for Palestinians to face the fact that it is not the Jews who are to blame for all their ills. It is their own backward religion that keeps their knuckles dragging in the sand. Lately this act has been working. All of your communist friends in organizations like Code Pink and other supporters of the “freedom Flotilla” who don't remember that there never was a Palestine until the UN created it in 1948 and offered half of it to the Jews as Israel. The Jews took it and created a magnificent Nation where freedom and liberty prevail and for the first time Jerusalem can be enjoyed by all three faiths. Meanwhile the Islamists grumble complain and blow their children up and claim the Jews did it. How lucky are the Palestinians that the Jews do not have the pension for hatred that they do? How lucky that they do not have the scriptures that justify the mass slaughter of their enemies.
For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers – for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security. That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the Road Map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them – and all of us – to live up to our responsibilities.
And what does Obama intend to do to make things any different? Palestinians have never upheld any agreements. Obama's only choice seems to be to bully the one side that uses rational thinking. Israel is being punished for their willingness to concede. Every time they do they are punished. How long is this going to go on before somebody bigger and stronger steps in and makes evil stop messing with good? Perhaps that is what Obama thinks he is doing by bullying Israel. Yeah that's right, side with the terrorists. A winning move for sure!
Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed.
Yes, thank you Obama, that's more like it!
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.
Wait a minute, you compare terrorists who refuse to coexist with others to slaves who were oppressed against their will? That would be a joke were it not so offensive. By the way Mr. president, it was Islam who really created a thriving slave trade.
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.
All places where Islamic acts of terrorist jihad are preformed on a daily basis (3-5 a day)
It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered.
I trust, Mr. President, that these words of wisdom are being directed at Palestine.
Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build.
BUILD? You mean stop blaming everything on the Jews and create a life for themselves and their children? I think that might be like asking them to go against their religion. It's just not their nature. That will take a while and their victim act is really starting to get popular. Trendy people and the ever so chic neo communists think they are KEWL. Building would ruin the victim act, no can do! For as long as they can remain victims they can find joy in always having an enemy that they can sacrifice themselves for in the name of Allah and guarantee eternity in paradise without having to have lived a great life (that takes so long). What other purpose in life do you expect them to create? You are asking too much. Mortier Zuckerman and others spent 14 million to give them Israeli greenhouses during the Gaza turnover and they used them as weapons smuggling tunnels. WAR is all they want! Get a clue!
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 responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, and recognize Israel's right to exist.
And I'm going to get my dog to stop licking himself.
At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's.
NO - Palestinians have to acknowledge ISRAEL's right to exist! Israel has been willing to try.
The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
You do not speak for the United States. I, for one, support peaceful settlements over genocidal blood lust. I find them much more appealing.
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.
How is Israel supposed to stop Palestinians from choosing to continue their very own propaganda?
Finally, the Arab States must recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems. Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognize Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.
Well said and I wish they would.
America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true. Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear;
When Palestinians love their children as much as they hate the Jews, this might be possible.
when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isa, when Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.
Under Israeli rule this is happening. Under Islam, impossible. Non Muslims aren't even allowed to enter their holy lands. The freeway signs to Mecca say “Muslims only”.
The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons.
This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically-elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians. This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward.
Yet when the Iranian people protested the false election of the current leader who is far worse, you seemed to ignore them. Funny how you have recently rallied behind Egyptian demonstrators but I guess that is because they are moving towards Sharia and the Iranian people were demonstrating against Sharia. Your intentions may be getting a little clearer since you made this speech.
The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.
The future Iran wants to build is the future destruction of Israel, America, and all of the West and an ushering in of end times. I think they have been clear about this and I think we should not back this plan.
It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
YES!
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.
I think it is pretty clear that we already have such standards in place. People must be of sound mind to have weapons, a background check etc. We don't let mentally unstable people with a criminal or violent past buy guns. We should not mentally unstable countries with a criminal or violent past have nukes.
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.
And if you can just get that fox to sign an agreement with the hens, all will be okie dokie!
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy.
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.
Does that include Sharia?
That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.
I couldn't agree more and I'm sure this went right over the heads of most there.
There is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments – provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
Then you DO want to impose political standards. That's OK just be clear.
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.
Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance.
SAY WHAT???????????? Have you been drinking?
We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition.
BULLSHIT!
In Muslim Spain the laws of dhimmitude were very much in force in the great Al-Andalus. While people of the book (Jews and Christians) were allowed to lie and practice their faith they were subjected to the laws of dhimmitude and a decidedly second class standing in the Muslim society.
If Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived together peaceably and productively only with Christians and Jews relegated by law to second-class citizen status, then al-Andalus has absolutely no reason to be lionized in our age. Obama should know that the laws of dhimmitude hardly give substance to his claim of a "proud tradition of tolerance". That is like saying that the slaves in the South that were not beaten enjoyed equality.
Cool noting the Inquisition, that was one time in Christian history that Christianity behaved like Islam always has.
I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshiped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.
Actually It's being challenged in pretty much ONE way, by Islam's intolerance of any other belief. What you saw, Barry, in your childhood is a very rare sign of tolerance and goes against the teachings of Islam but it should be held as an example of how to be. It is an excellent example and should be followed but that would be impossible in any state that functions under Sharia. SO Islam needs to drop that world domination thing.
Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of anther's.
The prophet was one of these Muslims "If anyone changes his religion, kill him." -- Muhammad. Since he is held as the perfect example of behavior, this will be very difficult to overcome.
The richness of religious diversity must be upheld – whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
It is good to see him mention this. It will be interesting to see if he backs it up with action on the behalf of Maronites or Copts. <crickets chirp>
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.
Will he make sure that zakat does not go to fund terrorism as it has in the past?
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.
What about the women who are threatened and beaten for not wearing the proper clothing.? How about the ones who were not let out of a burning building because they were not properly dressed? Seems to me we have ignored those hostilities within the religion behind the pretense of liberalism.
Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
Like the Ground Zero Mosque?
That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's Interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into Interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action – whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.
Ah Turkey the country who's Prime Minister, Erdogan says, "Mosques are our barracks, domes our helmets, minarets our bayonets, believers our soldiers. This holy army guards my religion." That sounds like a great start for interfaith dialogue! Say, Barry, didn't you promise to get Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide? Is that still on your to do list?
The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights.
I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.
Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.
Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity – men and women – to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.
How does he propose to overcome the culture that teachings like this create? The Qur'an likens a woman to a field (tilth), to be used by a man as he wills: "Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will" (2:223).
The Qur'an also declares that a woman's testimony is worth half that of a man: "Get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her" (2:282).
It allows men to marry up to four wives, and have sex with slave girls also: "If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice" (4:3).
It rules that a son's inheritance should be twice the size of that of a daughter: "Allah (thus) directs you as regards your children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females" (4:11).
Worst of all, the Qur’an tells husbands to beat their disobedient wives: "Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them" (4:34).
It allows for marriage to pre-pubescent girls, stipulating that Islamic divorce procedures “shall apply to those who have not yet menstruated” (65:4). If too small for intercourse the practice of Mufa Kathat is allowed. This is the act of masturbating between a child's thighs. Mohammed's child bride, Aisha, speaks of this in the hadith and of her happy chore of washing the cum off his pants.
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity.
I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence.
And God knows that Muslims are not to blame for the violence that such immoral signs of Western decadence can inspire. The immorality of the West has been a feature of Islamic anti-Western writings forever. But in view of the above mentioned sex acts that are allowed, I think nobody is in a position to be throwing stones. This references not glass houses but a culture that stones women to death for being raped.
Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations – including my own – this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose of control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities – those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.
Which is heavily steeped in 7th century attitudes
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.
Bullshit again, the myth that Islam was ever at the forefront of any real kind of progress is shattered when you do the research. Progress for Arabs came to an abrupt stand still once Islam became established. The prophet was the greatest enemy of reason. An illiterate man himself, he encouraged contempt for education. It has been speculated that Muslim conquest in the 7th century may have caused the destruction of the great library in Alexandria, in some Islamic societies to this day, all books are haram (forbidden) with the exception of the Qu'ran. In areas where Muslim scientists ( Ibn Sina; Ibn Khaldun; Ibn Al-Kindi etc) were able to advance their work it was in spite of the Islamic suffocation of the intellect and never with the ideology's encouragement. Islam's role in supressing progress is verified throughout history whereas the myth that Islam was ever at the forefront of innovation is a fallacy of revisionist history – but we've been getting a lot of that from you Barry. Now I know what yor wife said when she said that America would have to change, among the things she listed that must be changed was history. I remember that well and wondered why nobody seemed to cal her on it. You do not change history – not if you want to learn from it. Oh I see, I just figured you out didn't I?
This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas. I am emphasizing such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand exchange programs, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in on-line learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo.
Infiltration NOW! Say Barry, can we have more Islamic professors in our colleges who teach the kids to hate America? The MSA is a great asset for learning too. It's a nice blend with the Communism. Perhaps Temple Grandin can be employed to design the ramps leading to the lecture halls to increase the efficiency of indoctrination. Her work with cattle and sheep should prove useful.
On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
And Sharia finance! Don't forget the Sharia finance!
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
How about abandoning our space program and putting NASA in charge of making Muslims feel better about their skills and contributions to science? That would be an excellent use of scientific minds.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
“And we are especially ready to partner with the Muslim Brotherhood because we share a common goal: the destruction of Western civilization.” Isn't that what you really meant to say? And what will we get for all this effort? Good will? Have the billions we have already spent shown any success in that area?
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek – a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together.
I know there are many – Muslim and non-Muslim – who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress.
Seeing things realistically is not to "stoke the flames of division," although I am sure you will conflate them.
Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort – that we are fated to disagree, and civilizations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country – you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world.
Say, that is exactly what they want to do!
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort – a sustained effort – to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.
It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion – that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples – a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.
I must admit that was lovely.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.
The Holy Koran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another."
And kill one another if they do not accept Allah and his messenger?
The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."
The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
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. Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you.
God's vision? We know what Islam's vision is: World domination and until that is achieved, there will be war. Since you will not address this honestly, it seems that you are either extremely naive or you share this world vision. Time will tell which is the right assessment.
