"I have no right to tell you how to live, because we're as bad as you are, but here's how you need to live."
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\ˈlē-gəl\ \ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən\: "a rising up against established authority; rebellion; revolt" "in conformity with or permitted by law"
"I have no right to tell you how to live, because we're as bad as you are, but here's how you need to live."
It's funny because it's true.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad because of exactly the same reason.
Looking at the reactions to this speech from the Arab world, I think that Obama just saved a lot of innocent lives.
ReplyDeleteThink about a 15 year old kid who was going to walk into a Hamas office or talk to a friend of a friend who knows some al Queda people and was going to offer himself up as a suicide bomber. Think about that kid watching this speech and thinking to himself, 'ok, maybe the Americans aren't all bad after all. Maybe this President of theirs is actually listening to people like me. Maybe I shouldn't try to kill them after all.'
Multiply that across the Muslim world and there are many, many young men who would otherwise have gone on to join extremists in violent acts against American interests who have just had that 'blink' moment within which their minds have been changed enough to set the course for a whole different future for them.
You don't have to be impressed with the speech. It wasn't aimed at you. It was aimed at changing the hearts and minds of people on the other side of the world so that they stop wanting to kill you.
Sure.. Because all of the outreach that W. made toward the Muslim world doesn't count.
ReplyDeleteI'll save the rant for this:
What part of the daily prayer of 'Death to America' did you not understand?
[Rant on]
The Muslim world didn't care for the US back when Carter was President. After the recent history of escalating attacks towards 9/11. I don't think much has changed.
Jack:
ReplyDeleteSeriously?
By your same logic, some 15 year old future gang-banger in South Central Los Angeles decided not to sling crack because Nancy Reagan told him to "Just say no!", right?
One speech from someone that lives thousands of miles away, that comes from a completely different culture is not going to change what you see in your world EVERY DAY.
How naive are you?
Accurate summary of Obama's speech, sure enough.
ReplyDeleteEvery time this guy opens his mouth, we get deeper in trouble.
Now the job description of the president of the United States includes preventing the spread of "negative stereotypes" about Islam and helping American muslims "fulfill zakat" i.e., make "charitable contributions" to jihad.
Jack, I guess that might make some Al Quada thugs feel more comfortable, but not the fathers and mothers of U.S. soldiers who might want to grab a smoke outside of a U.S. Army recruiting station.
xxx
ReplyDeleteHAH! It was risible. It was fatuous. It was so long-winded I thought I could die. He quoted from the Koran a lot, surprisingly enough not the part about "Kill the Infidel." And then I distinctly recall him going on about women's clothing. That's about his level. This guy is not a leader. He's a joke. Palin's got ten times the balls.
ReplyDeleteOne can grovel, close down GITMO, and beg for forgiveness, but it doesn't at all change the nature and intent of Islamic terrorism. Not one iota. It's really that awfully simple. Obama's less than evenhanded appeal projected contrition and weakness, neither of which will placate terrorists. It will, in fact, encourage their sociopathic rage. It was a tedious and failed sophomoric attempt to curry favor and to win hearts and minds. To the dedicated terrorists, it reeked of appeasement and convinced them that America is a push-over whose days are surely numbered if the terrorists but continue their murderous ways. Am angry, sickened and terribly weary of "our" President apologizing for me, my law abiding family and community. He's an effete liberal snob with not one shred of common sense or principle. And that foolishness and shortsightednes is going to get us killed. 2012 can't come soon enough.
ReplyDelete