Obama calls for new beginning (Cairo Speech)

[onehandle]

Source: AP

CAIRO – President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" Thursday and said together, they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East. "This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," Obama said in a widely anticipated speech in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, an address designed to reframe relations after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the war in Iraq.

In a gesture, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations."

"And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," he said.

At the same time, he said the same principle must apply in reverse. "Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090604/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obam...

[No Elephants]

1. "We can't hide hostility to a religion (Islam) behind liberalism."

Just heard Obama say this as I watch the speech on (ugh) Morning Joe.

Yeah, it's really the liberals in this country who are hostile to Islam.


WTF?


Overall, it seems like a gutsy, controversial speech. He is not pulling any punches. It will be interesting to see how Arabs react to this.

So far, he has not said much about Cairo or Egypt, though, mostly the Mideast in general and Islam.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I don't think he was referencing political parties or leanings.

The NY Times has the transcript and the quote was supposed to be

We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

I heard that part of the speech live but don't specifically remember if he kept with the script...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. He said "pretense." nt

[tocqueville]

4. liberalism has a different meaning outside the US

it means "uncontrolled market economy", "laissez-faire capitalism". It's only in the US it means "from the left".

[Soylent Brice]

5. thank you for the clarification. : )

[LatteLibertine]

3. It was a fantastic speech

I am very happy I voted for him.

[Xenotime]

9. Agreed. I know this will bring a much needed peace to the world.

What an amazing man.

[ohio2007]

21. He had a tough audience to reach but did he 'captivate' them ?

Obama asks Muslims to make fresh beginning


CAIRO: Quoting from the Holy Quran for emphasis, President Barack Obama called for a ‘new beginning between the United States and Muslims’ on Thursday and said that together they could confront violent extremism across the globe and advance the timeless search for peace in the Middle East.




http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/0381f8804e59f28a960...
Palestinian militants wearing masks pose with their weapons while watching the speech of US President Barack Obama in front of journalists at a training base in Gaza City. — AP photo


http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-librar...

[goclark]

13. His life experiences made it even more meaningful

He was the perfect President to deliver that speech - no one else could have given it.

Bravo Mr. President! Bravo!

[ObamaKerryDem]

16. Totally agree. He knocked it out of the park! :D k&r

[KG]

6. '...America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.'

um, yes, it is.

actually, it's not a sterotype, it really IS a self-interested empire.

until the US begins to disengage militarily from the middle east, the arab/muslim world isn't going to be fooled or placated by high flown rhetoric.

[ro1942]

7. thanks

agree completely

[Downwinder]

8. Actions speak louder than words.

File terrorist charges against Scott Roeder and his facilitators.

[bigworld]

11. complete video here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/31101164#3110116...

...a really good speech.

[Vidar]

12. Great speech-- if followed up by something concrete like troop withdrawals.

[TheWatcher]

17. It won't be.

But it really does help to calm the herd and lube up the faithful from time to time, just to be on the safe side.

Can't have those pesky proles thinking they aren't going to get that much promised "change."

I'll believe it when I SEE it. Not HEAR it.

[Vidar]

22. I have to agree, unfortunately.

[TheWatcher]

24. Sadly, it is the Cynical Circumstances we currently find ourselves in.

Unlike a lot of the "True Believers", I am no longer moved by rousing "speeches" and sweeping "platitudes" any longer.

It doesn't impress me, and it's all bullshit, because the ACTIONS never match the WORDS.

It's very simple, and We The People need to awaken to it, or we will never have a country again.

Six Simple Words.

WE. DO. NOT. HAVE. REPRESENTATIVE. GOVERNMENT.

The Declaration is VERY SPECIFIC about what we should do in times like these:

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

[Scurrilous]

14. Obama Calls for Alliances With Muslims

Source: NYTimes

<snip>

"President Obama pledged on Thursday to “seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world,” imploring America and the Islamic world to drop their suspicions of one another and forge new alliances to confront violent extremism and heal religious divides.

"We have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek,” he said. “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."

He dwelled on Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan but reserved some of his sharpest words for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He offered no major initiatives on the Middle East peace process although he put Israelis and Palestinians on notice that he intends to deal directly with what he sees as intransigence on key issues, evoking the concerns of both parties but asking both to shift ground significantly.

The speech in Cairo, which he called a “timeless city,” redeemed a promise he made nearly two years ago while running for president. It was, perhaps, the riskiest speech of his young presidency, and Mr. Obama readily conceded that not every goal would be easily or quickly achieved.

"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,” he said. “Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings."



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/world/middleeast/05pr...

[Wizard777]

15. If their God is not our God. We are both pantheists and it is not each other we need to fear.

It's really that simple.

[NW_Cowboy]

18. A Good Start Would Be The Head of OBL

That is, if they are serious.

[rayofreason]

19. Now we can all wear a hijab!

It is very fetching, you know. And wearing it is the top Islamic women's right issue, right??? </sarcasm>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-daou/let-women-wear...

[Poll_Blind]

20. Incredible speech. Akin to the speech he gave on race which caused so many...

...to take note of him during the primaries.

PB

[ohio2007]

23. Comments on Obama's Muslim Speech ( as viewed by Egyptians )

US Presdent Barack Obama has made a landmark speech calling for a new era of relations between Muslims and Americans. His address in Egypt on Thursday drew both praise and criticsm.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b57_1244212412
imo
Five miles from ground zero, opinion is split .