Obama Tells Middle East To Get Its House In Order After Libya Attack

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

President Obama told the United Nations General Assembly that the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya should be a wake up call for the Muslim world to embrace democratic principles and renounce extremism of all kinds.

“Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like Chris Stevens, and not by his killers,” Obama said. “Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations.”

Obama repeated his condemnation of the anti-Muslim YouTube clip produced in America that sparked recent protests and riots, saying it did not reflect the views of the United States government. But he paired that with a demand that Middle Eastern leaders not only recognize Americans’ right to free speech, but condemn intolerance against Christian, Jews, and Muslim sects within their own countries.

“The future must not belong to those who slander the prophet of Islam. Yet to be credible, those who condemn that slander must also condemn the hate we see when the image of Jesus Christ is desecrated, churches are destroyed, or the Holocaust is denied,” Obama said. “Let us condemn incitement against Sufi Muslims, and Shiite pilgrims. It is time to heed the words of Gandhi: ‘Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.’”

Read more: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/obama-united-nations-speech.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

[freshwest]

1. Thank you, DonViejo. Awesome and the Gandhi quote should be memorized by all.

[AlbertCat]

4. Another Gandhi quote:

"What do you think of Western Civilization?"

"I think it would be a good idea"

[azurnoir]

2. Thanks you Obama stated this beautifully

[AlbertCat]

3. The Middle East hasn't had its house in order since....

... Isaac went one way and Ishmael went another.


Abrahamic religions.... pah!

[Jackpine Radical]

5. This is a beautiful, balanced and measured response that hits the points it needs to hit.

I would have expected no less from Obama.

Now just imagine what Willard would have said.

[christx30]

7. Possible quote from Willard:

"I have signed legislation banning the middle east forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes."

[tarheelsunc]

6. How long until some right wing lunatic accuses him of apologizing?

[Jackpine Radical]

10. I would assume it has already happened.

And would have happened no matter what he said, including declaring war on the whole Middle East.

[Arctic Dave]

8. Was this before or after he ordered drone strikes to murder people?

Meh!

Obama is a hypocrit when it comes to ME violence.

[cpwm17]

9. That's clearly true.

[elbloggoZY27]

11. Intolerance

Intolerance is the ugliest word used by way to many. There are Three Great Religions in the Middle East and around the World. We need to take on Tolerance as the key to a better understanding of all the different Peoples of this World.

In closing the United Nations should not be a forum for Ugly Speeches of Hate or disavowing real events like the Holocaust or Slaughter going on in Syria.

I have to agree with President Obama or any other World Leader that stands up against Intolerance.