A few points ...
1) Obama is a brilliant speaker - Whether or not you agree with the man, he's probably one of the best orators in recent times.
2) I think Obama is trying his best to repair bridges that were harmed, if not burned down completely, during the Bush/Cheney years (I know we can go into this in more detail, but it's another post for another day). If he succeeds in presenting the US as a more moderate force (Again, whether I agree with how he pursues it or not - it's 'his' country to run, how he does that is his choice obviously) - he'll destroy one of the main platforms most Arab extremists push ... Anti-Americanism. I think that's why I found the speech so 'pandering' overall, or perhaps it was Obama's way of trying to influence the upcoming Lebanese & Iranian elections ...
3) One issue I did have with his speech is when he said, "Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance." While there has been times of tolerance obviously (Even the 'Golden Age' had its issues, click here), Jews and other minorities were almost always second class citizens and struggled in the Muslim world (There's countless of examples of this - from 'yellow stars' under Dhimmi rule, to hundreds of Pogroms, to forced conversions of orphans, to the expulsion of 800,000+ Jews in the 1950s etc). I just hope Obama isn't oblivious to this - and was using it for the reasons I mentioned in point 2.
4) Lastly, a friend made an interesting observation, "Note how he flew directly to a concentration camp after the speech. Message to Arab world: we respect your narrative, now respect the Jewish narrative."
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4 comments:
I think you forgot to mention that upon the capture of Jerusalem, Saladin summoned the Jews and permitted them to resettle in the city after the Crusaders denied them this right during the rule of the city.
Obama's road is full of difficulties. He inherited a really messed up world to deal with. Thanks to Bush and his henchmen for creating this mess.
I don't think Arabs and Israelis will ever reconcile, even though great peoples like Obama try to achieve that. However, I think we can at least hope that the Palestinians establish their own state and the Israelis withdraw from the illegal settlements. I think Jews, Christians and Muslims should stop claiming that Palestine, Israel or whatever the ancient name of this land is their own. They all have to acknowledge that it doesn't work like this and that they should compromise and share the land because it was chosen by God to be for those three major religions, which in the essence was the source of the problem, if you ask me about my opinion!
Thanks for the comment Bassam.
Saldain's example is true - but for every positive example, they're matched by so many negative ones.
"Thanks to Bush and his henchmen for creating this mess."
I don't think you can blame Bush for this - perhaps the 'final actions' were his, but this started with the original policies of the "West" to this region as it became a i) oil hot stop and ii) the Israel-Arab issue.
"great peoples like Obama"
I think we should reserve the tag of greatness for now - He may be one day, but until he's earned it, I won't use the tag.
"I don't think Arabs and Israelis will ever reconcile"
I hope you're wrong, but I can easily understand where that sentiment comes from ...
Wrt Christians and the 'Holy Land' - I don't think they have any 'land claims'! But if they do, more headaches! ;)
Have a good week my friend.
Salaam Aleikum
“I don't think you can blame Bush for this - perhaps the 'final actions' were his, but this started with the original policies of the "West" to this region as it became a i) oil hot stop and ii) the Israel-Arab issue.”
I should have been clearer here. I wanted to say that Bush has actullay gave the green light to expand the settlements in the West Bank. The Washington Post revealed that Bush in 2004 secretly approved the expansion of existing Israeli settlements on the West Bank despite his stated policy to the contrary dating back to the start of his first term.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042303128.html?nav%3Dhcmodule&sub=AR
“I think we should reserve the tag of greatness for now - He may be one day, but until he's earned it, I won't use the tag.”
In my opinion, Obama is doing what no man did to save his country’s reputation and reconcile with those who strongly disagree with his country. This makes him a great man in my eyes.
“I hope you're wrong, but I can easily understand where that sentiment comes from ...”
Well, I hope I’m wrong too. However, I think even if there is a solution, it’ll take so many years to implement it.
להתראות
Let's be honest my friend, I doubt any US president has said 'no' to Israeli settlements. As they say, what is heard in the media is not what is heard behind closed doors. I don't really think the settlements are the 'core' issue here - but if they an obstacle in making peace, then most will have to go.
Are you learning Hebrew? :)
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