>That is why the U.S. government has gone to court to protect the right of >women and girls to wear the hijab,and to punish those who would deny it.
Any idea what President Platitude is talking about here? On Jun 6, 11:02 am, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: > Holly, > > Nothing traumatic or "girly hysterical" about anything that I > post......Ever. > > I take issue with President Obama's telling a "half truth", followed by an > out right lie, and I have taken it upon myself, (as you suggested) to list a > bunch of them. > > I just watched the speeches at Normandy, which were moving.....With the > exception of our own President. He is an embarassment to our Nation. Who is > his speech writer?? Whoever it is, hasn't a clue. Sarkozy, I give an > "A+". Prime Minister Brown, an "A"; Prime Minister Harper, a "B+" and to > our socialistic leader who cannot get away from a teleprompter, (and note, > none of the other leaders utilized a teleprompter!!) I give his speech this > morning a "C-". > > 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 coexistence and co-operation, 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. > > 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. > > 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 co-operation that can help all of our people achieve justice and > prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end. > > 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. > > I do so recognising 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. > ============ > > I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first > nation to recognise 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 tranquillity of > Muslims." 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. 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. > ============= > > Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack > Hussein Obama could be elected President. 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. > > 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. That is why the U.S. government > has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, > and to punish those who would deny 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. > =============== > > 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." > =============== > > 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. > ================= > > 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. 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. > > 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 > > ====================== > > 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. The > question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants > to build. > > 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. > > 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. 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 ... > > read more » --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
