The following is a piece written by my friend, Steve Conlon. It is posted here with his kind permission and appears as written without changes (beyond formating).
I have I've done a great deal or research on the Weimar Republic recently
because with this government spending I fear massive inflation. And as
an amateur economist by training - and one who knows that the
democrats are now the party of Karl Marx who are not going to give
anyone tax breaks with the tax bill the House just passed called Cap &
Trade - I have been searching for what triggered that inflation. What
I have tripped upon is a course on the Nazi Party's infancy from
before WW I, through the Treaty of Versailles, to the propaganda that
led them from less than 4% of the vote in 1928 to 37% of the vote in
1932. The parallels to their rise to power and its abuse are ominous
with regard to the current administration.
No, the Democrats are not Nazis. HOWEVER, they are drunk on power and
using every single method of propaganda to win elections that the
Nazis dreamed up under Goebbals and Goering. Lies, lies, and BIGGER
LIES! They just voted to regulate your life more than ever before and
never even read the bill they passed as it was impossible to do so.
I'm a registered Independent. At this point, every American has to
wake up and chose between being a patriot or being a democrat. They
just threw down the gauntlet and voted to steal a good deal of your
liberty as well as a large amount of your money. This is our darkest
moment.
John Locke, who had a great influence on the Framers of the
Constitution, would be calling for a revolution now as they have
fulfilled his 5 criteria for when the people must take their
government back or become enslaved by it.
Below is a commentary by radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt. It comes on
a day when Iran's Ahmadinejad has called Obama an embarrassment, and
that his next 4 years will see an even tougher stance against America.
We are in dire times and we are led by a weakling who is trying to
involve government in every aspect of your life. For example, in the
Cap & Trade bill you will have the government inspect your home for
energy efficiency when you sell it and be assessed a fee for the
degree to which it fails. New homes will have an immediate mandated
increase of 30% more energy efficiency, so your 10 year old home will
significantly fail the test and be assessed a fee to bring it up to
"standards." That is likely in the tens of thousands of dollars. The
average home now built the day the bill is signed will have to meet a
30% increase in efficiency and in 5 years that number will be 70% more
efficient. The 30% increase has been implemented in California and it
is killing their building and sales, yet it is going to be
nationalized as law. The logic of this move cannot be found. It is
about attaining even more power over the citizenry.
I'm getting damn fed up with this mistake of a president stealing my
freedom, because without property rights you have no freedom. And to
assess you money on your home, on your energy use, and interfere with
your relationship with your doctor to receive health care, you are
less free than you were the moment he signs this bill.
You should be as disgusted as I am. I hope that you are and that you
will forward this message. Your children are never going to know the
freedom that was bought and paid for in buckets of blood throughout
our history as one lone interloper who can't apologize enough for
America thinks he is "the gift" (it's what he stated to Senator Harry
Reid) that is to save our nation. Having never succeeded in any
endeavor in his life before this, 52.7% of the American electorate
were fooled into thinking he knew what he was doing. I hope it is
abundantly clear to all by now that this is not the "CHANGE" they
thought was coming. Obama is a Clear and Present Danger to your
liberty and he has no intention off stopping his involvement in your
life.
Steve Conlon
Charlotte NC
DISCLOSURE: Hugh Hewitt is a friend of mine and he is a republican who
worked in the Reagan White House. Besides being possibly the best
environmental lawyer in America, he also has the 5th largest
syndicated radio talk show in America.
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Friday, June 26, 2009
Voting For Economic Suicide
Posted by: Hugh Hewitt at 10:04 PM
They could not have read the bill.
A 300 page amendment to a bill that greatly impacts every American and
greatly burdens every American business was introduced at 3:00 AM
Friday and passed 16 hours later.
The spectacle of the House voting for a massive tax increase and a 300
page amendment they could not have read is a low point for
post-segregationist Congresses. Never have so few read so little
about so important a proposal, and yet brazen forward oblivious to the
deeply embarrassing charade it presents to the world. Banana
republics make a better show of governing themselves than did the U.S.
House of Representatives today.
The only good thing about this disaster for the country's reputation
is the undeniable message it sends to voters about just how hard left
the Democrats are and at the same time just how irresponsible the
Obama/Pelosi/Reid majority is. Not only does today's debacle
strengthen the case for a massive course correction and return to
balance in D.C. in 2010, it also should increase resistance to the
similarly radical attempt to remake American medicine into a
single-payer, government-dominated, Canada-style plan. A majority so
obviously indifferent to the substance of "legislation" they pass
should not be trusted with the medicine that Americans need to live
well and long.
The country knows the Obama/Pelosi/Reid Democrats are drunk on power
and lurching so far to the left as to stun even partisan Democrats.
The Senate may stop this attempt at economic suicide, but independents
and Republicans cannot allow the public to forget the recklessness of
today's abdication of responsibility by the hard left House
leadership.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Obama Speech (don't they fact check these?)
(Obamas words plain text)
(My text/comments italics/bold)
Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has had stood as a beacon of Islamic learning. (clip) and Islamic repression. (continue) And for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress.
I'm grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the good will of the American people and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalamu-alaikum. (clip) So, he has been appointed the “ambassador” for the Muslim communities that are sending a “greeting of peace” but from the rest of us mere goodwill. (continue)
We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, (clip) and why would that be? Could it be that the west has been under continuous attack by Muslims? Could it be that the overwhelming number of terrorists are Muslim? Let’s see (continue) tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation but also conflict and religious wars. (clip) So, something like repelling Muslim aggression some 600 to 900 years ago is their grievance? We are to believe that kicking the Muslims out of places they had overrun like Spain, France and parts of Germany is the problem? That they were run out of those countries as they fell more and more under the sway of the fundamentalist aspects of their religion and fell further and further behind the west? Might it be that their aggressive and brutish religion tells them that once they have overrun a land it is theirs forever no matter what? (continue)
More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism (clip) by whom? The United States? (continue) 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. (clip) Who was aggressing against the Muslims? Was it the west? No, I don’t think so. Who has helped to free more Muslims from tyranny than even Muslims? The United States. (continue) Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam. (clip) that is because they have reverted to and locked into a mind set of 800 years ago. They are still living in the middle ages. (continue)
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. (clip) Let examine that, if only some 10% of Muslims are violent (hard to believe as they all read the same book) that would leave us with some 120 million of the lethal variety of Muslims, only a Washington DC Politician would call that a small number. (continue) The attacks of September 11, 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. (clip) News flash for Obama; not some, but MOST in America believe that Islam is hostile to us. Their holy book tells us and them so. When they say that they hate us and want to kill or subjugate us, guess what Obama, we the little people that do the dying believe them. (continue)
All this has bred more fear and more mistrust. (clip) Your right Obama, we who do the dying don’t trust them. (continue) So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. (clip) as we have seen, there are some 120 million of those that sow the hatred and conflict and saw heads off of people with dull knives, blow up women and children on purpose, fly planes into buildings and many other atrocities, and it is NOT the United States Obama. (continue) And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end. (clip) Now how can we end that? Hunt down those 120 million and remove them from polite society? Or hope that the Muslim world will get off of its hands and do something about it? (continue)
I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, (clip) the Muslims will never respect the infidel, NEVER. We are to be converted or conquered or killed, but not respected, their good book says so, and I believe them when they tell us so. (continue) 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. (clip) like the women in burkas forbidden to go to school? Like the Homosexuals that are killed by toppling walls on them ? Like the honor killings of female family members? “America and Islam are exclusive”; Wrong, our secular rights stand in the way of their cultural/religious views/sharia law. They don’t have “separation of church and state” they are one in the same. They do not have a concept of freedom of speech. A very foreign view to Americans, but that is what we are facing. (continue)
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. (clip) that is true, as long as Muslims have a strong job vocation of “terrorist”. (continue) I know there's been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point. (clip) No, but we should could name the provocations/terrorist acts that have brought us here. (continue) But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. (clip) Your right, so here we go; Hey Muslims! Quit strapping bombs to your bodies and blowing up innocent people. Quit filling cars and trucks with explosives and killing innocent people. Quit sawing innocent peoples heads off, you brutish thugs. Quit hijacking planes and flying them into buildings. Quit living in the 11th century. (continue) 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. (clip) They had better hope that we don’t learn from them. They do some pretty gruesome things that they would NOT want us to start doing. When they come forward from the 10th or 11th century we might have some common ground, but not now. (continue) As the Holy Quran tells us, Be conscious of God and speak always the truth. (clip) unless you are speaking to an Infidel. The Quran says so. Al-Takeyyah (ahl-tah-KAY-uh) is the Islamic principle of lying for the sake of Allah. Falsehoods told to prevent denigration of Islam, to protect oneself, or to promote the cause of Islam are sanctioned by the Qur'an, including lying under penalty of perjury in testimony before the United States Congress, lying or making distorted statements to the media such as claiming that Islam is a religion of peace, and deceiving fellow Muslims when the one lying has deemed them to be apostates. (continue)
That is what I will try to do today, 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. (clip) No, they are not, the bad guys (Muslim killers) get their 70 virgins after dying while blowing up innocent people. We share nothing in common with that type of medievalism. (continue) Now, part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I'm a Christian. (clip) we sure do doubt that. (continue) But my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. (clip) that would seem to be rare in the world. Just show one of them a cartoon of Mohammad, stand back and watch what happens. (continue) As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam at places like Al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's renaissance and enlightenment. (clip) that is not true, it was the Christian churches that held onto knowledge through the dark ages that lead to the enlightenment and the Renaissance. (continue) It was innovation in Muslim communities...
(APPLAUSE)
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. (clip) No, algebra had it beginnings in Greece, and Persia, the Compass is a Chinese invention, and as to printing, the first printing press was made by a European named Gutenberg. Bacteria were not discovered until the 1660’s, nor connected with disease until the 1870’s, viruses were not discovered until 1892. Islamic culture and learning at that time had reverted to and became stuck in a much earlier century. (continue) Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, (clip) No, those marvelous items were invented by and came from Rome (continue) timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality. (clip) No, they have not demonstrated either religious tolerance or racial equality since very early in their history, the Roman empire was far more demonstrative of tolerance and equality. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story. (clip) no, they have not, unless you want to include the Barbary Pirates. Not a very nice group of people. I do not recall that any Muslims were present at Plymouth Rock or had anything to do with Jamestown. In fact, I don’t believe that Muslims played any part in early American life except the aforesaid Barbary Pirates. (continue) The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. (clip) True, but the motive was to change the basis of taxing in the country to a trade based income relying on not only the United States, but other “western” countries. (continue) 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 tranquility of Muslims. And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. (clip) John Quincy Adams possessed a remarkably clear, uncompromised understanding of the permanent Islamic institutions of jihad war and dhimmitude (denoting an attitude of concession, surrender and appeasement towards Islamic demands). Regarding jihad, Adams states in his essay series, “…he [Muhammad] declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind…The precept of the Koran is, perpetual war against all who deny, that Mahomet is the prophet of God.”
Confirming Adams’ assessment, the late Muslim scholar, Professor Majid Khadduri, wrote the following in his authoritative 1955 treatise on jihad, War and Peace in the Law of Islam :
“Thus the jihad may be regarded as Islam’s instrument for carrying out its ultimate objective by turning all people into believers, if not in the prophethood of Muhammad (as in the case of the dhimmis), at least in the belief of God. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have declared ‘some of my people will continue to fight victoriously for the sake of the truth until the last one of them will combat the anti-Christ’. Until that moment is reached the jihad, in one form or another will remain as a permanent obligation upon the entire Muslim community. It follows that the existence of a dar al-harb is ultimately outlawed under the Islamic jural order; that the dar al-Islam permanently under jihad obligation until the dar al-harb is reduced to non-existence; and that any community accepting certain disabilities- must submit to Islamic rule and reside in the dar al-Islam or be bound as clients to the Muslim community. The universality of Islam, in its all embracing creed, is imposed on the believers as a continuous process of warfare, psychological and political if not strictly military.”
And Adams captured the essential condition imposed upon the non-Muslim dhimmi “tributaries” subjugated by jihad, with this laconic statement,
“The vanquished may purchase their lives, by the payment of tribute.”
(continue)
They have fought in our wars. (clip) They have also rolled hand grenades into the tents of their “comrades in arms” to blow them up. (continue) They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. (clip) Not for women. (continue) They have started businesses. (clip) laundering money for terrorist groups. (continue)They have taught at our universities. (clip) Hatred of America (continue) They've excelled in our sports arenas. They've won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building (clip) and torn down two of our tallest. (continue) and lit the Olympic torch. (clip) And killed 11 Olympic competitors in cold blood. (continue) And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Quran that one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library. (clip) If one is going to fight the enemy, it is well to know your enemy. Jefferson was not a Muslim and the book was for learning about his enemies. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. (clip) As we have seen so far and as demonstrated by the practitioners of the “religion of peace” we know what to expect; conquest, lies, and killings. (continue) And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. (clip) Oh really? And just what negative stereotypes is he referring to? Sawing off heads? Blowing up innocent people? Crashing planes full of innocent people in to buildings full of innocent people? Really? (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as...
(APPLAUSE)
Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. (clip) I really can’t believe he actually said this because it is true. (continue) We were born out of revolution against an empire. (clip) and the USA is not an imperialist power, it is not a colonial power. (continue) We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world.
We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one. (clip) Wwe are shaped by our declaration, and our Constitution. They are what make us strong and who we are, not our ethnic backgrounds not our diversity, diversity is a result of our belief that all men are created equal. Obama and his ilk would Balkanize America. Obama thrives on the seperation of the many and disdains the idea of the one; rugged individualism. We are Americans, no hyphens. (continue)
Now much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president.
(APPLAUSE)
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. (clip then why oh why do we have to “hope and change” (continue) And that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average. Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. (clip) then why are Christian objects being removed from the public eye? While we see accommodation of Muslim practices such as foot washing stations in public areas? (continue) That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States 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...
(APPLAUSE)
... 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. (clip) No, the Muslims send their children to die with suicide bomb belts on. It is an honor for them. No, we do not share family values. (continue) Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead. And if we understand that the challenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations.
When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. (clip) and the Muslim/Islamic world does nothing, says nothing. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and, yes, religions subjugating one another in pursuit of their own interests. (clip) refer back to the paragraph on the young America and my comments there on the “good will” of Muslims/Islam. I for one will not turn my back. (continue) Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership, our progress must be shared. (clip) No one elevated the United States to be the major world power, we EARNED IT. It is a natural outcome of our system of government and our national character. No one, no country, gives more to the world than the United States, does more for the world than the United States. The United States has saved more Muslims than Muslims have saved Muslims. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
Now, that does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite. We must face these tensions squarely. And so, in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and as plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all its forms. In Ankara, I made clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam. (clip) To bad that Islam is at war with America. The sooner that this is recognized the safer we will be. And even if you don’t believe that we are at war now, to say we never will be with a proven aggressive religion that’s stated aims are world domination is naïve at best and in the office of the President, criminally ignorant. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
We will, however, relentlessly confront violent (clip) Muslim/Islamist (continue) extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, (clip) except Muslim/Islamists (continue) the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people. (clip) Humm, no applause here. Guess they like the killing of innocent men, women and children. They sure don’t mind strapping bombs to their children, that’s for sure. (continue) The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued Al Qaida and the Taliban with broad international support. (clip) Not according to the Democrats (continue) We did not go by choice. We went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the offense of 9/11. But let us be clear. Al Qaida (clip) Muslims (continue) killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. (clip) No, there is no justification. (continue) The victims were innocent men, women, and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaida (clip) Muslims (continue) chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. (clip) No thanks to the Muslims/Islamist in stopping this slaughter, in fact they seem complicit in hiding/giving aid and comfort to terrorists. (continue) These are not opinions to be debated. These are facts to be dealt with. Make no mistake, we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military -- we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict.
We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case. (clip) Practitioners of the “religion of peace” again. See a pattern here? (continue) And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. (clip) What? Did Obama add countries to the list or did President Bush have a coalition in place that the Democrats lied about, saying that we were going it alone. It would appear that the Democrats lied and so did Obama when running for office. Perhaps there should be an Independent Counsel to investigate the lies told to the American people by the Democrats and the morale damage that they did to the troops with their lying. (continue) And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. (clip) The Muslims/Islamist do. (continue) They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. (clip) there actions are not at odds with Islam see previous comments. (continue)
The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as it if has killed all mankind. (clip) Not if the innocent killed is an apostate, they are not “people” according to the Quran. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
And the Holy Quran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
(APPLAUSE)
The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. (clip) Not to forget 120 million “extremist” Islamists minimum. (continue) Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism (clip) yes it is (continue); it is an important part of promoting peace. (clip) It would be if they would truly disavow the terrorism, actively hunted down and brought to justice those of the Islamic faith that perpetrated this terrible acts, but sadly, all we hear is equivocation and general hand wringing. (continue) Now, we also know that military power alone is not going solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (clip) only because we will not use the force that is necessary. (continue) That's why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who've been displaced. (clip) More money down the terrorist rathole. (continue) That's why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend on.
Now, 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. (clip) Does Obama believe that we didn’t try to talk to Saddam? Does he forget that Saddam deigned access to inspectors to suspected weapons sites? Does he forget that Saddam threw the inspectors out of his country? Does he forget that the entire world believed that Saddam had WMD? Does he forget that Saddam had used WMD (gas) on his own people? Does he forget how long we took, how much time was wasted so that Saddam could hid, export and otherwise dispose of any and all WMD to places like Syria? Does he forget the UN resolutions? (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
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. Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. (clip) One cannot get around what Jefferson heard when he went with John Adams to wait upon Tripoli’s ambassador to London in March 1785. When they inquired by what right the Barbary states preyed upon American shipping, enslaving both crews and passengers, America’s two foremost envoys were informed that “it was written in the Koran, that all Nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon whoever they could find and to make Slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.” (continue)
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people...
(APPLAUSE)
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012.
(APPLAUSE)
We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget 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 traditions and our ideals. (clip) No, it didn’t, no apology is necessary here. (continue) We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. (clip) We have not used torture, and Obama is a liar to say so, it is one thing if he believes it, but there are many (including legal experts) that believe otherwise. His assertion does not make a fact, and his rhetoric does harm to America. (continue) And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
(APPLAUSE)
So America will defend itself, respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer. (clip) That will be the day. We have all been waiting for 100+ years for Muslims/Islamist to do just that. Still waiting. (continue)
Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world. America's strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied. Around the world the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries. And anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented holocaust. Tomorrow I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich.
Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful. (clip) Humm, very quiet here, no applause; crickets chirping. (continue) It's about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. (clip) Oh really?!? Now who would Obama suggest hold these weapons? The UN? China? Russia? Boy, would the world love to see the USA disarmed. What a naive utopian fool Obama is. Notice the applause here at the end of this statement, anything that weakens America, and puts us at others mercy is always met with joy. Obama is going to get us killed. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (clip) You know that they won’t! You know that Iran will simply play for time and not allow inspections and give lame excuses why they don’t. And in the end, they will have Nuclear weapon that they will, without doubt, use on Israel. And on this subject let us say that, OK Iran can have peaceful nuclear power. Well, pretty please Mr. Obama, can we please have some of that too? Or are we going to go backwards and have to rely on windmills to power the greatest nation (or former greatest nation if “O” has his way) in the world? (continue) That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal. (clip) this idiot wants all the countries in the region to have nuclear power?!? The very nest of terrorism in the world? And this fool wants nukes there? Good God. (continue)
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy. (clip) I am not sure that Obama knows what democracy is, having obviously opted for a national socialist form of rule here at home. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years. And much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear. No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.
Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. (clip) Oh, I don’t know, it would seem that ACORN here at home had plenty to do with throwing an election. (continue)
But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people, the freedom to live as you choose. (clip) Like the separation of powers? Like not having judges that legislate from the bench? Like not doing end runs around the people to inflict rules that you can’t get passed in the several states and striking down constitutional amendments duly voted on by the people, being struck down by activist courts as “un-constitutional”. That would be a good trick at it is IN the constitution at that point, it is therefore constitutional. (continue) These are not just American ideas. They are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. (clip) Oh really? Speak your mind in any University in America. Show up as a Conservative to give a speech and see what happens. It would seem that freedom of speech is only for the left/liberal. (continue) And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. (clip) Hummm, Obama (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. (clip) Nancy Pelosi take note here! You too Harry Reid. (continue) Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
(AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS)
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom. Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. (clip) As I have shown, no it doesn’t. (continue) We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia where devote Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. (clip) Where they are oppressed and specially taxed (tribute) (continue) That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive. But it's being challenged in many different ways. (clip) Especially here at home by the ACLU. They are one of the greatest persecutors of Christian faith in the western world. (continue) Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith.
The richness of religious diversity must be upheld, whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt.
(APPLAUSE)
And if we are being honest, fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which people protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation.
That's why I'm committed to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat. Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit, for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. (clip) No one is stopping Muslims from giving to charity, but women are Not going to walk around in a Burka here in America anymore than I am allowed to walk around wearing a mask. It is a security issue and too dam bad for the Burka wearers. (continue)
We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism. In fact, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. (clip) There is nothing in my faith that brings me close to Muslims, they are dangerous. Their holy book tells me so, they tell me so out of their own mouths, history tells me so and I believe them. They are dangerous. (continue) That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations.
Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service so bridges between peoples lead to action, whether it is combating malaria in Africa or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue -- the sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights. (clip) No issue, women have no rights in Islam. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
I know...
(APPLAUSE)
I know, and you can tell from this audience, that there is a healthy debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal. But I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.
(APPLAUSE)
And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well- educated are far more likely to be prosperous. Now let me be clear, issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, we've seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life (clip) That is an outright lie, American woman are fully integrated in open society, work and are the majority of enrolled students in higher learning. Obama is lying. (continue) and in countries around the world. I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons. (clip) Obama the Demagogue (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal. And I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice.
That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim- majority country to support expanded literacy for girls and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams. (clip) More money down the terrorist rat hole. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity. I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence into the home.
Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities but also huge disruptions and change in communities. In all nations, including America, this change can bring fear; fear that, because of modernity, we lose control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly, our identities, those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith. (clip) No, TV was not enough for the liberal left, they are ruining our families through their mandated state run government controlled public school system, giving hands on experience to the filth that is shown on TV. (continue)
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradictions between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies enormously while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai.
In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education. (clip) As I have shown already, no they have not been for at least 1000 years. (continue) And this is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work.
Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century. And in too...
(APPLAUSE)
And in too many Muslim communities, there remains underinvestment in these areas. (clip) No, they have the Quran, plenty of investment there and that is all you need (if you are living in the 10th or 11th century). (continue) I am emphasizing such investment within my own country. And while America, in the past, has focused on oil and gas when it comes to this part of the world, we new seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand change programs and increase scholarships like the one that brought my father to America. (clip) Uhh, how about to hell with them, they have money, if you must “invest” do it here at home or not at all. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
At the same time, we will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities. (clip) Oh boy! Here is my chance to be kidnapped and have my head sawn off with a dull knife. Here is my chance at having a fine education straight from the Quran! It is after all, all that you need. Here is my chance to get my very own prayer rug and be told that I had better use it. Here is my chance to go to jail for having a Holy Bible in my possession. Or a crucifix for that matter (should get me several years in a Cairo pen). How delightful. Screw you Obama. (continue) And we will match promising Muslim students are internships in America, invest in online learning for teachers and children around the world and create a new, online network so a young person in Kansas can communicate instantly with a young person in Cairo. (clip) News flash to Obama, we can already do that. (continue)
On economic development, we will create a new core of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim majority countries. And I will host a summit on entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations, and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim majority country and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create more jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia and appoint new science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, grow new crops. (clip) we already do those things. How much more do you think we can afford with the tremendous debt that you are already saddling us with? (continue)
Today, I'm announcing a new global effort with the organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments, community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address, but we have a responsibility to join together to behalf of the world that we seek, 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. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek.But we can only achieve it together. I know there are many, Muslim and non-Muslim, who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort, that we are fated to disagree and civilizations are doomed to clash. (clip) A utopian Socialist world view. You must be kidding. (continue)
Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust that has built up over the years. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith in every country. You more than anyone have the ability to reimagine the world, the remake this world. (clip) this man is dangerous. (continue)
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart or whether we commit ourselves to an effort, a sustained effort to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children and to respect the dignity of all human beings. (clip) I/we the American People share nothing in common with the 120 million animals that are the “small” amount of Muslims that promote terrorism, neither the other 900 million that excuse it. When and if the Muslims/Islamist drag themselves out of the 10th or 11th century, perhaps then we can have some type of accord, until that time, no. (continue)
It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is one rule that lies at the heart of every religion, that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. (clip) What pap, the usual leftist bumpersticker bromides. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
This truth transcends nations and peoples, a belief that isn't new, that isn't black or white or brown, that isn't Christian or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It's a faith in other people. And it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written. The Holy Quran tells us, Mankind, we have created you male and a female. And we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.
The Talmud tells us, The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.
The Holy Bible tells us, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(APPLAUSE)
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth.
Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you. Thank you very much.
Thank you. (clip) Lets lock the doors and hang a closed sign on the door. Perhaps Obama will go away. (done)
END
(My text/comments italics/bold)
Good afternoon. I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has had stood as a beacon of Islamic learning. (clip) and Islamic repression. (continue) And for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress.
I'm grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. And I'm also proud to carry with me the good will of the American people and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalamu-alaikum. (clip) So, he has been appointed the “ambassador” for the Muslim communities that are sending a “greeting of peace” but from the rest of us mere goodwill. (continue)
We meet at a time of great tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, (clip) and why would that be? Could it be that the west has been under continuous attack by Muslims? Could it be that the overwhelming number of terrorists are Muslim? Let’s see (continue) tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate. The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of coexistence and cooperation but also conflict and religious wars. (clip) So, something like repelling Muslim aggression some 600 to 900 years ago is their grievance? We are to believe that kicking the Muslims out of places they had overrun like Spain, France and parts of Germany is the problem? That they were run out of those countries as they fell more and more under the sway of the fundamentalist aspects of their religion and fell further and further behind the west? Might it be that their aggressive and brutish religion tells them that once they have overrun a land it is theirs forever no matter what? (continue)
More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism (clip) by whom? The United States? (continue) 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. (clip) Who was aggressing against the Muslims? Was it the west? No, I don’t think so. Who has helped to free more Muslims from tyranny than even Muslims? The United States. (continue) Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalization led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam. (clip) that is because they have reverted to and locked into a mind set of 800 years ago. They are still living in the middle ages. (continue)
Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. (clip) Let examine that, if only some 10% of Muslims are violent (hard to believe as they all read the same book) that would leave us with some 120 million of the lethal variety of Muslims, only a Washington DC Politician would call that a small number. (continue) The attacks of September 11, 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. (clip) News flash for Obama; not some, but MOST in America believe that Islam is hostile to us. Their holy book tells us and them so. When they say that they hate us and want to kill or subjugate us, guess what Obama, we the little people that do the dying believe them. (continue)
All this has bred more fear and more mistrust. (clip) Your right Obama, we who do the dying don’t trust them. (continue) So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. (clip) as we have seen, there are some 120 million of those that sow the hatred and conflict and saw heads off of people with dull knives, blow up women and children on purpose, fly planes into buildings and many other atrocities, and it is NOT the United States Obama. (continue) And this cycle of suspicion and discord must end. (clip) Now how can we end that? Hunt down those 120 million and remove them from polite society? Or hope that the Muslim world will get off of its hands and do something about it? (continue)
I've come here to Cairo to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, (clip) the Muslims will never respect the infidel, NEVER. We are to be converted or conquered or killed, but not respected, their good book says so, and I believe them when they tell us so. (continue) 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. (clip) like the women in burkas forbidden to go to school? Like the Homosexuals that are killed by toppling walls on them ? Like the honor killings of female family members? “America and Islam are exclusive”; Wrong, our secular rights stand in the way of their cultural/religious views/sharia law. They don’t have “separation of church and state” they are one in the same. They do not have a concept of freedom of speech. A very foreign view to Americans, but that is what we are facing. (continue)
I do so recognizing that change cannot happen overnight. (clip) that is true, as long as Muslims have a strong job vocation of “terrorist”. (continue) I know there's been a lot of publicity about this speech, but no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust nor can I answer in the time that I have this afternoon all the complex questions that brought us to this point. (clip) No, but we should could name the provocations/terrorist acts that have brought us here. (continue) But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly to each other the things we hold in our hearts and that too often are said only behind closed doors. (clip) Your right, so here we go; Hey Muslims! Quit strapping bombs to your bodies and blowing up innocent people. Quit filling cars and trucks with explosives and killing innocent people. Quit sawing innocent peoples heads off, you brutish thugs. Quit hijacking planes and flying them into buildings. Quit living in the 11th century. (continue) 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. (clip) They had better hope that we don’t learn from them. They do some pretty gruesome things that they would NOT want us to start doing. When they come forward from the 10th or 11th century we might have some common ground, but not now. (continue) As the Holy Quran tells us, Be conscious of God and speak always the truth. (clip) unless you are speaking to an Infidel. The Quran says so. Al-Takeyyah (ahl-tah-KAY-uh) is the Islamic principle of lying for the sake of Allah. Falsehoods told to prevent denigration of Islam, to protect oneself, or to promote the cause of Islam are sanctioned by the Qur'an, including lying under penalty of perjury in testimony before the United States Congress, lying or making distorted statements to the media such as claiming that Islam is a religion of peace, and deceiving fellow Muslims when the one lying has deemed them to be apostates. (continue)
That is what I will try to do today, 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. (clip) No, they are not, the bad guys (Muslim killers) get their 70 virgins after dying while blowing up innocent people. We share nothing in common with that type of medievalism. (continue) Now, part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I'm a Christian. (clip) we sure do doubt that. (continue) But my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and at the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith. (clip) that would seem to be rare in the world. Just show one of them a cartoon of Mohammad, stand back and watch what happens. (continue) As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam at places like Al-Azhar that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's renaissance and enlightenment. (clip) that is not true, it was the Christian churches that held onto knowledge through the dark ages that lead to the enlightenment and the Renaissance. (continue) It was innovation in Muslim communities...
(APPLAUSE)
It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra, our magnetic compass and tools of navigation, our mastery of pens and printing, our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. (clip) No, algebra had it beginnings in Greece, and Persia, the Compass is a Chinese invention, and as to printing, the first printing press was made by a European named Gutenberg. Bacteria were not discovered until the 1660’s, nor connected with disease until the 1870’s, viruses were not discovered until 1892. Islamic culture and learning at that time had reverted to and became stuck in a much earlier century. (continue) Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires, (clip) No, those marvelous items were invented by and came from Rome (continue) timeless poetry and cherished music, elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality. (clip) No, they have not demonstrated either religious tolerance or racial equality since very early in their history, the Roman empire was far more demonstrative of tolerance and equality. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story. (clip) no, they have not, unless you want to include the Barbary Pirates. Not a very nice group of people. I do not recall that any Muslims were present at Plymouth Rock or had anything to do with Jamestown. In fact, I don’t believe that Muslims played any part in early American life except the aforesaid Barbary Pirates. (continue) The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. (clip) True, but the motive was to change the basis of taxing in the country to a trade based income relying on not only the United States, but other “western” countries. (continue) 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 tranquility of Muslims. And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. (clip) John Quincy Adams possessed a remarkably clear, uncompromised understanding of the permanent Islamic institutions of jihad war and dhimmitude (denoting an attitude of concession, surrender and appeasement towards Islamic demands). Regarding jihad, Adams states in his essay series, “…he [Muhammad] declared undistinguishing and exterminating war, as a part of his religion, against all the rest of mankind…The precept of the Koran is, perpetual war against all who deny, that Mahomet is the prophet of God.”
Confirming Adams’ assessment, the late Muslim scholar, Professor Majid Khadduri, wrote the following in his authoritative 1955 treatise on jihad, War and Peace in the Law of Islam :
“Thus the jihad may be regarded as Islam’s instrument for carrying out its ultimate objective by turning all people into believers, if not in the prophethood of Muhammad (as in the case of the dhimmis), at least in the belief of God. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have declared ‘some of my people will continue to fight victoriously for the sake of the truth until the last one of them will combat the anti-Christ’. Until that moment is reached the jihad, in one form or another will remain as a permanent obligation upon the entire Muslim community. It follows that the existence of a dar al-harb is ultimately outlawed under the Islamic jural order; that the dar al-Islam permanently under jihad obligation until the dar al-harb is reduced to non-existence; and that any community accepting certain disabilities- must submit to Islamic rule and reside in the dar al-Islam or be bound as clients to the Muslim community. The universality of Islam, in its all embracing creed, is imposed on the believers as a continuous process of warfare, psychological and political if not strictly military.”
And Adams captured the essential condition imposed upon the non-Muslim dhimmi “tributaries” subjugated by jihad, with this laconic statement,
“The vanquished may purchase their lives, by the payment of tribute.”
(continue)
They have fought in our wars. (clip) They have also rolled hand grenades into the tents of their “comrades in arms” to blow them up. (continue) They have served in our government. They have stood for civil rights. (clip) Not for women. (continue) They have started businesses. (clip) laundering money for terrorist groups. (continue)They have taught at our universities. (clip) Hatred of America (continue) They've excelled in our sports arenas. They've won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building (clip) and torn down two of our tallest. (continue) and lit the Olympic torch. (clip) And killed 11 Olympic competitors in cold blood. (continue) And when the first Muslim American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same holy Quran that one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, kept in his personal library. (clip) If one is going to fight the enemy, it is well to know your enemy. Jefferson was not a Muslim and the book was for learning about his enemies. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. (clip) As we have seen so far and as demonstrated by the practitioners of the “religion of peace” we know what to expect; conquest, lies, and killings. (continue) And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear. (clip) Oh really? And just what negative stereotypes is he referring to? Sawing off heads? Blowing up innocent people? Crashing planes full of innocent people in to buildings full of innocent people? Really? (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as...
(APPLAUSE)
Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. (clip) I really can’t believe he actually said this because it is true. (continue) We were born out of revolution against an empire. (clip) and the USA is not an imperialist power, it is not a colonial power. (continue) We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal. And we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words, within our borders and around the world.
We are shaped by every culture. Drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum: Out of many, one. (clip) Wwe are shaped by our declaration, and our Constitution. They are what make us strong and who we are, not our ethnic backgrounds not our diversity, diversity is a result of our belief that all men are created equal. Obama and his ilk would Balkanize America. Obama thrives on the seperation of the many and disdains the idea of the one; rugged individualism. We are Americans, no hyphens. (continue)
Now much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president.
(APPLAUSE)
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. (clip then why oh why do we have to “hope and change” (continue) And that includes nearly 7 million American Muslims in our country today who, by the way, enjoy incomes and educational levels that are higher than the American average. Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. (clip) then why are Christian objects being removed from the public eye? While we see accommodation of Muslim practices such as foot washing stations in public areas? (continue) That is why there is a mosque in every state in our union and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That's why the United States 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...
(APPLAUSE)
... 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. (clip) No, the Muslims send their children to die with suicide bomb belts on. It is an honor for them. No, we do not share family values. (continue) Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead. And if we understand that the challenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.
For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations.
When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. (clip) and the Muslim/Islamic world does nothing, says nothing. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and, yes, religions subjugating one another in pursuit of their own interests. (clip) refer back to the paragraph on the young America and my comments there on the “good will” of Muslims/Islam. I for one will not turn my back. (continue) Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership, our progress must be shared. (clip) No one elevated the United States to be the major world power, we EARNED IT. It is a natural outcome of our system of government and our national character. No one, no country, gives more to the world than the United States, does more for the world than the United States. The United States has saved more Muslims than Muslims have saved Muslims. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
Now, that does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite. We must face these tensions squarely. And so, in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and as plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all its forms. In Ankara, I made clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam. (clip) To bad that Islam is at war with America. The sooner that this is recognized the safer we will be. And even if you don’t believe that we are at war now, to say we never will be with a proven aggressive religion that’s stated aims are world domination is naïve at best and in the office of the President, criminally ignorant. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
We will, however, relentlessly confront violent (clip) Muslim/Islamist (continue) extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, (clip) except Muslim/Islamists (continue) the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people. (clip) Humm, no applause here. Guess they like the killing of innocent men, women and children. They sure don’t mind strapping bombs to their children, that’s for sure. (continue) The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued Al Qaida and the Taliban with broad international support. (clip) Not according to the Democrats (continue) We did not go by choice. We went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the offense of 9/11. But let us be clear. Al Qaida (clip) Muslims (continue) killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. (clip) No, there is no justification. (continue) The victims were innocent men, women, and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaida (clip) Muslims (continue) chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. (clip) No thanks to the Muslims/Islamist in stopping this slaughter, in fact they seem complicit in hiding/giving aid and comfort to terrorists. (continue) These are not opinions to be debated. These are facts to be dealt with. Make no mistake, we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military -- we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict.
We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case. (clip) Practitioners of the “religion of peace” again. See a pattern here? (continue) And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. (clip) What? Did Obama add countries to the list or did President Bush have a coalition in place that the Democrats lied about, saying that we were going it alone. It would appear that the Democrats lied and so did Obama when running for office. Perhaps there should be an Independent Counsel to investigate the lies told to the American people by the Democrats and the morale damage that they did to the troops with their lying. (continue) And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. (clip) The Muslims/Islamist do. (continue) They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam. (clip) there actions are not at odds with Islam see previous comments. (continue)
The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as -- it is as it if has killed all mankind. (clip) Not if the innocent killed is an apostate, they are not “people” according to the Quran. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
And the Holy Quran also says whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind.
(APPLAUSE)
The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. (clip) Not to forget 120 million “extremist” Islamists minimum. (continue) Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism (clip) yes it is (continue); it is an important part of promoting peace. (clip) It would be if they would truly disavow the terrorism, actively hunted down and brought to justice those of the Islamic faith that perpetrated this terrible acts, but sadly, all we hear is equivocation and general hand wringing. (continue) Now, we also know that military power alone is not going solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (clip) only because we will not use the force that is necessary. (continue) That's why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who've been displaced. (clip) More money down the terrorist rathole. (continue) That's why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend on.
Now, 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. (clip) Does Obama believe that we didn’t try to talk to Saddam? Does he forget that Saddam deigned access to inspectors to suspected weapons sites? Does he forget that Saddam threw the inspectors out of his country? Does he forget that the entire world believed that Saddam had WMD? Does he forget that Saddam had used WMD (gas) on his own people? Does he forget how long we took, how much time was wasted so that Saddam could hid, export and otherwise dispose of any and all WMD to places like Syria? Does he forget the UN resolutions? (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
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. Today America has a dual responsibility to help Iraq forge a better future and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. (clip) One cannot get around what Jefferson heard when he went with John Adams to wait upon Tripoli’s ambassador to London in March 1785. When they inquired by what right the Barbary states preyed upon American shipping, enslaving both crews and passengers, America’s two foremost envoys were informed that “it was written in the Koran, that all Nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon whoever they could find and to make Slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to Paradise.” (continue)
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people...
(APPLAUSE)
I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no basis and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own. And that's why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honor our agreement with Iraq's democratically-elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July and to remove all of our troops from Iraq by 2012.
(APPLAUSE)
We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner and never as a patron.
And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter or forget 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 traditions and our ideals. (clip) No, it didn’t, no apology is necessary here. (continue) We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States. (clip) We have not used torture, and Obama is a liar to say so, it is one thing if he believes it, but there are many (including legal experts) that believe otherwise. His assertion does not make a fact, and his rhetoric does harm to America. (continue) And I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.
(APPLAUSE)
So America will defend itself, respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities, which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer. (clip) That will be the day. We have all been waiting for 100+ years for Muslims/Islamist to do just that. Still waiting. (continue)
Now, the second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world. America's strong bonds with Israel are well-known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied. Around the world the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries. And anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented holocaust. Tomorrow I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich.
Six million Jews were killed, more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless. It is ignorant, and it is hateful. (clip) Humm, very quiet here, no applause; crickets chirping. (continue) It's about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.
Now, I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nations should pick and choose which nation holds nuclear weapons. And that's why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. (clip) Oh really?!? Now who would Obama suggest hold these weapons? The UN? China? Russia? Boy, would the world love to see the USA disarmed. What a naive utopian fool Obama is. Notice the applause here at the end of this statement, anything that weakens America, and puts us at others mercy is always met with joy. Obama is going to get us killed. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
And any nation, including Iran, should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (clip) You know that they won’t! You know that Iran will simply play for time and not allow inspections and give lame excuses why they don’t. And in the end, they will have Nuclear weapon that they will, without doubt, use on Israel. And on this subject let us say that, OK Iran can have peaceful nuclear power. Well, pretty please Mr. Obama, can we please have some of that too? Or are we going to go backwards and have to rely on windmills to power the greatest nation (or former greatest nation if “O” has his way) in the world? (continue) That commitment is at the core of the treaty. And it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal. (clip) this idiot wants all the countries in the region to have nuclear power?!? The very nest of terrorism in the world? And this fool wants nukes there? Good God. (continue)
The fourth issue that I will address is democracy. (clip) I am not sure that Obama knows what democracy is, having obviously opted for a national socialist form of rule here at home. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years. And much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear. No system of government can or should be imposed by one nation by any other. That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people.
Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. (clip) Oh, I don’t know, it would seem that ACORN here at home had plenty to do with throwing an election. (continue)
But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed, confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice, government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people, the freedom to live as you choose. (clip) Like the separation of powers? Like not having judges that legislate from the bench? Like not doing end runs around the people to inflict rules that you can’t get passed in the several states and striking down constitutional amendments duly voted on by the people, being struck down by activist courts as “un-constitutional”. That would be a good trick at it is IN the constitution at that point, it is therefore constitutional. (continue) These are not just American ideas. They are human rights. And that is why we will support them everywhere.
(APPLAUSE)
Now, there is no straight line to realize this promise. But this much is clear. Governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. (clip) Oh really? Speak your mind in any University in America. Show up as a Conservative to give a speech and see what happens. It would seem that freedom of speech is only for the left/liberal. (continue) And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for all their people.
This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they're out of power. Once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. (clip) Hummm, Obama (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
So no matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who would hold power. You must maintain your power through consent, not coercion. You must respect the rights of minorities and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise. You must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. (clip) Nancy Pelosi take note here! You too Harry Reid. (continue) Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.
(AUDIENCE MEMBER SHOUTS)
Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom. Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. (clip) As I have shown, no it doesn’t. (continue) We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia where devote Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. (clip) Where they are oppressed and specially taxed (tribute) (continue) That is the spirit we need today. People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind and the heart and the soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive. But it's being challenged in many different ways. (clip) Especially here at home by the ACLU. They are one of the greatest persecutors of Christian faith in the western world. (continue) Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith.
The richness of religious diversity must be upheld, whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt.
(APPLAUSE)
And if we are being honest, fault lines must be closed among Muslims as well as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.
Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which people protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation.
That's why I'm committed to work with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat. Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit, for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. (clip) No one is stopping Muslims from giving to charity, but women are Not going to walk around in a Burka here in America anymore than I am allowed to walk around wearing a mask. It is a security issue and too dam bad for the Burka wearers. (continue)
We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretense of liberalism. In fact, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. (clip) There is nothing in my faith that brings me close to Muslims, they are dangerous. Their holy book tells me so, they tell me so out of their own mouths, history tells me so and I believe them. They are dangerous. (continue) That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations.
Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service so bridges between peoples lead to action, whether it is combating malaria in Africa or providing relief after a natural disaster.
The sixth issue -- the sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights. (clip) No issue, women have no rights in Islam. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
I know...
(APPLAUSE)
I know, and you can tell from this audience, that there is a healthy debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal. But I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality.
(APPLAUSE)
And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well- educated are far more likely to be prosperous. Now let me be clear, issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, we've seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life (clip) That is an outright lie, American woman are fully integrated in open society, work and are the majority of enrolled students in higher learning. Obama is lying. (continue) and in countries around the world. I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons. (clip) Obama the Demagogue (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
Our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal. And I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice.
That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim- majority country to support expanded literacy for girls and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams. (clip) More money down the terrorist rat hole. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity. I know that for many, the face of globalization is contradictory. The Internet and television can bring knowledge and information but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence into the home.
Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities but also huge disruptions and change in communities. In all nations, including America, this change can bring fear; fear that, because of modernity, we lose control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly, our identities, those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith. (clip) No, TV was not enough for the liberal left, they are ruining our families through their mandated state run government controlled public school system, giving hands on experience to the filth that is shown on TV. (continue)
But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradictions between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies enormously while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai.
In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education. (clip) As I have shown already, no they have not been for at least 1000 years. (continue) And this is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work.
Many Gulf States have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognize that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century. And in too...
(APPLAUSE)
And in too many Muslim communities, there remains underinvestment in these areas. (clip) No, they have the Quran, plenty of investment there and that is all you need (if you are living in the 10th or 11th century). (continue) I am emphasizing such investment within my own country. And while America, in the past, has focused on oil and gas when it comes to this part of the world, we new seek a broader engagement.
On education, we will expand change programs and increase scholarships like the one that brought my father to America. (clip) Uhh, how about to hell with them, they have money, if you must “invest” do it here at home or not at all. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
At the same time, we will encourage more Americans to study in Muslim communities. (clip) Oh boy! Here is my chance to be kidnapped and have my head sawn off with a dull knife. Here is my chance at having a fine education straight from the Quran! It is after all, all that you need. Here is my chance to get my very own prayer rug and be told that I had better use it. Here is my chance to go to jail for having a Holy Bible in my possession. Or a crucifix for that matter (should get me several years in a Cairo pen). How delightful. Screw you Obama. (continue) And we will match promising Muslim students are internships in America, invest in online learning for teachers and children around the world and create a new, online network so a young person in Kansas can communicate instantly with a young person in Cairo. (clip) News flash to Obama, we can already do that. (continue)
On economic development, we will create a new core of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim majority countries. And I will host a summit on entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations, and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim majority country and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create more jobs. We will open centers of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia and appoint new science envoys to collaborate on programs that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitize records, clean water, grow new crops. (clip) we already do those things. How much more do you think we can afford with the tremendous debt that you are already saddling us with? (continue)
Today, I'm announcing a new global effort with the organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.
All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments, community organizations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.
The issues that I have described will not be easy to address, but we have a responsibility to join together to behalf of the world that we seek, 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. Those are mutual interests. That is the world we seek.But we can only achieve it together. I know there are many, Muslim and non-Muslim, who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort, that we are fated to disagree and civilizations are doomed to clash. (clip) A utopian Socialist world view. You must be kidding. (continue)
Many more are simply skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust that has built up over the years. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith in every country. You more than anyone have the ability to reimagine the world, the remake this world. (clip) this man is dangerous. (continue)
All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart or whether we commit ourselves to an effort, a sustained effort to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children and to respect the dignity of all human beings. (clip) I/we the American People share nothing in common with the 120 million animals that are the “small” amount of Muslims that promote terrorism, neither the other 900 million that excuse it. When and if the Muslims/Islamist drag themselves out of the 10th or 11th century, perhaps then we can have some type of accord, until that time, no. (continue)
It's easier to start wars than to end them. It's easier to blame others than to look inward. It's easier to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is one rule that lies at the heart of every religion, that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. (clip) What pap, the usual leftist bumpersticker bromides. (continue)
(APPLAUSE)
This truth transcends nations and peoples, a belief that isn't new, that isn't black or white or brown, that isn't Christian or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilization and that still beats in the hearts of billions around the world. It's a faith in other people. And it's what brought me here today.
We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written. The Holy Quran tells us, Mankind, we have created you male and a female. And we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another.
The Talmud tells us, The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace.
The Holy Bible tells us, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
(APPLAUSE)
The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now that must be our work here on Earth.
Thank you. And may God's peace be upon you. Thank you very much.
Thank you. (clip) Lets lock the doors and hang a closed sign on the door. Perhaps Obama will go away. (done)
END
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What a Dolt
Guess he is just checking the shine on his shoes. Last I checked the President of the United States bows to no one. What a continuing embarrassment this man is.
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