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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Obama Lectures the Arab World on the Meaning of American Democracy

Posted by on Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 8:18 AM

The full text of his speech at the UN can be read here. The meat of the matter:

That is what we saw play out the last two weeks, as a crude and disgusting video sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world. I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. It is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well – for as the city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed people of every race and religion. We are home to Muslims who worship across our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion – we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because millions of our citizens are among them.

I know there are some who ask why we don’t just ban such a video. The answer is enshrined in our laws: our Constitution protects the right to practice free speech. Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so. Americans have fought and died around the globe to protect the right of all people to express their views – even views that we disagree with.

Next important matter: Arabs, this is the age of science and technology.

I know that not all countries in this body share this understanding of the protection of free speech. Yet in 2012, at a time when anyone with a cell phone can spread offensive views around the world with the click of a button, the notion that we can control the flow of information is obsolete. The question, then, is how we respond. And on this we must agree: there is no speech that justifies mindless violence.

I will not share my true opinion of this speech, as all that matters to me at the moment is stopping Rmoney from becoming the next president of the US. But some of what Obama said, and the manner of his presentation (that of a lecturer), did connect with the things a local Eritrean cab driver recently explained to me during a trip from Capitol Hill to Columbia City:
Before coming to the America I lived in Saudi Arabia and other countries in North Africa. And what I can tell you is this: The people in these counties, and also countries in East Africa, cannot believe that people in America actually speak for themselves and not for the government. Why? Because what they have seen all their lives is only the government speaking. When something is on TV, it is the government speaking. When something is in the newspapers, it is the government speaking. You see what I mean? Something on the internet, it is the government speaking again. The government never allows anyone else to speak. So, they think it is the same in America. That video about their prophet doing very bad, very evil things? That has to be the government speaking. So they go to the American embassy and try to burn it to the ground. They just can't believe a person can actually speak for themselves and not be in trouble with the government. This is what is going on.
The fare for the ride was $16.

 

Comments (20) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment
1
Best/most coherent Muede post in... ever?
Posted by joviality on September 25, 2012 at 9:02 AM
2
Best/most coherent Muede post... ever?
Posted by joviality on September 25, 2012 at 9:05 AM
--MC 3
I hoped you tipped well, Charles, you got two Slog posts out of that ride.
Posted by --MC on September 25, 2012 at 9:07 AM
Urgutha Forka 4
Too bad the Arab protesters will never hear Obama's words. Instead they will hear what their "leaders" want them to hear. Probably something about the great satan America hates muslims and islam and they have to protect their prophet blah blah blah holy war jihad etc.
Posted by Urgutha Forka on September 25, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Original Andrew 5
...there is no speech that justifies mindless violence.

I guess he didn't watch the Emmys.
Posted by Original Andrew on September 25, 2012 at 9:11 AM
Joe Szilagyi 6
Charles, this:

Before coming to the America I lived in Saudi Arabia and other countries in North Africa. And what I can tell you is this: The people in these counties, and also countries in East Africa, cannot believe that people in America actually speak for themselves and not for the government. Why? Because what they have seen all their lives is only the government speaking. When something is on TV, it is the government speaking. When something is in the newspapers, it is the government speaking. You see what I mean? Something on the internet, it is the government speaking again. The government never allows anyone else to speak. So, they think it is the same in America. That video about their prophet doing very bad, very evil things? That has to be the government speaking. So they go to the American embassy and try to burn it to the ground. They just can't believe a person can actually speak for themselves and not be in trouble with the government. This is what is going on.


You know what would be a good long article? Get audio recordings transcribed of immigrants like you and me and these people -- recent immigrants, and ones here a long time, from various social and economic and ethnic and religious and political classes -- talking about how they see American free speech. This was a fantastic quote.
Posted by Joe Szilagyi http://twitter.com/joeszi on September 25, 2012 at 9:12 AM
Looking For a Better Read 7
I suppose this will be noted as one more chapter on the infamous "Apology Tour."
Posted by Looking For a Better Read on September 25, 2012 at 9:14 AM
Cato the Younger Younger 8
The video did only one thing: it showed the world how barbaric many in the Islamic world are. And it only goes to show you that people living in the past can't live amongst those who live in the present.
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on September 25, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Theodore Gorath 9
You don't really believe that your opinion/critique of this speech will have any influence on how anyone votes in November do you?

Your megaphone is not nearly as large or piercing as you think it is my friend.

A short, clear critique of the speech and the paraphrasing of that block quote would have strengthened the post, not weakened it.

Also, have to mirror the sentiments expressed by #3.
Posted by Theodore Gorath on September 25, 2012 at 9:25 AM
Pope Peabrain 10
@8 True. But there are plenty of barbarians living in the Christian world as well.
Posted by Pope Peabrain on September 25, 2012 at 9:27 AM
ScrawnyKayaker 11
@10 How long do you suppose someone wearing a "Jesus is a stupid myth" T-shirt would survive at a bar in the rural South?
Posted by ScrawnyKayaker on September 25, 2012 at 9:55 AM
Matt from Denver 12
@ 10 - truth.

If you discuss these things in the context of arbitrary divisions between people (such as religion, ethnicity, or a combination), you're already down the wrong path. Religion is almost always a mask for the true issues, such as Arab poverty and an imbalance of wealth that makes America look like we've been on the right path since Reagan's time. People are made powerless by economics, but feel powerful through religion. Most repressive leaders know how to use religion to redirect the repressed rage of their exploited, although it can get out of hand if allowed to go on to long. That's why al Quada and other terrorist groups are not wanting for men willing to die for them.

The mess that is the Middle East has no solutions available. It was screwed up by the British and Americans and the founding of Israel, and the world wants its oil too much to just let them fight it out amongst themselves. The implications of that make me want to go back to bed and never get up again.
Posted by Matt from Denver on September 25, 2012 at 9:56 AM
13
Weirdest Expenses claim ever.
Posted by Warren Terra on September 25, 2012 at 10:27 AM
14
War On Whistleblowers


Whistleblowing is an act "of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars" and "should be encouraged rather than stifled."

Spoken by President Obama in 2009: the president responsible for going after more whistleblowers, and invoking the Espionage Act against more Americans, than all previous presidents combined!

Watch their actions, not their forked tongues......and break free of the Wall Street robotic rants and vote independently for once in your frigging paltry lives:

Dr. Jill Stein for President!!!

Vote America, vote Green!
Posted by sgt_doom on September 25, 2012 at 10:31 AM
15
Obama's words read as clear, concise and true, whether they are interpreted that way or not.
Posted by dbgill56 on September 25, 2012 at 10:58 AM
16
You didn't like the speech, but you won't tell us why, and you'll use the election as an excuse. Okay.

Btw, cabbies tell riders whatever it is they want to hear. They're very good at that.
Posted by GermanSausage on September 25, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Will in Seattle 17
Too bad all the Arab protesters today heard were Pakistan's calls to the UN to have an International Blasphemy law.

I declare Pirate Jihad on all who upload cartoons and videos of spaghetti dinners who are not of the Faithful!

Pastafarians unite!
Posted by Will in Seattle http://www.facebook.com/WillSeattle on September 25, 2012 at 11:26 AM
Fnarf 18
Seconding @6. Hearing voices outside of the white hipster demographic in The Stranger would be fantastic.
Posted by Fnarf http://www.facebook.com/fnarf on September 25, 2012 at 12:01 PM
lark 19
Charles,
Why not share your true opinion of the speech? It could be valuable. On an earlier posting, I voted that it might well have been a speech delivered by W. Bush.
Posted by lark on September 25, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Canadian Nurse 20
I support the idea @6.
Posted by Canadian Nurse on September 25, 2012 at 8:43 PM

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