Obama's speech in Cairo today was a momentous one and one to set the tone of US-Muslim relations for years to come. Following the Bush administration Obama has a lot of fires to put out and although there is a long way to go yet, today marked the first step of many in a direction that could make right the perceived wrongs of the past.Recognising the differences the separate the Islamic and West's civilisation and the conflicts that have occurred in the past, Obama appealed to the his Muslim audience's respect and love of scripture by echoing back at them phrases from the Koran,
"Be conscious of God and speak always the truth.", though his idea of truth may not necessarily be in line with his audience's version of the truth.
The speech, although touching on Iraq, Iran, Holocaust Denial and Settlements, was very thin on detail. There was nothing intrinsicly new in the speech, nothing we haven't heard before. Though the context in which he was speaking was and whether he was able to convince his Arab audience will be seen in actions to come, the Lebanese elections next week being the first test. Speeches can be impressive, but the real power of them can only be realised by action.
Click Here For the Full Speech
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1 comments:
Well from Bin Laden's "response" (a response that came even before the speech), I don't know how hopeful we can be. These are not reasonable people...
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