Posted on 06/04/2009 9:56:45 PM PDT by Schnucki
Barack Obama's speech in Cairo was quite a moment. I say moment, but it lasted some 56 minutes and contained more than 6,000 words. Too long. Yes, he said a lot, ensuring to some extent that it could be all things to all people - almost everyone can take something away from it to feel good about.
That doesn't mean, however, that it was an effective speech. It was, of course, very well-delivered and contained many fine phrases. But we know that Obama can do this and he's subject to the law of diminishing returns. The more I think about it, the more potentially problematic I find the speech. Here, for starters, are 10 mistakes he made:
1. "Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail." With this phrase, Obama dismissed the notion of American exceptionalism, the belief that the United States occupies a special place among nations. Obama clearly doesn't see the United States as a "Shining City upon a Hill" or its history, constitution or way of life giving it special qualities or responsibilities in the world. When asked in Strasbourg whether he reduced "American exceptionalism" - a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville - as mere patriotism. "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism." By trying to reduce US status to that of just another nation, Obama diminishes the role of American leadership.
2. "I am a Christian, 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 the fall of dusk." While watering down
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.telegraph.co.uk ...
ping
Obama must have failed world history since the US defeated Germany and Japan and imposed democracy on them.
Guess Obama forgot about that, but he wishes he could revise his remarks now.
Just wait till he gets to Normandy and milks it for all it’s worth.
One a commie, always a commie.
Arrogance of the elite defeats them every time. They think they are so smart but when it come down to life and the realities of life - they fail every time.
Barak Obama is typical. He says and does things that are far beyond his skills, but that doesn’t stop him from putting his foot in his mouth (or putting his head up his arse) but it does allow him to further exaggerate his position while letting him put his very (foot or head - as it may be) further and further down said mouth or up his arse.
not an historic "tear down this wall" moment...
To even suggest that the muslim world has equal contributions to those of civilized societies is an outright lie.
Islam has nothing but evil to offer the world and we must no pretend otherwise.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.