Posted on 07/14/2008 10:32:56 AM PDT by mojito
Eight days after the atrocities of September 11, 2001, Barack Obama wrote a piece for the Hyde Park Heraldand blamed the attacks on a failure of empathy.
"Even as I hope for some measure of peace and comfort to the bereaved families, I must also hope that we as a nation draw some measure of wisdom from this tragedy. Certain immediate lessons are clear, and we must act upon those lessons decisively. We need to step up security at our airports. We must reexamine the effectiveness of our intelligence networks. And we must be resolute in identifying the perpetrators of these heinous acts and dismantling their organizations of destruction."
"We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity and suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence, and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."
"We will have to make sure, despite our rage, that any U.S. military action takes into account the lives of innocent civilians abroad. We will have to be unwavering in opposing bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle Eastern descent. Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globechildren not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and within our own shores."
Obamas comments display an appalling disconnect from reality.
Osama bin Laden came from one of the richest families in the world. None of the 9/11 attackers were poor; if anything, they could be considered middle class. Ringleader Mohammed Atta was educated as an architect in the West.
Almost everything Obama wrote in this article was proven wrong. And he gave absolutely no consideration at all to the ideology of radical Islam, which is much more to blame than any imaginary poverty or lack of empathy.
And now hes within reach of the presidency.
Yeah, right, UBL and the hijackers were so penniless...
The 911 Atrocities happened because the Enemy does not FEAR US.
If they feared that they, their families, and Mecca would be turned to glass forever,
they would not dare.
But America has done NOTHING since Nixon was attacked in S. America..
NOTHING as Iran has attacked us for decades.
NOTHING as our heroes have been burnt, bombed, and shot in their barracks.
NOTHING as our World Trade Center was attacked year after year.
NOTHING.
Secretary of Defense: Dr. Phil
National Security Advisor: Winnie the Pooh.
Despite the campaigns constant denials, Obama was raised a Muslim, learned Arabic, attended mosque. He identifies more with fellow Muslims because they are more like himself, the only kind of empathy a narcissist like Obama understands. He can't identify with America as he sees it all as somehow outside of himself. He is only here to “redeem” us.
Good post. I’d love to see a detailed graph showing these, the offensive in Iraq, and the (seeming) decrease in terrorist attacks between 2004 and now.
Snobama-messiah thinks 9/11 happened because of a “failure of empathy?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?” That we weren’t all mushy-hearted toward mohammedan extremists and if we were all nicey-kissy-face-huggy-bear with them then they’ll be nice to us?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
“Failure of Empathy!?!?!?!?!?!” That would be like some senator saying on Dec. 8, 1941 that Pearl Harbor happened because of “lack of empathy” for Tojo and the Japanese militarists!
Snobama-messiah is another, blame America red diaper liberal that should go live the hell somewhere else if he doesn’t like America.
“He can’t identify with America as he sees it all as somehow outside of himself. He is only here to redeem us.”
That is correct. And in that correctness lies a true danger. My prayer is that Obama represents the high water mark of “internationalists” in this country. They live in the salons of New York and San Francisco. They hate America and Americans because we are stupid and unsophisticated. They love the riches of America and would love nothing more than to send it all overseas and in the process, teach Americans a lesson they will never forget.
My prayer is that because we are being shown such a clear example of what losing a national identity can bring, the result is the ushering in of a new era in America where we are all treated as shareholders in this great franchise... where the first question of the president becomes, “How can I increase shareholder value?” In that new era, Americans would look at how to run our own franchise more efficiently. That can include better energy independence, making our own goods and services here at home, investing in things that yield a ‘profit’ for the welfare and good of all of us, investing oversears more thoughtfully in countries who believe as we do and share a common goal of peace and freedom, building infrastructure here (roads, nuclear power plants, etc.) that will ensure the freedom and prosperity of our children, enhancing health care for our citizens but not necessarily nationalizing it, protecting our borders, investing in the world’s best education platform and so much more. But none of that begins with comments like Obama’s last week where he is embarassed by Americans because they don’t speak French.
That’s why we should at least try to elect real, died in the wool Americans to lead this country.
This is referring to the 'motivation' of the terrorists.
It is also the mantra of those of limited intellect, experience and/or perspective of history.
Just plain evil cannot exist, there can always be an explanation found that shifts the blame to the victims, and it is inevitable, then, that the inexorable logic will prevail:
The logic of the terrorists, in this case islam (and by association, 'progressives'). "You brought it on yourselves."
I can tolerate that from an ignorant enemy.
I cannot accept it from a presumed fellow-citizen.
You forgot about the Inquisition?? Or what?
< /sarc >
To the extent radical Muslims experience "helplessness and despair" it is mainly connected with their outrage that they cannot dominate and rule the entire world according to 7th century Islamic principles.
Well said and spot on.
If you re-read Obama's actual words, you will see that he said the attack resulted from "an absense of empathy on the part of the attackers".
This is exactly correct. The attack happened because many Muslims do not regard non-Muslims as fellow human beings.
Conservatives have a stake in this election, and it can't be any bigger: the survival of the country. Obama has to be defeated. The risks are just too great. If you doubt it, read the article again. Empathy, either on the part of or for those who would indiscriminately slaughter thousands, or millions, if they had the means, of innocent people? This is borderline psychotic.
Detecting a pattern here?
What a steaming pile of Bovine Excrement.
you’re a bigot; Islam is the religion of peace. /sarc
We must understand how terrorist feel? OMG!
I guess that his foreign policy will consist of a drum circle and group hug.
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