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As I listened to Obama's speech, I thought about two comments that have filled our news soundbites in recent days. First, there has been a loud outcry among conservatives about the selection of Sonia Sotomayor as nominee for the Supreme Court. She has been called a racist because she challenged the narrow life experiences of white men who have traditionally presided over the oppression of people of color in the name of "blind justice." Now, when a person of color suggests that the richness of a life experience that has overcome such oppression without losing sight of justice, makes this statement --“I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.” -- she is accused of reverse racism. These outcries and accusations confirm exactly the point she was making. At least Newt Gingrich has been advised to recognize that he stepped on a political land mine. His worldview is no less flawed. The second comment that rings in my mind is that of Mitt Romney, who has criticized President Obama for going on a "tour of apology" while traveling abroad. This is a stubborn view of the "righteousness of American power" that is dangerously ignroant of other viewpoints in a global society. His statement takes up where Gingrich and Limbaugh left off -- admitting no mistakes, nor apologizing for any past injustces of powerful white men in the leadership of our country. As a wise Black man, Obama once again confirmed the "Latino wisdom" as described by Soni Sotomayor, with his closing comments in the speech: "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 Koran tells us, "O 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." 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. " That is global leadership in the Fast Lane. Click here to view the video and read the full text. Roger Madison www.izania.com
Posted By: Roger E Madison Jr
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 11:05AM
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Mozell you beat me to the punch!!!
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 12:50PM
Siebra Muhammad
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As each of you has indicated, there is a lot of meat in the speech -- for supporters and detractors alike. What Obama is demonstating is a new worldview from the leader of our nation. The ultimate outcomes remain to be seen. But there is no doubt that he is adding something new to the mix. Not just a continuation of the "old boy network" that has dominated global politics and economics for so long.
Hail to the chief!
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 3:09PM
Roger E Madison Jr
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Thanks for all of the comments. Clark, your analysis of the critics has me smiling and chukling. While these dinosaurs seem to be gasping their last breath, we must still be vigilant to attacks against wisdom and reason.
I am looking forward with keen interest to see how the world reacts after a few weeks. The instantaneous talking head responses are designed for TV ratings. The real thought leaders will now go to work. The statement from the speech that I think will prevail is this:
"America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognize that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognize the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true."
His effort to bring certain truths into the light of day may help to "frame the dialog" in a very different context. Mutual destruction is in no one's best interest. Eventually, people just get tired of killing each other. We cannot continue forward n a world with the view that "the friend of my enemy is my enemy." We will find enemies behind every tree. Someone has to break the deadlock. I think that President Obama has taken a bold step that no other American President has taken.
We will see the outcome -- perhaps in our lifetime.
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 9:59AM
Roger E Madison Jr
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"a new american view"---roger, how about, "the Truthful View"..
europeans burned 6million jews! ...not arabs, iranians, or muslims
yet colonized powers stole palestine and put european jews there
with colonial guns and colonialist white supremacy............
a "jewish nation"-----madness
there is no "communist nation", "hindu nation", "catholic nation", islamic nation,
but the World has a "Jewish Nation"....????????????????????????????
We hail Our Leader President Baraka Hussein Obama by being as courageous as he is in sacrificing his life and continuity for
CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN.....THE TRUTH.
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 11:25AM
robert powell
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Robert, you make a very good point. A line from the movie, "A few Good Men", comes to mind:
"You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
When we begin to unravel the many entanglements that come with the "American Identity" what is reavealed are many ugly truths. President Obama often speaks about trying to find "common ground" from which to move forward. Such a starting point is a very complex endeavor indeed. Not just in the discussion about our relationship with Muslims, Jews, and Christians. Also, this applies to each of us in a personal way. The "common ground" for you and me may be very different.
That is why there is "politics" and there is "truth." Then there are "political realities." There is no such thing as "political truth." Whatever progress is made in this mindfield is to be carefully measured, and difficult to gain agreement on.
Only voices from the diaspora can serve to keep politicians just a little honest.
Thanks for you perspective.
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 11:35AM
Roger E Madison Jr
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politics ? when bush asked to extradite OBL from Afghanistan, this was global politics--many countries adhere to extradition or no extradition. the Taliban, that American politics created; said based on the premise that you helped us make an Islamic country, we will not extradite OBL to nonMuslims.
many nations do not extradite. but american response was bringing a foreign force from tajekistan, ubekestan and bombing the Hell out of the nation of Afghanistan. And creating the reality to the Islamic world that american politics and american truth is not for you.
common ground is only truth, men/women sitting down and saying i did this, you did this and we need to do this........
this American adventure in afghanistan has cost usa, GM, wall street, 10% usa unemployment, 5500 dead us citizens, 1Million Muslim dead, 5Million Muslims refugees.
Muslims dont need another christian man raised by a woman to recite AlQur'an to them----the only thing Our Leader President Baraka Hussein Obama could do now in the middle east is to take the oil or just leave them alone
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 12:01PM
robert powell
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Irma, wiki says,
"The Vatican City is a city-state that came into existence in 1929 and is thus clearly distinct from the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church, known as the Holy See, which existed long before 1929."
I just want to know what did the jews do to the germans, poles, czecks, french, english, swedes, italians, austrians and russians to cause the Europeans to bake 6 million of their friends, neighbors and relatives?
Mr. Michel is Arab---the jews will not listen to an inferior, send Mr. Clinton or Mr. Carter.
Sunday, June 7th 2009 at 11:55AM
robert powell
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Roger, so far I have listened to our president's speech twice and as it will be on again in a few minutes, I will watch him agains, on top of having it on tape.
We as a mankind are not yet ready to come into the real world where we believe that we are suppose to actually obey the teachng of the Bible.Berore 'we' as human behavior will change the religion that says put the words of god into your daily lives will chang the whole make up of the Bible itself.
The greatest examples are the Catholics who refused to stop buying their rights to go to heaven ended up becoming the Protestands,then this has farther been broken down as society: norms,politics,economy,prejudices and values changes...but the biggy in all of this is our almost total refusual to educate ourselves in an objective/ logical manner!!!!!!!
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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I do love how Judge Sotomajor was quoted as saying how she would not let loose lips sink her ship.
Me, I would like the Human right's organizations take over this matterand take it out of the hands of the right-wing leaders. America did use the laws of the ASPA to get children's rights to not be abused on a daily basis. The pre teen they used the case of this female and her being treated as a slave by her step mother who was a sadistic psychopath.
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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I loved the way that Rachael Maddow broke our president's speech down into 8 main parts of pure facts& truth long over due in saying. Things an American president would never (befor Mr. Obama)say /subjects covered, because what he had to say today in is speech in Egypt took truth and a clear conscious in the saying. And, this is a shame.
Now Mrs. Obama is now speaking out about Judge Sotomajor. And, why not Mrs. Obama is saying in other words that the judge helped make it better fro her when she arrived as a student I believe she said 9 or 12 years later than Judge Sotomajor. One can not beat having these two watching your back while we watch the president's and the first lady's back (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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The last time I listened to his speech, it seem like he was saying , "if you do not want world peace then move out of my way trying to prevent me from obtaining this , because those who do are behind me will not be stoped any longer...(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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...and it now seem that the political leaders of Israel are still not willing / able to accept that the money train to build those houses that even their own people have been pleading with their government to stop building will begin to sink in that the $billions upon $ billions that use to come in because the Bush administration said one thing in private and another in public "is over".
Israel will not get any money to build those homes, buy missiles nor fuel those jet FIGHTER planes. And, if they want proof of President Obama is a man of his words let then go check with Norht Korea about how they will not be getting any more money from the America tax payers or loans they get from China to give to either of them!!!!!(smile)
It was good to hear a political anylsist over our public air waves today say the words, "North Korea's use of black mail on our government"....This comes in second to we in this country now use the words 'terrorist' and 'domestic terrorist' when talking about American citizens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(smile)YES WE CAN...YES WE DID...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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robert, sorry but the place where the Pope rest his head, the Vatican ,is a Country therefore I guess one can say the Catholics do have their own 'nation' that at one time owned almost all of the lands on this planet.(smile)
Any way they have been fighting over Jeruslem as far back as when the Knights were called the terrorist of their day...our president has a job on his hand, but not giving this country any more money is the best start I can think of and sending the person who helped the Christians and protestants in Irland stop killing each ouher after 20 years is difinatly another plus for Mr. Obama...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
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