the 6 topics of focus were
terroists/extremists
palestine/israeli tensions/ diplomocy
nuclear weapons
democracy
religious freedom
women's rights
economy
i was driving down my parking structure at work listening to the speech when i started to lost reception! but the speech was so good i had to drive back up to higher levels just to finish :D w000t w000t obama~~
here are some of my favorite quotes from the speech (SO HARD TO PICK!):
"..So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, those who promote conflict rather than the cooperation...I've come...to seek a new beginning..one based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles — principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings"
"Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire...We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: E pluribus unum — "Out of many, one."
"Indeed, none of us should tolerate these (violent) extremists...They have killed people of different faiths — but more than any other, they have killed Muslims. ..The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent is as — it is as if he has killed all mankind...whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is ..an important part of promoting peace."
"Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences..Although I believe that Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible...we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: 'I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power, the greater it will be.' Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future — and to leave Iraq to Iraqis."
in an unprecedented move by a united states presidents, obama mentioned palestine in the 2 state plan he proposed to move in the direction of middle east peace " It's easy..for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought about by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks ..The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states.."
"(we) share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings."
see the whole speech here
