Thursday, June 04, 2009

The "T Word"

The New York Times ends its story on Obama's speech in Cairo on America and Islam with this:
Mr. Bahgat, who attended the speech at Cairo University, said that one of the most important elements of the speech was what was left out. “I think it was remarkable the speech left out the term terrorism completely,” he said. “It may have been a paradigm shift for the United States, away from using this politically charged word.”

Remarkable indeed. The ostrich strikes again--and jeopardizes the free world in the process.

3 comments:

Jeremy said...

The whole speech read like an advertisement for rebuilding the Tower of Babel.

"Let's set aside our differences. Let's lay down our weapons. Let's embrace our global unity. Let's build a monument to the greatness of humanity. ...And we can wave to God as we build past his throne."

Second, Obama conveniently quoted the "friendlier" side of Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers." Why not use a different quote? How about when Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"? How about when Jesus says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End"? If we're really interested in speaking truth and being mindful of real tensions, why not get it all out there on the table instead of trying to pass both Islam and Christianity off as something their not?

Third, for the sake of argument, let's suppose that Obama really is a Christian. Apparently, he's got lot's of good things to say about the US (for a change), and he's got nothing but great things to say about Islam as a religion. Yet he has nothing at all to say about Christianity apart from self-identification. If Islam is so great and Christianity not worth mentioning, why doesn't he convert? Well, I guess it wouldn't be a politically viable move.

ryan said...

Yeah terrorism, that was a completely over-hyped American piece of propaganda that holds no place in reality to what the Middle East is really like...

In other news, Osama release new statement telling Muslims to prepare for long battle against infidels and warning against any ties with Christians or Jews.

Massdream Music said...

"Terrorism"? You mean obviously mean "overseas contingency operation" or "man-caused disaster"? Wow, I guess 9/11 was only a "man-caused disaster", and not mass murder? What about the Holocaust? "Man-Caused Disaster" or "Genocide"?

One of the first actions of any regime seeking to subvert the current authority will always involve language. Redefining words, creating new ones, controlling the media, and restricting access to alternate viewpoints must take place before any coup can be successful. Control the language; control the people.