I have long been a critic of Obama’s speeches… and the more of them he gives, the more unbearable they are. His recent address to the U.N. may be the epitome of Obama’s naiveté and narcissism. Without giving too much of my commentary away, let me just say that this may be the most arrogant and inaccurate speech ever given by a U.S. president. Here’s just a bit of commentary I thought might be helpful for those of you who don’t approach Obama’s words with the seriousness that I do:
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentleman: it is my honor to address you for the first time as the forty-fourth President of the United States. I come before you humbled by the responsibility that the American people have placed upon me; mindful of the enormous challenges of our moment in history; and determined to act boldly and collectively on behalf of justice and prosperity at home and abroad.
What about justice for the murder of Iranian dissidents protesting in the streets — justice you neither boldly addressed nor collectively supported? What about bringing justice to the Iraqi people for Saddam’s atrocities — justice you not only criticized but declared a worthless pursuit. What about justice for the people of Honduras who’s court ousted a delusional, power-hungry thug? You didn’t support justice then… in fact, your official policy towards Honduras is to undermine their democratic process… don’t talk to me about your love of justice.
I have been in office for just nine months, though some days it seems a lot longer.
Given the hectic nature of your daily television schedule, I’ll bet it does…
I am well aware of the expectations that accompany my presidency around the world. These expectations are not about me. Rather, they are rooted – I believe – in a discontent with a status quo that has allowed us to be increasingly defined by our differences, and outpaced by our problems. But they are also rooted in hope – the hope that real change is possible, and the hope that America will be a leader in bringing about such change.
I took office at a time when many around the world had come to view America with skepticism and distrust. Part of this was due to misperceptions and misinformation about my country. Part of this was due to opposition to specific policies, and a belief that on certain critical issues, America has acted unilaterally, without regard for the interests of others. This has fed an almost reflexive anti-Americanism, which too often has served as an excuse for our collective inaction.
Well, you are partly right… America has acted unilaterally… but not “without regard”… but with a very specific regard for oppressed people… a regard your precious United Nations can never bring itself to act on. You are right though… reflexive, uninformed anti-americanism has been a serious problem… for those people and countries who suffer from its effects.
Like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interest of my nation and my people, and I will never apologize for defending those interests. But it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009 – more than at any point in human history – the interests of nations and peoples are shared.
Please tell me you are joking… “the interests of nations and peoples are shared?”!! Tell that to Japan, who’s conflict with China continues to this very day… tell that to South Korea… tell that to Georgia and Poland — whose desire for a missile shileld you axed in favor Medviev’s disturbing geopolitical goals. Tell that to India. See if their conflict with Pakistan is the result of “shared interests”. How ignorant are you Obama?
The religious convictions that we hold in our hearts can forge new bonds among people, or tear us apart. The technology we harness can light the path to peace, or forever darken it. The energy we use can sustain our planet, or destroy it. What happens to the hope of a single child – anywhere – can enrich our world, or impoverish it.
In this hall, we come from many places, but we share a common future. No longer do we have the luxury of indulging our differences to the exclusion of the work that we must do together. I have carried this message from London to Ankara; from Port of Spain to Moscow; from Accra to Cairo; and it’s what I will speak about today. Because the time has come for the world to move in a new direction. We must embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interests and mutual respect, and our work must begin now.
We know the future will be forged by deeds and not simply words. Speeches alone will not solve our problems – it will take persistent action. So for those who question the character and cause of my nation, I ask you to look at the concrete actions that we have taken in just nine months.
“Speeches alone will not solve our problems” — this coming from the man who’s primary activity as president is speech-giving. And what new direction, specifically, are you suggesting? Your inability to articulate what specific direction you champion is troubling — especially considering how leftist your domestic agenda has been.
And then, only minutes into your speech, you do the impossible: you make what is perhaps the most arrogant statement ever made on the floor of the United Nations… you ask those “who doubt the goodness of America…” not to look beyond their own prejudices… not to remember the thousands of American men and women who have sacrificed for the sake of freedom across the globe… not to recall how we lead the world in the abolishment of the slave trade… not to remember the promises we have kept to nations who have been invaded such as France, South Korea, England, Quait, Poland, and Germany during World War II… You do not ask them to recall the billions of dollars of aid we give not only to Aids-ravaged Africa, nor the billions of dollars in food, supplies, and hope we provided Berlin during the air lift nor the Marshall Plan. When trying to convince member nations who doubt the goodness of America, you do not remind them of justice system designed to protect human rights; you do not convince them of our consistent criticism and exposure of humanitarian injustice in Iran, China, Africa, or Russia… you do not remind them how many orphans individual American Citizens support through myriads of charities and
No. Your evidence for those who doubt the the character and goodness of America lies in THE CONCRETE ACTIONS THAT [YOU] HAVE TAKEN IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS. I guess the inherent goodness of the American people as evidenced countless times over generations doesn’t strike you as meaning very much. On the contrary, your narcissism leads you to elevate YOURSELF to the epotime of American goodness and character. Your arrogance, Sir, knows no bounds…
On my first day in office, I prohibited – without exception or equivocation – the use of torture by the United States of America. I ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed, and we are doing the hard work of forging a framework to combat extremism within the rule of law. Every nation must know: America will live its values, and we will lead by example.
Except, you have YET to close Guantanamo… which makes this statement pretty hypocritical if you ask me.
We have set a clear and focused goal: to work with all members of this body to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies – a network that has killed thousands of people of many faiths and nations, and that plotted to blow up this very building. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, we – and many nations here – are helping those governments develop the capacity to take the lead in this effort, while working to advance opportunity and security for their people.
That’s funny, because at the moment you seem incredibly hesitant to send a single extra troop to Afghanistan despite the fact that the General YOU put in charge is warning of defeat against Al-Qaeda.
In Iraq, we are responsibly ending a war. We have removed American combat brigades from Iraqi cities, and set a deadline of next August to remove all of our combat brigades from Iraqi territory. And I have made clear that we will help Iraqis transition to full responsibility for their future, and keep our commitment to remove all American troops by the end of 2011.
I have outlined a comprehensive agenda to seek the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
… but don’t have the will to stop Iran’s nuclear program…
In Moscow, the United States and Russia announced that we would pursue substantial reductions in our strategic warheads and launchers. At the Conference on Disarmament, we agreed on a work plan to negotiate an end to the production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons. And this week, my Secretary of State will become the first senior American representative to the annual Members Conference of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
But Obama, how naive are you? The United States has always taken the lead on nuclear arms reductions… and Russia has never been willing to fall behind the US in its Nuclear stockpile.
Upon taking office, I appointed a Special Envoy for Middle East Peace, and America has worked steadily and aggressively to advance the cause of two states – Israel and Palestine – in which peace and security take root, and the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians are respected.
To confront climate change, we have invested 80 billion dollars in clean energy. We have substantially increased our fuel-efficiency standards. We have provided new incentives for conservation, launched an energy partnership across the Americas, and moved from a bystander to a leader in international climate negotiations.
…while China completely wipes out those gains with every coal plant they build. But I’m glad you feel so good about the United States…
To overcome an economic crisis that touches every corner of the world, we worked with the G-20 nations to forge a coordinated international response of over two trillion dollars in stimulus to bring the global economy back from the brink.
you call THIS ”back from the brink”? We are ON the brink and continue to loose jobs every month!
We mobilized resources that helped prevent the crisis from spreading further to developing countries. And we joined with others to launch a $20 billion global food security initiative that will lend a hand to those who need it most, and help them build their own capacity.
We have also re-engaged the United Nations. We have paid our bills. We have joined the Human Rights Council.
In fact, we have always paid a huge portion of the United Nations operating expenses. Furthermore, we didn’t join the Human Rights Council on principle (a principle you don’t seem to have the slightest appreciation for). As ForeignPolicy.com put it: “The United States had been a leading advocate for reform, but refused to sit on the Council at its inception, fearing that it would degenerate into a talking shop that would aid and abet the worst violators. That position is looking pretty prescient now. The Council has condemned Israel 8 times, but refused to pass judgment on even a single other regime. Regional blocs cover for their own, while tyrants point to the shortcomings of democracies to hide the fact that they aren’t even trying. All of which just goes to show the inherent weakness of a body that treats all of its members as formal equals in judging matters in which they manifestly are not.”
We have signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Did we need to sign this? What country is more attentative to the needs of Disabled children than our own?
We have fully embraced the Millennium Development Goals. And we address our priorities here, in this institution – for instance, through the Security Council meeting that I will chair tomorrow on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and through the issues that I will discuss today.
This is what we have done.
Except for everything else in U.S. history done in the name of human rights… which you don’t seem to even know about…
But this is just a beginning. Some of our actions have yielded progress. Some have laid the groundwork for progress in the future. But make no mistake: this cannot be solely America’s endeavor. Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone. We have sought – in word and deed – a new era of engagement with the world. Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.
If we are honest with ourselves, we need to admit that we are not living up to that responsibility. Consider the course that we are on if we fail to confront the status quo. Extremists sowing terror in pockets of the world. Protracted conflicts that grind on and on. Genocide and mass atrocities. More and more nations with nuclear weapons. Melting ice caps and ravaged populations. Persistent poverty and pandemic disease. I say this not to sow fear, but to state a fact: the magnitude of our challenges has yet to be met by the measure of our action.
Seems to me like this is some of the highest praise of George W. Bush ever given on the floor of the United Nations. Wasn’t it Bush that refused to accept the “status quo” of meaningless security counsel decisions and held the United Nations to task for doing nothing but promoting the status quo?
This body was founded on the belief that the nations of the world could solve their problems together. Franklin Roosevelt, who died before he could see his vision for this institution become a reality, put it this way – and I quote: “The structure of world peace cannot be the work of one man, or one party, or one Nation…. It cannot be a peace of large nations – or of small nations. It must be a peace which rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world.”
The cooperative effort of the whole world. Those words ring even more true today, when it is not simply peace – but our very health and prosperity that we hold in common. Yet I also know that this body is made up of sovereign states. And sadly, but not surprisingly, this body has often become a forum for sowing discord instead of forging common ground; a venue for playing politics and exploiting grievances rather than solving problems. After all, it is easy to walk up to this podium and to point fingers and stoke division. Nothing is easier than blaming others for our troubles, and absolving ourselves of responsibility for our choices and our actions. Anyone can do that.
As you continually evidence…
Responsibility and leadership in the 21st century demand more. In an era when our destiny is shared, power is no longer a zero sum game. No one nation can or should try to dominate another nation.
[*raises eyebrow*] No nation CAN dominate another nation? Since when!
No world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will succeed. No balance of power among nations will hold.
So are you saying we need more imbalance?
The traditional division between nations of the south and north makes no sense in an interconnected world. Nor do alignments of nations rooted in the cleavages of a long gone Cold War.
So you want to throw NATO under the bus? What about alignments of nations rooted in World War II? What makes the UN any MORE special than any other alignment of nations? Do you realize how incoherent your ideas are when put under the slightest scrutiny?
The time has come to realize that the old habits and arguments are irrelevant to the challenges faced by our people. They lead nations to act in opposition to the very goals that they claim to pursue, and to vote – often in this body – against the interests of their own people. They build up walls between us and the future that our people seek, and the time has come for those walls to come down. Together, we must build new coalitions that bridge old divides – coalitions of different faiths and creeds; of north and south, east and west; black, white, and brown.
Lets all sing “cum by yah” around a fire because there is no such thing as corruption, evil, depravity, greed for power — all of which continually corrupt peoples and nations and require more than just a touchy-feely approach.
The choice is ours. We can be remembered as a generation that chose to drag the arguments of the 20th century into the 21st; that put off hard choices, refused to look ahead, and failed to keep pace because we defined ourselves by what we were against instead of what we were for. Or, we can be a generation that chooses to see the shoreline beyond the rough waters ahead; that comes together to serve the common interests of human beings, and finally gives meaning to the promise embedded in the name given to this institution: the United Nations.
OMG… it keeps going on and on like this for about 4 more pages! I’m done… I’m out… read the rest of the speech if you want to at the following link… I’m sure you can fill in the gaps with your own since of irony, disbelief, and criticism.
Read more at: The Huffington Post