What an amazing speech Obama made today as he calls for a new beginning in US relations with the Muslim world in a keynote speech in Egypt.
For some strange reason I received an email from The White House, attaching a video of his speech. I guess it just shows how they are using the internet to their advantage:-
Hello -
As a Senior Advisor to the President, I’m here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world.
We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward.
The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech — including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it.
Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities.
We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won’t always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time.
Thank you,
David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President
June 4th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Yeah, you are right it isn't easy moving about. You brought back memories of going to Dad's for part of every school holiday – Mum moved us far away from Dad so that she wouldn't have to deal with weekend visits. But, we always had stuff at Dad's that was specific for his place. Would it not be possible for your kids to keep some essentials like underwear and other things at their Dad's place?
June 5th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Poor you Claire – must have been v difficult. He does have stuff there – I've talked to her about that again though – it's a good idea Lx
June 5th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Actually it wasn't too bad, apart from the 3hr journey each way, that was more boring than anything else! I was very young when everything happenened so I just grew up with it. I think it is worse/harder for kids who are older than about 5yo when parents split up.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:00 am
yeah i listened to bits of speech on Kiss FM yesterday driving through mbauda (down town arusha). amazing. and good on ya foresaking your lie in for clean pants. clean pants are essential. lots love x j
June 5th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Great speech; wish I could share the general sense of hope it has aroused, and will wait to see whether words put into action. But David Axelrod …not a nice boy.
Am with you on the knickers. Once drove home and back to night shelter after evening kitchen shift was over to grab a spare pair for a female client. Probably my only claim to fame!
June 5th, 2009 at 10:39 am
What's wrong with David Axelrod Phidelm? Lx
June 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Whoops, sure there's, er, nothing wrong with the man; just the fact that he has to be there at all. Personal doubts about necessity and power of so-called spin doctors.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
It was a good speech and quite brave I think. He knew (and it has happened) that some of the right wing lunatics such as Rush Limbaugh, (a radio talk show host, and nothing more) would bang some gong or other. Unbelievably, Limbaugh accused him of putting the country in danger, yada, yada. Even sadder is that some people get their "news" from him.