Enough already! I thought you guys were supposed to unite behind the President when he is on the International stage.
I’ve been expecting some substantive debate on current international affairs here.
Get this:
“For both of our nations, living up to the ideals enshrined in these founding documents has sometimes been difficult, has always been a work in progress.
"The path has never been perfect. But through the struggles of slaves and immigrants; women and ethnic minorities; former colonies and persecuted religions, we have learned better than most that the longing for freedom and human dignity is not English or American or Western - it is universal, and it beats in every heart.”
Anti-Americanism, a commonsense understanding of human nature or an accurate interpretation of the evolution of world history?
And this
“But make no mistake: what we saw, what we are seeing in Tehran, Tunis and Tahrir Square is a longing for the same freedoms that we take for granted here at home. It was a rejection of the notion that people in certain parts of the world don't want to be free, or need to have democracy imposed upon them. It was a rebuke to the world view of al-Qaeda, which smothers the rights of individuals, and would thereby subject them to perpetual poverty and violence. Let there be no doubt: the United States and United Kingdom stand squarely on the side of those who long to be free.
“We do this knowing that the West must overcome suspicion and mistrust among many in the Middle East and North Africa - a mistrust that is rooted in a difficult past. For years, we have faced charges of hypocrisy from those who do not enjoy the freedoms that they hear us espouse. To them, we must squarely acknowledge that yes, we have enduring interests in the region - to fight terror, sometimes with partners who may not always be perfect, and to protect against disruptions in the world's energy supply. But we must also insist that we reject as false the choice between our interests and our ideals; between stability and democracy. Our idealism is rooted in the realities of history - that repression offers only the false promise of stability; that societies are more successful when their citizens are free; and that democracies are the closest allies we have.”
To face history head on and use the principles of our respective societies to address it without apology is pretty bold. Of course it may be empty rhetoric – you can judge that better than I.
And with mentions of Manchester and Alan Turing he has obviously done his homework and not reached for the obvious clichés.
Goth, Namo, Reggie: your thoughts, gentlemen, please?
And then I’ll buy a round of Guinness.
Full speech
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