President Obama's Speech

At Cairo University today, President Obama spoke to a wide number of different and at times discordant audiences – the Egyptian people (though many have argued that this important speech would have had better reception in one of the more democratic countries, such as Turkey, his overarching ideals need to be heard by a totalitarian regime); the Israelis and Palestinians (he acknowledged the suffering of both peoples, but was firm in his belief that Palestine deserved statehood); the United States people (some of whom still question the President’s citizenship and religious affiliation); Iran (in its quest for nuclear power); followers of Islam, Christianity and Judaism; the role of women in society (certainly a hot button for many, and not limited to those in the Middle East); militants (of all colors, religions and ethnicities) – "Violence is a dead end," he said. "It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered."

And I’m sure I’m missing a few others as I did not hear the speech in its entirety owing to commercial interruption.

Stressing the elusive goals of partnership and our common humanity despite both political and religious differences, some of which are centuries old, Obama stated: "I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere."

These heroic ideals remind me of Bernard E. Bown’s (and yes, he is from CUNY) statement found in the chapter on India: “Modernization of the social structure is ultimately possible only with simultaneous modernization of the economy, each process being indisputable to the other.” To pick up on this thread, “Innovation and education, Obama said, "will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains underinvestment in these areas."

So, whether you're a pirate in Somalia, a youth from East New York or a Palestinian Catholic in Nazareth, education offers an opportunity to share power in society.

President Obama’s speech also offered a refresher of Middle Eastern history as his review reinforced details from the class readings that we will discuss on Saturday.

Maryann McKenzie