Obama's Inaugural Speech

[YOSS]

I have mentioned before in those 8 dark years from my perspective, that the US was always the dream, the hope, the future. Bush kinda crushed it; now, I see what they have been doing. Hindsight?

Its the inaugural speech of a new US President, who is thus far unique, and living in unique transitioning times, equipped with an arsenal of technology, knowledge and power that 'never' existed before in this fashion, to make the best out of this 'Turning Point' and set sails in the right direction - the direction that was always written, and only continues. And don't take that literally.

It would be a crime, not to notice, and dissect, such a speech.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

A lesson to the Lebanese as well? should we perhaps take a cue and be pioneers in our own region?

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

Worn out dogmas... the ones we still fight over in Lebanon falling for that beautiful age old wisdom that some turned over the centuries to sources of power & manipulation?

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.

which Scripture?

to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

what kind of freedom? not the one sold in movies and songs and causes to go to wars - he means another type of freedom. Keep it in check.

It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

One message: change yourselves.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

"worldly possessions"; what were those?
And a new life they indeed established.

We will restore science to its rightful place

Always a good idea. But who temporarily took it's place away & why?

And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

One hint: "New Age".

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.

The ground shifted beneath the ones who led the US into this wall - but he won't mention is how only something like that makes the change happen sooner, and his popularity once he takes over, much bigger. It was clear to me he'll be President in 2003 - and probably for many. There's hints there.

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works

This is internal - it nullifies the age old slogans sold to people by both parties: "We like big government" (Dems) "We like small government" (Reps).. slogans sold under false pretenses to 'other' reasons.

and do our business in the light of day

Less hidden "other reason's" I mentioned above; but there will be more invisible reasons, for it is the only way. It's only an evolution of "other invisible reasons".

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control

The market has become our temple now; God forbid we weaken it , but let's use it wisely . Using what?

Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

Think of it like a Harry Potter movie; Slytherings wants power & money under the pretense of "expedience", and Gryffindors want to move forward with wisdom and fairness for all to expedite not just the greedy few.

We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people

Objective achieved; we'll simply secure it, and battikh ykassir ba3do.

and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan

Keep an eye out of those pipelines built there.

With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.

Iran? A former foe? Has it ever been for real? - all valid questions.

and nonbelievers

Ahem, a nation of what? Has any previous President say that?

we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

As I've mentioned in many posts: Yes there has been age old and repeated in history tribal wars, but today onwards, it is going to be very different. We have reached enough tech & knowledge to move along.

does it need an explanation? NWO & Globalization.

The very thing we achieve only commonly and not individualistically: a common force within all, and once all unite, all will feel that force gradually and a new era indeed, much different than the upcoming one, will by ushered.

we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

Complementary to other ideas above.

the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.

In other words: hold on to your hats, this will be a rough ride.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This one is new to me.

and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Again - the Great gift of freedom. The same freedom he meant before, and it is different than the common understanding of it 'a la democracy and individual choice'. And it's not a bad thing; what he means by freedom is what should be achieved for all indeed.

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

No comment here, just a little gift:

Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed

Its the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance
Its the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance
Its the one who wont be taken, the one who cant seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember that in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed, that with the suns love in the spring becomes the rose.


Our Lebanese Spring is coming, on that glorious Sunny St-Joseph's day, and with the powers & skills we have harvested thus far, coupled with a leap of strong faith & positive thinking, we'll set the groundwork for many springs of peace and holistic growth, and contaminate our region with it as well.

Civilizations started from here, and will only evolve by evolving here. From the land of the Cedars of Lebanon.

[JD DC]

Originally Posted by YOSS

No comment here, just a little gift:

Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed
Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need
I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed

Its the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance
Its the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance
Its the one who wont be taken, the one who cant seem to give
And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live

When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember that in the winter, far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed, that with the suns love in the spring becomes the rose.


Our Lebanese Spring is coming, on that glorious Sunny St-Joseph's day, and with the powers & skills we have harvested thus far, coupled with a leap of strong faith & positive thinking, we'll set the groundwork for many springs of peace and holistic growth, and contaminate our region with it as well.

Civilizations started from here, and will only evolve by evolving here. From the land of the Cedars of Lebanon.

I m impressed YOSS,
but Copy pasting without a source is Plagiarism or is it not around here!?
Anyways, I had to look it up because I really liked it,
its "The Rose"; Music and Lyrics by Amanda McBroom.

On the other hand, I salute your Patriotism and I admire the “Existentialist”, “Dostoevskian” feel of this:

Our Lebanese Spring is coming, on that glorious Sunny St-Joseph's day, and with the powers & skills we have harvested thus far, coupled with a leap of strong faith & positive thinking, we'll set the groundwork for many springs of peace and holistic growth, and contaminate our region with it as well.

Civilizations started from here, and will only evolve by evolving here. From the land of the Cedars of Lebanon

But the "Leap of Faith" cannot be attained when we are still divided and betting on what contradicts the basics of our convictions.
Enough said on this...

Back to Obama, and to 'The Time Has Come To Reaffirm Our Enduring Spirit'.

I don't know how you missed this part, for here in my opinion lies many answers to his future policies:

We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

Regards

[YOSS]

Thank you JC.

The idea of you looking it up is part of it JC if you happen to be one who don't know this famous song among 'some' by Bette Midler.

And you are right i missed that line. You are on to something there. As for "we will defeat you", well, I kept it out, for it didn't target specifically who you mean to target.

Example: Bush used to literally send messages to the "terrorist" and say we'll defeat you.

Here Obama said: those who induce terror and slaughter innocent lives; well, that's generic.

The recent innocent lives lost in Gaza, the ones lost in Lebanon, were women & children slaughtered. ...

Take note of the 'Harry Potter' example above, and perhaps he means wrong doers in general not simply the ones you perceive as wrong doers.

As for the leap of faith; those "basics" or roots perhaps of our convictions, are single in source, are one in objective, were meant to unify under a single type of freedom.

In Lebanon, we need to realize that. Perhaps not from that perspective yet, but at least, from the current political context and events, and understand how that MOU is that leap of faith between two parties who found symbiosis past the current "convictions" disagreements, and based that MOU on the original and true commonalities of those "convictions" that actually make them 'one'.

And if more people or parties add themselves to that foundation today, I believe that leap of faith won't be in vain.

[JD DC]

YOSS,

I totally agree with you that today the United States has made this “Leap of Faith” and brought a man to Presidency who “could not have been served in a restaurant sixty years ago” as Obama puts it.

I also agree that today Lebanon should learn from this and see how such a diverse people [the American people] are all united under the same American flag.

Furthermore, I agree that the MOU represents a certain “Leap”. But the question remains; was this mutual contract respected? I think not! it has been breached so many times that mentioning it today has become somehow comical.

I totally agree that some kind of MOU should be done between all Lebanese.

But the leap of faith I am asking for is Sincere. We will never agree and be able to execute this new contract if we refuse to respect our differences.

Step one is accepting that we are not the same. Overlooking our cultural differences will not help in our Unity.

Let Us acknowledge that we have no future all of us if we Fake our unity.

Taef is not the solution. Secularism will not be accepted either.

A new Sincere System of Governance should be found. A System that would Respect our Differences, where Neutrality vis a sis of the external political axis rules.

[YOSS]

Originally Posted by JD DC

YOSS,

I totally agree with you that today the United States has made this “Leap of Faith” and brought a man to Presidency who “could not have been served in a restaurant sixty years ago” as Obama puts it.

I also agree that today Lebanon should learn from this and see how such a diverse people [the American people] are all united under the same American flag.

Furthermore, I agree that the MOU represents a certain “Leap”. But the question remains; was this mutual contract respected? I think not! it has been breached so many times that mentioning it today has become somehow comical.

I totally agree that some kind of MOU should be done between all Lebanese.

But the leap of faith I am asking for is Sincere. We will never agree and be able to execute this new contract if we refuse to respect our differences.

Step one is accepting that we are not the same. Overlooking our cultural differences will not help in our Unity.

Let Us acknowledge that we have no future all of us if we Fake our unity.

Taef is not the solution. Secularism will not be accepted either.

A new Sincere System of Governance should be found. A System that would Respect our Differences, where Neutrality vis a sis of the external political axis rules.

1. Has it really been broken ya JC? The MOU remains very solid.

2. Accepting that we are not the same is the very thing that is not only untrue, but also destructive. JC I assure you, we are so much the same, that at least as Lebanese, we are very much, the same. But each side today is simply hurt and still living those consequences.

3. A system of governance must be neutral where diversity lies, and work on attending to each Lebanese equally, all while allowing for the diverse religions to flourish, evolves, God forbid unite themselves one day. If you saw that at all in the Obama speech.

4. Our culture is not different. Only one element of our culture, religion, is seen differently by each, and in today's context.
But we all know these religions came from one place; so which God really intended for them to be different? Maybe the challenge in itself is finding that commonality in the religions bestowed upon humanity?

And in understanding that, Lebanon is best positioned, from all angles, historical and political, to start showing that to the world. From the land that produced, all these religions, and the oldest in the world's civilizations.

It's a shame to let foreign importers to come do it for us, using our own tools.

Lebanon should start within, then after, work on freeing the Egyptian community from the shackles it has been put in. Such a glorious people rendered underdeveloped purposely. The land of Syria should go back to being that holy land where history resides. no smaller matter the regions of Jordan and Iraq.

Not for religious reasons, but for those ancient people have all contributed to the origins of wisdom in this world, until that wisdom was hijacked from them by invading and cunning infiltrators and mercenaries.

It is not just about SSNP, PSP, etc. It is about all that i just mentioned. In the spirit of this worldly speech.

[JD DC]

Originally Posted by YOSS

1. Has it really been broken ya JC? The MOU remains very solid.

2. Accepting that we are not the same is the very thing that is not only untrue, but also destructive. JC I assure you, we are so much the same, that at least as Lebanese, we are very much, the same. But each side today is simply hurt and still living those consequences.

3. A system of governance must be neutral where diversity lies, and work on attending to each Lebanese equally, all while allowing for the diverse religions to flourish, evolves, God forbid unite themselves one day. If you saw that at all in the Obama speech.

4. Our culture is not different. Only one element of our culture, religion, is seen differently by each, and in today's context.
But we all know these religions came from one place; so which God really intended for them to be different? Maybe the challenge in itself is finding that commonality in the religions bestowed upon humanity?

And in understanding that, Lebanon is best positioned, from all angles, historical and political, to start showing that to the world. From the land that produced, all these religions, and the oldest in the world's civilizations.

It's a shame to let foreign importers to come do it for us, using our own tools.

Lebanon should start within, then after, work on freeing the Egyptian community from the shackles it has been put in. Such a glorious people rendered underdeveloped purposely. The land of Syria should go back to being that holy land where history resides. no smaller matter the regions of Jordan and Iraq.

Not for religious reasons, but for those ancient people have all contributed to the origins of wisdom in this world, until that wisdom was hijacked from them by invading and cunning infiltrators and mercenaries.

It is not just about SSNP, PSP, etc. It is about all that i just mentioned. In the spirit of this worldly speech.

Teb Yoss, if we were "the same" as you are presuming why did FPM and HA draft the MOU?

I am not saying that we don’t share a lot, but I’m not saying that we are “the same” either.

All should respect the Others Cultural Traits...

Can you give me the English translation of: Insihar watane’ please !?

[YOSS]

Originally Posted by JD DC

Teb Yoss, if we were "the same" as you are presuming why did FPM and HA draft the MOU?

I am not saying that we don’t share a lot, but I’m not saying that we are “the same” either.

All should respect the Others Cultural Traits...

Can you give me the English translation of: Insihar watane’ please !?

We have most cultural traits in common; we just have different sects.

The English translation is available on tayyar.org i believe but I will PM you a link where I posted that before so as this thread remains on topic.