Origins

Gonzo

Obama’s Agenda for the Middle East

I made this outline of Obama's 6/4/09 speech last week, but I didn't get a chance to post it until now. I really wish this blog would allow indents! Please bear with the ugly formatting.

Issues to address:

1) Violent Extremism
a. Protect American security
i. Commander-in-Chief
ii. 9/11
b. Afghanistan and Pakistan
i. Suppress violence
ii. Help install stable governments
iii. Bring American troops home
c. Iraq
i. US entered war by choice
1. Saddam Hussein
ii. Iraq for Iraqis

2) Arab-Israeli Conflict
a. Urge, not force peace
i. Stop Israeli settlements
ii. Stop Palestinian violence
b. Establish 2 states
i. Only workable solution
ii. Stable government for Palestine

3) Nuclear Arms
a. Peace with Iran
b. Disarmament for all nations
i. Even US
c. Peaceful nuclear power available for all nations
i. Even Iran
ii. Must follow Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

4) Democracy
a. No American nation-building
b. Self-determination for all
i. Governments must be elected
ii. Governments must rule for the people

5) Freedom of Religion
a. Islam has a tradition of tolerance
b. Should all strive for tolerance

6) Women’s Rights
a. Equal opportunity for education
b. Equal opportunity for employment
i. Micro-financing

7) Opportunities within Globalization
a. American partnership with Middle East
i. Education
ii. Economic development
iii. Science/technology
1. Healthcare
2. Greening projects

The Greatest Slavery

Charles Peguy, The Portal of the Mystery of Hope--

He who loves places himself, by loving,
By that very act, from then on, into dependence,
He who loves becomes the slave of the one who is loved.
It's normal, it's the common lot.
It's inevitable.
He who loves falls into slavery, consigns himself, puts himself under the yoke of slavery.
He becomes dependent on the one he loves.
And yet it's this very situation, my child, that God made for himself in loving us.
God has designed to hope in us, because he wanted to hope for us, wait for us.