A Rookie President by Thomas Sowell

[headhuntersix]

What did you guys think about Obama's comments when addressing the Turkish parliament?

Here is an unedited excerpt:

"So let me say this as clearly as I can -- the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam," Obama said, to a round of applause.

Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, underscored his personal connection Monday with Muslim culture and said the United States seeks "broader engagement" with the Muslim world than just the fight against Al Qaeda.

"We will listen carefully, we will bridge misunderstanding, and we will seek common ground. We will be respectful, even when we do not agree. And we will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over centuries to shape the world -- including in my own country," Obama said. "The United States has been enriched by Muslim Americans. Many other Americans have Muslims in their family, or have lived in a Muslim-majority country -- I know, because I am one of them."

He added: "This is not where East and West divide -- this is where they come together."

Nope..Barry's right..I know hate a massive amount of people with a burning passion bordering on insane. They did so much for us..on Sept 11, 2001. They woke many of us up.....fuck Barry and fuck the ragheads.....

[Parker]

Nope..Barry's right..I know hate a massive amount of people with a burning passion bordering on insane. They did so much for us..on Sept 11, 2001. They woke many of us up.....fuck Barry and fuck the ragheads.....

Like it or not America needed 9/11. What else would have waken the US up to the fact that it is going down hill in a handbasket. We are the world's fattest, laziest, arrogant country. We've taken our eye off the ball to focus on trivial pursuits and material gain. All the while other nations are working to pass us. Now, the fact that the cold has been knocked out of eyes, see the deal, no the score, and it's time be at the top again. And we will.

All bad things have a silver lining. A lesson to be learned. 

[Decker]

What is it?

It's something like this:  There is no god but allah and Muhammad is his messenger.  You repeat that and BAM, you are saved.

[garebear]

The inexperienced charges were levied against another American President in the past. His name was Abraham Lincoln and he turned out okay.

Anyone hoping to learn more about it should read With Malice Towards None. Lincoln was called an inexperienced hick and was ridiculed, with people going so far as to make unflattering impersonations of him during the elections.

Actually, a couple of years before he was elected he suffered a humiliating defeat for a lower office, but I can't remember what that was right now.

Like Lincoln, Obama steps into office with a monumental challenge facing him. It is no surprise to me that Republicans are already bashing him. The Democrats probably were furious that Lincoln didn't end the civil war withing 60 days of taking office.

[shootfighter1]

So, garebar, do you think it was appropriate for Obama to say Islam has shaped the U.S. and we have a deep admiration for the Islamic faith?  We means who? 
I think even most hardcore liberals would disagree with having admiration for the Islamic faith.  It is a religion which has been mostly resistant to change and still believes in sharia law.  Look it up if you are not familiar with sharia law, its shocking.

[garebear]

So, garebar, do you think it was appropriate for Obama to say Islam has shaped the U.S. and we have a deep admiration for the Islamic faith?  We means who? 
I think even most hardcore liberals would disagree with having admiration for the Islamic faith.  It is a religion which has been mostly resistant to change and still believes in sharia law.  Look it up if you are not familiar with sharia law, its shocking.

I don't think it was so inappropriate considering we will need the help of Islamic nations in order to combat radical Islam. You would be hard pressed to find assistance from, say Pakistan, if you declared an all out war against Islam.

It is important to note that American Muslims have participated in the war on terror. Let us not dissolve ourselves into blaming that faith for everything, lest we become Hitleresque in our quest to defend ourselves. Fact is, a large percentage of this world is Islamic, like it or not.

In all fairness, however, I don't see how that faith has shaped us to any discernable degree, except in the fact that we are tolerant of all faiths (with the unfair exception of polygamists).

I understand Sharia law and also know that many Muslim nations do not want it themselves, but have it thrust upon them by an oligarchy (see the Taliban for details).

I appreciate how you phrased your question as well. You did it respectfully, which is a rarity on these boards.

[George Whorewell]

Geesh- it doesn't take much for something to "shape" America in your opinions. 911 shaped America and the attack was perpatrated, performed and funded by Islamic psychos. I wonder if Obama would give the same speech to a crowd of Militia survivalist nuts in Montana. Blowing up the federal building "shaped" America also. Actually, I dont wonder. He would give that same speech because he would shamelessly pander to anyone if he felt it would bolster his popularity.

As we have seen, he is not above berating his own country, insulting the population of his own country and mindlessly attacking his predecessors to get a few more smiles and handshakes from people who can't stand America in the first place.

Somehow, I don't think the muslim world is going to rejoice at his proclamation. If anything, I think terrorists and their supporters are licking their chops and realizing this man cares more about opinion polls and international "acceptance" than his duties as president.

[doison]

Yep. Dr. Sowell is one of the greatest philosphers of modern times. And most African Americans probably dont even know who he is. Such a shame.

Philosopher and great haven't belonged in the same sentence since the scientific method came into use.  Modern philosophy is nothing more than mental masturbation for those not wanting to be "burdened" by the use of facts.

[George Whorewell]

Does that count for existentialists also?

[garebear]

Philosopher and great haven't belonged in the same sentence since the scientific method came into use.  Modern philosophy is nothing more than mental masturbation for those not wanting to be "burdened" by the use of facts.

Not a fan of Echkart Tolle?

[doison]

Not a fan of Echkart Tolle?

Not a fan of anyone that believes simple manipulation of words creates any great "insight" into the workings of the world.  It has been my experience that any time the philosophers have taken to a subject it has been bastardized to a point of no longer even being that subject. 
The "quantum" world is their best disaster.  Trying to describe the non-deterministic nature of the world, a nature that by its very scale definition cannot be related to our experience, with manipulation of some 250,000 man-made English words is an abomination. 

It's fun to philosophize with a group of morons though.  "My personal feeling is that the the quantum world shows us that were God to create a deterministic path for the Universe, he clearly would set that clock in a fashion that we can't understand.  Many people find fault in the theory because it cannot match our daily experience.  I however, find great pleasure and security in knowing that the simple "here and now" isn't all there is to the vastness of consciousness."


I could puke that out to any ignoramus and they'd be nodding their head in agreement, and it's nothing more than completely unrelated jibbersh....IE: Philosophy