I thought the speech was OK. I give it a B-. It seemed bookish, aloof. Wasn't very inspiring. Few breaks for applause. It seemed as if Obama had holed up with a Bible and Lincoln's speeches over the last three weeks. The language was at time turgid, passive, or overblown. There were a ton of metaphors. How much of it was direct? Some. How much of it was concrete? Very little. I was hoping he'd refer to Gaza even elliptically. No way.
I feel as if we're in for an oracular president who is incredibly cool and shrewd, and you never know what he's really thinking. Governs from the center, but has a progressive program.
I'm optimistic because there was a lot in his speech that Palestinians could seize on as evidence that, having addressed our core injustice domestically, we are ready to address the core injustice of our foreign policy. Obama said freedom for all is an American principle, and that the world is one, and gross inequities are no longer tolerable. He spoke of "slaughtering innocents." Yes he was talking about terrorists, but why not Israel, too, the most recent slaughterer of innocents, with state-sponsored terror.
Then there was this, where he opened the door for just a moment on a nation free of identity politics:
We
are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and
nonbelievers. [spent some political capital there] We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from
every end of this Earth.
And because we have tasted the bitter
swill [awful phrase] of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter
stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old
hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon
dissolve; [very beautiful] that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall
reveal itself; [imshallah] and that America must play its role in ushering in a new
era of peace. [put down the gun, son, just put down that gun]
Mr. President, lead us; the people are ready. (Phil Weiss)
