Related info can be found on the White House web page in the article Moment of Opportunity: President Obama on the Middle East & North Africa.
While I felt that the message that President Obama presented about his vision for the Middle East was a strong one, I often wondered about applying this vision in the USA.
I noted a number of ideas in his speech that could use application here.
Promote open access to the internet. In 21st century information is power. Will oppose any group that tries to restrict the right of others and tries to hold power through coercion and not consent.
Relates to the insistence of net neutrality in this country. This is strongly opposed by Republicans and their big corporate backers.
Broaden our engagement beyond elites. Reach the people who will shape the future, particularly the young people. Expand education. Combat disease. Connect with and listen to the voices of the people.
Ideas also opposed by Republicans who just want to take care of the elites. They want to diminish support for educational opportunity. They do not support health care for all.
Respect for the rights of the minorities. All faiths are respected. Rights of women. Child and maternal health.
None of the above are firmly supported by the opposition in this country.
The President mentioned concern for Young people are well educated but cannot find a job.
The opposition in the US is more concerned with blocking women’s rights to health care than they are about creating jobs.
Greatest untapped resource is the talent of its people. Economic growth to solidify the accomplishments of the street. Success of democratic expansion depends on growth and broad-based prosperity.
How about some of that broad-based prosperity here? Taking an average where the top few percent have most of the prosperity is not a good measure of how we are doing here.
He talked about the importance of financial stability
.
Our opposition here wants unbridled and un-policed capitalism despite the instability and havoc that this causes.
Can’t have a dialog when parts of the peaceful opposition are in jail.
What about the civil rights of Bradley Manning who has not been convicted of anything, yet? How about stopping his torture that serves no useful purpose let alone the illegality and immorality of such torture?
What the President proposed for the middle east seems down-right un-American by the standards of the elites of this country. Maybe we need to look at ourselves with a little of the humility Obama proposed for our actions in other countries.