Friday, June 05, 2009

President Barack Obama's full text Cairo Address

DOES THIS BRING TO MIND KAREN ARMSTRONG AND THE ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS; LEE PENN'S WARNINGS OF 'UNITED RELIGIONS'???

"In fact, faith should bring us together.  And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews.  That's why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilizations.  Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action -- whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster . . .  "


I am honoured to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over 1,000 years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.
 
"We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Muslims around the world, tension rooted in historical forces that go beyond any current policy debate.
 
"The relationship between Islam and the West includes centuries of co-existence and co-operation, but also conflict and religious wars. More recently, tension has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were too often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations. Moreover, the sweeping change brought by modernity and globalisation led many Muslims to view the West as hostile to the traditions of Islam.

Violent extremists have exploited these tensions in a small but potent minority of Muslims. The attacks of September 11th, 2001, and the continued efforts of these extremists to engage in violence against civilians has led some in my country to view

Islam as inevitably hostile not only to America and Western countries, but also to human rights. This has bred more fear and mistrust.


So long as our relationship is defined by our differences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the co-operation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.
 
I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition. Instead, they overlap, and share common principles of justice and progress; tolerance and the dignity of all human beings.


I do so recognising that change cannot happen overnight. No single speech can eradicate years of mistrust, nor can I answer in the time that I have all the complex questions that brought us to this point. But I am convinced that in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts, and that too often are said only behind closed doors. There must be a sustained effort to listen to each other; to learn from each other; to respect one another; and to seek common ground.
 
As the Holy Quran tells us: "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth." That is what I will try to do, to speak the truth as best I can, humbled by the task before us, and firm in my belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.

 

Part of this conviction is rooted in my own experience. I am a Christian, but my father came from a Kenyan family that includes generations of Muslims. As a boy, I spent several years in Indonesia and heard the call of the azaan at the break of dawn and the fall of dusk. As a young man, I worked in Chicago communities where many found dignity and peace in their Muslim faith.

 

As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam at places like Al-Azhar University that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed.
 
Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality.

 

I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America's story. The first nation to recognise my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote: "The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims."
 
And since our founding, American Muslims have enriched the United States. They have fought in our wars, served in government, stood for civil rights, started businesses, taught at our universities, excelled in our sports arenas, won Nobel Prizes, built our tallest building, and lit the Olympic Torch. And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Quran that one of our Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson kept in his personal library.
 
So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider it part of my responsibility as president of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

 

But that same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born out of revolution against an empire. We were founded upon the ideal that all are created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words within our borders, and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept: Epluribus unum: "Out of many, one."
 
Much has been made of the fact that an African-American with the name Barack Hussein Obama could be elected president. But my personal story is not so unique. The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores - that includes nearly seven million American Muslims in our country today who enjoy incomes and education that are higher than average.

 

Moreover, freedom in America is indivisible from the freedom to practice one's religion. That is why there is a mosque in every state of our union, and over 1,200 mosques within our borders. That is why the US government has gone to court to protect the right of women and girls to wear the hijab, and to punish those who would deny it.
 
So let there be no doubt: Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations to live in peace and security; to get an education and to work with dignity; to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity.

 

Of course, recognising our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead; and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared, and our failure to meet them will hurt us all.

 

For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations. When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. And when innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience. That is what it means to share this world in the 21st century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings.

 

This is a difficult responsibility to embrace. For human history has often been a record of nations and tribes subjugating one another to serve their own interests. Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared.

 

That does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite: we must face these tensions squarely. And so in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together.
 
The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all of its forms.

In Ankara, I made clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam. We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security.
 
Because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject: the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people.
 
The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals, and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued al-Qaeda and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice, we went because of necessity.

 

I am aware that some question or justify the events of 9/11. But let us be clear: al-Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people on that day. The victims were innocent men, women and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet al-Qaeda chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach. These are not opinions to be debated; these are facts to be dealt with.

 

Make no mistake: We do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonising for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.

 

That's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam.
 
The Holy Quran teaches that whoever kills an innocent, it is as if he has killed all mankind; and whoever saves a person, it is as if he has saved all mankind. The enduring faith of over a billion people is so much bigger than the narrow hatred of a few. Islam is not part of the problem in combating violent extremism it is an important part of promoting peace. We also know that military power alone is not going to solve the problems in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why we plan to invest $1.5 billion each year over the next five years to partner with Pakistanis to build schools and hospitals, roads and businesses, and hundreds of millions to help those who have been displaced. And that is why we are providing more than $2.8 billion to help Afghans develop their economy and deliver services that people depend upon.
 
Let me also address the issue of Iraq. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq was a war of choice that provoked strong differences in my country and around the world. Although I believe that the Iraqi people are ultimately better off without the tyranny of Saddam Hussein, I also believe that events in Iraq have reminded America of the need to use diplomacy and build international consensus to resolve our problems whenever possible. Indeed, we can recall the words of Thomas Jefferson, who said: "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be."

 

Today, America has a dual responsibility: to help Iraq forge a better future - and to leave Iraq to Iraqis. I have made it clear to the Iraqi people that we pursue no bases, and no claim on their territory or resources. Iraq's sovereignty is its own.

 

That is why I ordered the removal of our combat brigades by next August. That is why we will honour our agreement with Iraq's democratically elected government to remove combat troops from Iraqi cities by July, and to remove all our troops from Iraq by 2012. We will help Iraq train its security forces and develop its economy. But we will support a secure and united Iraq as a partner, and never as a patron.

 

And finally, just as America can never tolerate violence by extremists, we must never alter our principles. 9/11 was an enormous trauma to our country. The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States, and I have ordered the prison at Guantanamo Bay closed by early next year.

 

So America will defend itself respectful of the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. And we will do so in partnership with Muslim communities which are also threatened. The sooner the extremists are isolated and unwelcome in Muslim communities, the sooner we will all be safer.

 

The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.

 

America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.
 
Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant, and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

 

On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people, Muslims and Christians, have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years they have endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighbouring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations large and small that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.

 

For decades, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive. It is easy to point fingers for Palestinians to point to the displacement brought by Israel's founding, and for Israelis to point to the constant hostility and attacks throughout its history from within its borders as well as beyond. But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: the only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security.

 

That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest. That is why I intend to personally pursue this outcome with all the patience that the task requires. The obligations that the parties have agreed to under the road map are clear. For peace to come, it is time for them and all of us to live up to our responsibilities.

 

Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black people in America suffered the lash of the whip as slaves and the humiliation of segregation. But it was not violence that won full and equal rights. It was a peaceful and determined insistence upon the ideals at the centre of America's founding.

 

This same story can be told by people from South Africa to South Asia; from Eastern Europe to Indonesia. It's a story with a simple truth: that violence is a dead end. It is a sign of neither courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That is not how moral authority is claimed; that is how it is surrendered. Now is the time for Palestinians to focus on what they can build. The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people.

 

Hamas does have support among some Palestinians, but they also have responsibilities. To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, and to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognise past agreements, and recognise Israel's right to exist.

 

At the same time, Israelis must acknowledge that just as Israel's right to exist cannot be denied, neither can Palestine's. The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. This construction violates previous agreements and undermines efforts to achieve peace. It is time for these settlements to stop.
 
Israel must also live up to its obligations to ensure that Palestinians can live, and work, and develop their society. And just as it devastates Palestinian families, the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza does not serve Israel's security; neither does the continuing lack of opportunity in the West Bank. Progress in the daily lives of the Palestinian people must be part of a road to peace, and Israel must take concrete steps to enable such progress.

 

Finally, the Arab states must recognise that the Arab Peace Initiative was an important beginning, but not the end of their responsibilities. The Arab-Israeli conflict should no longer be used to distract the people of Arab nations from other problems.

Instead, it must be a cause for action to help the Palestinian people develop the institutions that will sustain their state; to recognise Israel's legitimacy; and to choose progress over a self-defeating focus on the past.

 

America will align our policies with those who pursue peace, and say in public what we say in private to Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs. We cannot impose peace. But privately, many Muslims recognise that Israel will not go away. Likewise, many Israelis recognise the need for a Palestinian state. It is time for us to act on what everyone knows to be true.
 
Too many tears have flowed. Too much blood has been shed. All of us have a responsibility to work for the day when the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear; when the Holy Land of three great faiths is the place of peace that God intended it to be; when Jerusalem is a secure and lasting home for Jews and Christians and Muslims, and a place for all of the children of Abraham to mingle peacefully together as in the story of Isra, when Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them) joined in prayer.

 

The third source of tension is our shared interest in the rights and responsibilities of nations on nuclear weapons. This issue has been a source of tension between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. For many years, Iran has defined itself in part by its opposition to my country, and there is indeed a tumultuous history between us. In the middle of the Cold War, the United States played a role in the overthrow of a democratically elected Iranian government. Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against US troops and civilians.

 

This history is well known. Rather than remain trapped in the past, I have made it clear to Iran's leaders and people that my country is prepared to move forward. The question, now, is not what Iran is against, but rather what future it wants to build.

It will be hard to overcome decades of mistrust, but we will proceed with courage, rectitude and resolve. There will be many issues to discuss between our two countries, and we are willing to move forward without preconditions on the basis of mutual respect. But it is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is not simply about America's interests. It is about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.

 

I understand those who protest that some countries have weapons that others do not. No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. That is why I strongly reaffirmed America's commitment to seek a world in which no nations hold nuclear weapons. And any nation - including Iran - should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That commitment is at the core of the treaty, and it must be kept for all who fully abide by it. And I am hopeful that all countries in the region can share in this goal.

 

The fourth issue that I will address is democracy. I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.

 

That does not lessen my commitment, however, to governments that reflect the will of the people. Each nation gives life to this principle in its own way, grounded in the traditions of its own people. America does not presume to know what is best for everyone, just as we would not presume to pick the outcome of a peaceful election. But I do have an unyielding belief that all people yearn for certain things: the ability to speak your mind and have a say in how you are governed; confidence in the rule of law and the equal administration of justice; government that is transparent and doesn't steal from the people; the freedom to live as you choose. Those are not just American ideas, they are human rights, and that is why we will support them everywhere.

 

There is no straight line to realise this promise. But this much is clear: governments that protect these rights are ultimately more stable, successful and secure. Suppressing ideas never succeeds in making them go away. America respects the right of all peaceful and law-abiding voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. And we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments provided they govern with respect for all their people.

 

This last point is important because there are some who advocate for democracy only when they are out of power; once in power, they are ruthless in suppressing the rights of others. No matter where it takes hold, government of the people and by the people sets a single standard for all who hold power: you must maintain your power through consent, not coercion; you must respect the rights of minorities, and participate with a spirit of tolerance and compromise; you must place the interests of your people and the legitimate workings of the political process above your party. Without these ingredients, elections alone do not make true democracy.

 

The fifth issue that we must address together is religious freedom.

 

Islam has a proud tradition of tolerance. We see it in the history of Andalusia and Cordoba during the Inquisition. I saw it firsthand as a child in Indonesia, where devout Christians worshipped freely in an overwhelmingly Muslim country. That is the spirit we need today.

 

People in every country should be free to choose and live their faith based upon the persuasion of the mind, heart, and soul. This tolerance is essential for religion to thrive, but it is being challenged in many different ways.

 

Among some Muslims, there is a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of another's. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt. And faultlines must be closed among Muslims as well, as the divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence, particularly in Iraq.

 

Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfil their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfil zakat.

 

Likewise, it is important for Western countries to avoid impeding Muslim citizens from practicing religion as they see fit for instance, by dictating what clothes a Muslim woman should wear. We cannot disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism. Indeed, faith should bring us together. That is why we are forging service projects in America that bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews. That is why we welcome efforts like Saudi Arabian King Abdullah's interfaith dialogue and Turkey's leadership in the Alliance of Civilisations. Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or providing relief after a natural disaster.

 

The sixth issue that I want to address is women's rights. I know there is debate about this issue. I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous.

 

Now let me be clear: issues of women's equality are by no means simply an issue for Islam. In Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia, we have seen Muslim-majority countries elect a woman to lead. Meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life, and in countries around the world.

 

Our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons, and our common prosperity will be advanced by allowing all humanity, men and women, to reach their full potential. I do not believe that women must make the same choices as men in order to be equal, and I respect those women who choose to live their lives in traditional roles. But it should be their choice. That is why the United States will partner with any Muslim-majority country to support expanded literacy for girls, and to help young women pursue employment through micro-financing that helps people live their dreams.

 

Finally, I want to discuss economic development and opportunity. I know that for many, the face of globalisation is contradictory. The internet and television can bring knowledge and information, but also offensive sexuality and mindless violence. Trade can bring new wealth and opportunities, but also huge disruptions and changing communities. In all nations, including my own, this change can bring fear. Fear that because of modernity we will lose control over our economic choices, our politics, and most importantly our identities - those things we most cherish about our communities, our families, our traditions, and our faith.

 

But I also know that human progress cannot be denied. There need not be contradiction between development and tradition. Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim-majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai. In ancient times and in our times, Muslim communities have been at the forefront of innovation and education.

 

This is important because no development strategy can be based only upon what comes out of the ground, nor can it be sustained while young people are out of work. Many Gulf states have enjoyed great wealth as a consequence of oil, and some are beginning to focus it on broader development. But all of us must recognise that education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century, and in too many Muslim communities there remains under-investment in these areas. I am emphasising such investments within my country. And while America in the past has focused on oil and gas in this part of the world, we now seek a broader engagement.

 

On education, we will expand exchange programmes, and increase scholarships, like the one that brought my father to America, while encouraging more Americans to study in Muslim communities. And we will match promising Muslim students with internships in America; invest in online learning for teachers and children around the world; and create a new online network, so a teenager in Kansas can communicate instantly with a teenager in Cairo. On economic development, we will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries. And I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.

 

On science and technology, we will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs. We will open centres of scientific excellence in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and appoint new Science Envoys to collaborate on programmes that develop new sources of energy, create green jobs, digitise records, clean water, and grow new crops. And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health. 

 

All these things must be done in partnership. Americans are ready to join with citizens and governments; community organisations, religious leaders, and businesses in Muslim communities around the world to help our people pursue a better life.

 

The issues that I have described will not be easy to address. But we have a responsibility to join together on behalf of the world we seek - a world where extremists no longer threaten our people, and American troops have come home; a world where Israelis and Palestinians are each secure in a state of their own, and nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes; a world where governments serve their citizens, and the rights of all God's children are respected. Those are mutual interests.

 

That is the world we seek. But we can only achieve it together. I know there are many, Muslim and non-Muslim, who question whether we can forge this new beginning. Some are eager to stoke the flames of division, and to stand in the way of progress. Some suggest that it isn't worth the effort that we are fated to disagree, and civilisations are doomed to clash. Many more are simply sceptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. And I want to particularly say this to young people of every faith, in every country, you, more than anyone, have the ability to remake this world. All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time.

 

The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort, a sustained effort, to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

 

It is easier to start wars than to end them. It is easier to blame others than to look inward; to see what is different about someone than to find the things we share. But we should choose the right path, not just the easy path. There is also one rule that lies at the heart of every religion that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. This truth transcends nations and peoples a belief that isn't new; that isn't black or white or brown; that isn't Christian, or Muslim or Jew. It's a belief that pulsed in the cradle of civilisation, and that still beats in the heart of billions. It's a faith in other people, and it's what brought me here today.

 

We have the power to make the world we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning, keeping in mind what has been written.

 

The Holy Quran tells us, "O mankind! We have created you male and a female; and we have made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another." The Talmud tells us: "The whole of the Torah is for the purpose of promoting peace."

The Holy Bible tells us, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." The people of the world can live together in peace. We know that is God's vision. Now, that must be our work here on Earth.

 

Thank you and may God's peace be upon you.


44 comments:

Constance Cumbey said...

. . . Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership; progress must be shared. . . .

"yet in this NEW AGE . . . INTERDEPENDENCE . . ."

If you haven't already obtained it go to my side link "presentations for downloading" and pull down my books -- SPEAKING OF BUZZWORDS -- this couldn't be much clearer.
Did Oprah write this speech for him, or was it Javier? Who knows?

Constance Cumbey said...

This appears to me to be not only NEW WORLD ORDER material, it is NEW WORLD RELIGION material as well!

Constance

tuco22 said...

I watched a YouTube video of the jumpers from the WTC buildings on 9/11/2001 last night. And of the people trapped in the upper floors of the buildings as they crammed into the windows trying to get air. I also saw video of some of the bodies recovered in the Pentagon. We should all revisit that day, because it was the day our country died, and it happened because of Islam and Muslims, among other things. Kissing Muslim butt isn't going to change their mindset or belief that they have to kill anyone who is not a Muslim. Look for implementation of aspects of Sharia law in the US in the coming years.

Anonymous said...

If if WAS the Islamists!! I don't think we should dismiss Alexander Jones' theories so readily without investigation ! ! ! It might have equally been New World Order implementation plan types seeking to instigate an Armageddon Script type action!

Len said...

6/5/2009

Obama is adopting the dhimmi position of Eurabia even to the extent of beginning a relationship with the (56 states of the) OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) and allowing many, many more Muslims into the US.

This will not only lead to more and more anti-Israel policy, as it has done in the EU, but further the Saudi Wahabi objective of spreading Islam ands Sharia in the US as it has done in the EU through immigration, plus the super-high Muslim birth rate and the vanishing EU birth rate (with an added kick from abortion).

The new paradigm will result in “hate-crime” laws making it a crime to criticize Islam (but not other religions), result in foot baths in all public places, public land for mosques, separate hours in pools for women, more teaching of Islam in schools, and greasing the skids for making the US a Muslim nation. All this is happening in the Solana's EU.

Obama may not be the Manchurian president but he will do till the real thing comes along.

Len said...

8/5/2009

If anyone is not familiar with the term "Eurabia" (and Londonistan) I suggest you read Bat Yeor's book by that title as well as Melani Phillip's "Londonistan."

If these do not alarm you enough about creeping Sharia in the US you should also read "America Alone: The end of the world as we know it" by Mark Steyn and Ariana Falacci's "The Force of Reason."

The Pope was right on when he talked about historic Muslim depradations but, after a few murders of Catholics that followed, he adoopted a dhimmi stance. This iis unfortunately the modern paradigm.

Len said...

Sorry: that should have been Oriana Fallaci.

Anonymous said...

I expect you are right, Len. I read those books. I have a friend in Seattle who mailed me those. Bat Yeor's book alone should convince people about the fate of women under a Moslem rule, even a creeping Moslem rule. And yes, Obama is adopting a dhimmi position and most people in the West don't even know what a dhimmi position is. Would it be legal to describe dhimmitude in a public school? I have not taught for twenty years, so I don't know. Do you?

Mariel

Len said...

6/5/2009

Anyone can google the word "dhimmi" and find out about it. Here is a dhimmi web site:

http://www.dhimmi.com/

Anonymous said...

But what would a teacher do, just tell students to google "dhimmi"?

Not discuss it? What it they wanted to discuss it? Stop them?

Mariel

Anonymous said...

The New Age or the UN's Alliance of Civilizations would not be pandering to Islam, if they did not believe that the Madhi , would actually come and reform Islam. They're crazy, but crazy enough to stage a World Leader. It's been done in the past.


Savvy

Anonymous said...

UN Report Says Pro-Life Laws Constitute Violence against Women

http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/rapporteur/docs/15YearReviewofVAWMandate.pdf

Constance Cumbey said...

I LUV BEN STEIN!!!

Get his DVD EXPELLED!!!!!!!!!

Constance

I just watched it -- COMPELLING -- TRUTH WITH WONDERFUL HUMOR INCLUDED.

Constance Cumbey said...

I concur with Len that Bat Yeor is required reading.

Constance

Constance Cumbey said...

I'll have the UN know that at least half the in utero babies murdered are would-be women!

Constance

Joyce said...

Constance,
I finally had time to read the full text of his speech.. all of our worse fears are coming to fruition. I also want to highlight another line besides the clear Alliance of Civilization language:

"Freedom of religion is central to the ability of peoples to live together. We must always examine the ways in which we protect it. For instance, in the United States, rules on charitable giving have made it harder for Muslims to fulfill their religious obligation. That is why I am committed to working with American Muslims to ensure that they can fulfill zakat."


My first reaction to this was...what is he talking about..The only time contributions are limited for charitable giving are in the case of terrorist organizations.. Zakat is a giving based on percentage of net worth and is used in the cause of dawah...to spread Islam. It's a large since it is based on net worth rather than income, when we think about the wealth of those from oil rich countries.

The implications of what Obama is saying here might not be clear at first, but it sounds like a loosening up of surveying where this money is actually going and what it is funding. If an organization wants to fund a terrorist organization like Hamas, US rules will now permit this without any scrutiny.

Very interesting speech indeed.

Joyce

Anonymous said...

It appears - at least to me, that Obama is - making the path straight -

DouginMI

Anonymous said...

President Obama commends AOC

http://www.unaoc.org/content/view/369/200/lang,en/

Anonymous said...

Joyce, good thinking on Obama's statement on zakat. Yes, why would he need to make charitable giving easier (no difficulty in it now that I know of, for me) except by removing restrictions on giving to organizations that fund terrorism.

Wow, that's an amazing realization. It's getting scarier by the moment.
Good grief! Help!

Mariel

treesy said...

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/opinion/?id=32482

Found this article by David Miliband (Sec. of State) of Britain published at the same time as Obama's speech. Eerily similar themes, almost to the point that one might think it was.....um.........coordinated.

Darrell

Anonymous said...

I think Obama and friends want to put an end to democracy. One of the reasons why they supporting ideas that are anything but democratic. Didn't Benjamin Creme say that "Democracy should be outlawed if possible."?


Savvy

Len said...

6/7/2009

The Best Analysis of Obama's Cairo Speech

Obama's Arabian Dreams
Caroline Glick

http://tinyurl.com/m4prdy

Len said...

6/7/2009

Another "best" analysis:

Cairo Speech Reveals the Real Obama

Friday, June 5, 2009 10:00 AM

By: Frank J. Gaffney

President Barack Obama’s address yesterday in Cairo has been well received by the Muslim world and by general audiences.

Nobody may be happier with it, though, than the Muslim Brotherhood — the global organization that seeks to impose authoritative Islam’s theo-political-legal program known as “Shariah” through stealthy means where violence is not practicable.

Egyptian Muslim Brothers were prominent among the guests in the audience at Cairo University and Brotherhood-associated organizations in America, like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), have rapturously endorsed the speech.

Accordingly, Americans who love freedom, whether or not they recognize the threat Shariah represents to it, have abundant cause for concern about the speech and what it portends for U.S. policy and interests.

Continued:
http://tinyurl.com/m6x5rx

Anonymous said...

From Obama's speech:

"As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam - at places like Al-Azhar - that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality. I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story...."

A response: During the mediaeval era the light of learning from ancient Greece was carried principally in Constantinople, from where many scholars fled to Western Europe when the city was attacked and captured by Islam in 1453. Algebra: the ancients knew how to solve quadratic equations, but the next step - solving cubic equations - was made in Renaissance Western Europe. Disease - Muslim scholars discovered neither bacteria, viruses nor antibiotics. Music: which? Religious tolerance: According to the qur'an (4:89), anybody who leaves Islam is to be executed. "Fight… until there is no more resistance… and the only faith is in Allah" (8:39)"Fight and kill the unbelievers wherever you find them (9:5). Racial equality? Most Arab soldiers of early Islam did not wish the peoples they conquered to convert to Islam, so that they could continue to pillage them. Islam as part of America's story? Only from 9/11/2001, and earlier because Muslims were happy to accept money from slave traders to round up Africans to go to America as slaves. (Louis Farrakhan's followers need to know that fact.)

Read what Obama really believes at

http://www.theobamafile.com/ObamaReligion.htm

As for the Holy Land, many talk of a "two state solution". I dispute on theological grounds that there should be a division of the land into two states (and there is already Jordan), but in any case it is clear that it is not a "solution". Islam will never leave in peace with Israel - the qur'an calls Jews "apes and pigs" (5:60, 7:166), and when they were given Gaza they used it to lob rockets into the next bit of the Holy Land.

Gospeller

Joyce said...

Gospeller,
Thanks for the link. I agree with you 100%. The question one must ask themselves is how were Americans so deceived as to vote for a man like this.

Obviously, we were not given great choices in the 2008 election, but the fact that as a nation, Americans, including Christians and Jews could support a man like this is a sign that they are coming under a "strong delusion".

It's sad to see our generation being dumbed down by the media, to the point where they have lost the capacity to think critically about important issues. It's also sad to see that Biblical instructions concerning the division of the Land are explained and rationalized away..

The sad thing is that our nation will come under judgement for this and many of the other things we are doing like promoting homosexual marriage, thinking of human life as a disposable item.

Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,
Joyce

paul said...

Muhammed was a bloody, semi-literate warrior
whose writings are disconnected gibberish
and based on hatred of Jews and Christians,
even though he attempted to speak with the authority that the Bible speaks with, in fact.
What else does anyone need to know?
He came along 650 years after Christ at a time
when Christianity was spreading all over the
world very rapidly. Everything about him
is a reaction to that fact.
Then he died and he's been dead ever since.
He offers the world nothing of value; only
oppression, animosity and spiritual death.
I've often thought that the Antichrist that
so many of us are looking for, may in fact be
that phoney pedophile "prophet"
named Muhammed. He fits the bill.

björn said...

try to catch on google video
"THE 2012 CONSPIRACY(4/4)"
(1-4), but part 3 and 4 are the best, where he reveals the link between zeitgeist movie, sony and share international...:)
farmer

Anonymous said...

"As a student of history, I also know civilization's debt to Islam. It was Islam - at places like Al-Azhar - that carried the light of learning through so many centuries, paving the way for Europe's Renaissance and Enlightenment. It was innovation in Muslim communities that developed the order of algebra; our magnetic compass and tools of navigation; our mastery of pens and printing; our understanding of how disease spreads and how it can be healed. Islamic culture has given us majestic arches and soaring spires; timeless poetry and cherished music; elegant calligraphy and places of peaceful contemplation. And throughout history, Islam has demonstrated through words and deeds the possibilities of religious tolerance and racial equality. I also know that Islam has always been a part of America's story...."
-----------------------------------
Is Obama insane? It was Christianity that gave birth to Scholasticism. The Enlightenment used a lot of Christian ideas such as natural law theories. It was Christianity that build universities and schools in Europe, It was Christianity, that gave rise to Michaelangelo, Shakespeare, the Opera, Mozart, Dante, and many more. It was Christianity that built more hospitals than churches. And now they want us to believe that Jews and Christians were nomads, until the Arabs brought us enlightenment.

Savvy

Anonymous said...

Zhao Xiao, a communist party member in China. His interest in Christianity began when he embarked on a study of how economies in predominantly Christian societies differ from non-Christian ones. He visited South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong. To his own surprise, he began advocating that Christianity could offer China a "common moral foundation" capable of reducing corruption, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, promoting philanthropy and even preventing pollution.

In lectures and writings, Zhao now argues that promoting the 10 Commandments would cultivate "a civilization based upon rules." Likewise, providing business owners with "a motivation that transcends profits" might keep them from seeking shortcuts that have fouled China's environment or cheated workers. And encouraging tycoons to donate some of their wealth would develop China's civic institutions, Zhao argues, just as early American Christians founded Harvard and Yale Universities.

When Zhao took his theory public in lectures to political elites, he braced himself for criticism; as a party member, discussing his newfound faith could stymie his career. Instead he was stunned to discover that many people agreed with him.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-jesus-1-1-webjun22,0,2458211.story?page=3

The Chinese are smarter than us.


Savvy

Constance Cumbey said...

To Treesy:

I just read that Milliband speech. Yes, you are right -- it does sound rather, er, uh,coordinated . . . like they are reading from the same script. Query (in Church Lady parlance), COULD IT BE, COULD IT BE . . . THE ARMAGEDDON SCRIPT????!!!!

Constance

Anonymous said...

Newsweek’s Evan Thomas: Obama Is ‘Sort of God’

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2009/06/05/newsweek-s-evan-thomas-obama-sort-god



Savvy

Anonymous said...

Constance,

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Armaggedon script the "plan" to encourage Nuclear arms race or war in the Middle East, so that the NWO can emerge from the it's ashes?

Savvy

Len said...

6/7/2009

From MichelleMalkin.com

Departmeent of Justice issues statement “to protect American Muslims;” silent on protecting Americans from jihadists
By Michelle Malkin • June 5, 2009 11:14 AM

You will be fascinated — among other reactions — by the latest statement issued by the Obama DOJ, issued yesterday after the president’s Cairo speech.

No, it’s not a statement condemning the jihadist in Arkansas who targeted our troops or the Bronx jihadi plotters who targeted Jews, infidels, and our troops.

It’s a statement “to protect American Muslims.”

Read it (hat tip - LaShawn Barber):

Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on Department of Justice’s Outreach and Enforcement Efforts to Protect American Muslims

Thursday, June 4, 2009

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement relating to President Obama’s historic speech today in Cairo, Egypt:

“The President’s pledge for a new beginning between the United States and the Muslim community takes root here in the Justice Department where we are committed to using criminal and civil rights laws to protect Muslim Americans. A top priority of this Justice Department is a return to robust civil rights enforcement and outreach in defending religious freedoms and other fundamental rights of all of our fellow citizens in the workplace, in the housing market, in our schools and in the voting booth.

“There are those who will continue to want to divide by fear - to pit our national security against our civil liberties - but that is a false choice. We have a solemn responsibility to protect our people while we also protect our principles.”

Meanwhile, this:

The FBI confirmed Wednesday it was investigating the possibility an Atlanta Jewish site was among other planned targets of a Muslim convert accused of killing a soldier outside a Conway, Ark., recruiting center this week.

Stephen Emmett, spokesman for the Atlanta FBI office, said the investigation into the shooting turned up evidence to suggest Abdulhakim Muhammad, 23, of Little Rock, had plans for a “Jewish entity” in Atlanta. The Associated Press reported memos from the investigation showed Little Rock, as well as New York, Philadelphia, Louisville, Ky., and Memphis, were also on his list.

Emmett declined to say what specific site in Atlanta might have been in Muhammad’s plans, but “precautions were taken [in Atlanta] because of the serious nature of the Little Rock” shooting.

And this: “The man accused of fatally shooting a soldier outside a recruiting center begged for FBI agents to free him from a Yemeni jail where he was ‘radicalized’ by Islamic terrorists, his lawyer told The Associated Press on Thursday. Lawyer Jim Hensley described Abdulhakim Muhammad as an impressionable youth driven to public service in an impoverished Middle Eastern country. But teachings by ‘hardened’ terrorists in Yemen and experiences with Afghan child refugees who were missing limbs drove him to become someone his parents didn’t recognize, Hensley said.”

And one more very interesting post you should read: An investigation by Blue Collar Republican into the Mephis mosque and imam under which the Arkansas jihadi shooter Abdulhakim Muhammad studied/worshiped.

http://bluecollarrepublican.com/
blog/?p=2649

Len said...

6/7/2009

Michelle Malkin Lead Story
The U.S. Department of Injustice
By Michelle Malkin • June 5, 2009 09:56 AM

My column today looks at the political corruption of the Obama Justice Department. With the crime-coddling crony Attorney General Eric Holder in charge, no one should be surprised, of course. Members of Congress who care about electoral integrity need to press the administration on who intervened in the New Black Panther Party case and why. Members of Congress who care about voter fraud need to press the administration on its decision to undermine Georgia voter verification rules. And members of Congress need to continue connecting the dots to ACORN and the larger plan to wield power to preserve and protect a permanent Democratic majority.

***

Continued

Len said...

The U.S. Department of Injustice
by Michelle Malkin
Creators Syndicate
Copyright 2009

The seal of the U.S. Department of Justice bears a Latin phrase: “Qui Pro Domina Justitia Sequitur. The motto refers to the Attorney General “who prosecutes on behalf of Lady Justice.” But under Barack Obama’s politically corrupted DOJ, Lady Justice is getting the shaft.

To wit: Let’s examine the uproar over Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to protect hate-mongering thugs who harassed and bullied precinct workers and voters on Election Day in Philadelphia.

Oh, wait. There’s been no uproar. Let me tell you why.

Two weeks ago, in a highly unusual move, Holder dismissed default judgments his department had won against two of three defendants charged with violating the Voting Rights Act. On November 4, 2008, a billy club-wielding militant in military-style boots and beret stood outside a Philly polling location with a similarly-dressed partner. Citizen journalists from the Pennsylvania-based blog Election Journal captured the menacing duo on video. One of the watchdogs observed: “I think it might be a little intimidating that you have a stick in your hand.”

That was an understatement. Witness Bartle Bull, a Democratic lawyer who organized for Bobby Kennedy and worked for the civil rights movement in Mississippi, signed a sworn affidavit decrying the Election Day brutishness. Serving as a poll watcher that day, he called the behavior of Samir Shabazz and Jerry Jackson “the most blatant form of voter discrimination I have encountered in my life.”

One of them, Bull reported, taunted poll observers: “[Y]ou are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker.”

If the pair had been dressed in white sheets, all hell would have broken loose. But the ebony-clad thugs were members of the New Black Panther Party who had been dispatched by Malcolm X wannabe Malik Shabazz to “guard” the polls. Translation: Protect them from scrutiny. Shield them from sunlight. Keep independent voters and observers out.

Who is Malik Shabazz? The bespectacled race hustler grabbed the spotlight in the weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks by defending Osama bin Laden, blaming President Bush for 9/11, bashing Israel, and blasting our founding fathers as “snakes.” His group also infamously rallied behind the Duke University lacrosse rape hoaxer. And on the day before the presidential election last fall, one of Shabazz’s “field marshals,” Minister Najee Muhammad, held a “black power” rally promising to send his forces to polls across the country “to ensure that the enemy does not sabotage the black vote.”

Continued

Len said...

6/7/2009

Malkin DOJ article conclusion:

The Bush DOJ filed suit against Malik Shabazz, Samir Shabazz, and Jerry Jackson in early January 2009. None of the defendants filed an answer to the lawsuit, putting them all into default. Instead of taking the default judgment that DOJ is entitled to against all of the defendants, the Obama team fully dismissed the lawsuits against Malik Shabazz and Jerry Jackson. Jackson, you should know, is an elected member of the Philadelphia Democratic Committee and was a credentialed poll watcher. Witness Greg Lugones told me “Obama campaign operatives were on site throughout the entire episode.”

Former Justice Department official and voting rights scholar Hans Von Spakovsky added: “I have never heard of the Department dismissing a case it has already won by default. They have…sent the message that hurling racial epithets and slurs at voters and intimidating and threatening voters at the polls is fine with the Holder Justice Department – at least if you are African-American. I seriously doubt that would have happened if the races had been reversed in this case.”

Exactly. And to repeat: The harassment was aimed not just at voters, but at white poll workers trying to ensure a fair and lawful process in a city infamous for machine politics and street money pollution.

Who are the racial cowards, Attorney General Holder?

On the heels of this voter intimidation protection plan, the Obama Justice Department issued another decision that undermines electoral integrity – but bolsters Democratic voter drives. The department this week denied the state of Georgia the ability to enact strict citizenship voter verification rules previously approved by two federal courts. As the Georgia secretary of state Karen Handel explained: “DOJ has thrown open the door for activist organizations such as ACORN to register non-citizens to vote in Georgia’s elections, and the state has no ability to verify an applicant’s citizenship status or whether the individual even exists.”

On top of all that, Holder recently politicized the legal review process involving the contentious issue of D.C. voting rights. After careful study, the DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel had issued an opinion that a House bill on the matter was unconstitutional. Holder, who supports D.C. voting rights along with President Obama, overrode his staff lawyers’ ruling—and simply ordered up an alternative opinion that fit the White House agenda.

Lady Justice is now protected by a security force armed with billy clubs and lawyers who serve the cause of protecting the re-election of Barack Obama over the rule of law.

Walt said...

Monday June 8th 2009 =

Sivan 16th 5769 =

231 years to Messiah's millenial reign ???

FOTM-Walt

Len said...

6/7/2009

The wise Jewish sages of blessed memory, afterlots of speculation thereof concluded:

“May the very essence of those who calculate 'Ends' suffer agony. (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 97b).”

We are not hung up on eschatological speculation because we are more interested in this world than the next. “Better one hour of Torah and mitzvoth in this world than the whole life in the world to come,” says the Talmud. While we hope to be rewarded someday, Rabbi Soloveitchik has pointed out that receiving a reward, while pleasant, is not a religious act. “Therefore, halakhic man prefers the real world to a transcendent existence because here, in this world, man is given an opportunity to create, act, accomplish, while there, in the world to come, he is powerless to change anything at all. --- The task of the [Jewish] religious individual is bound up with the performance of commandments, and this performance is confined to this world ---.” The goal is not to withdraw from the world but to perfect it.

Constance Cumbey said...

To Len:

The Talmudic comments are interesting, but we Christians were taught to pray, 'thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

We further believe that we are to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world."

I suspect we all have at least a little difficulty with that.

I do very much appreciate your perspective and insights. Your keeping us up to date on the machinations against Israel are particularly valuable.

Constance

Len said...

6/8/2009

Ms Cumby wrote: "The Talmudic comments are interesting, but we Christians were taught to pray, 'thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Dear Constance.

I am familiar with "The Lord's Prayer" from my NY City public school-boy assembly days when we recited it. This prayer was instituted by Jesus and is not a radical departure from Jewish practice. Instituting a personal prayer, in addition to the normal prayers, was common at that time and some of them have been preserved in the Talmud. It was only after Jesus' death, that this prayer was made a central part of specifically Christian observance. It is not incompatible with Judaism.

We also pray for "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Here is the exact translation of the relevant verses of the Alaynu prayer with which we end every service:

"We hope therefore, Lord our God, soon to behold Your majestic glory when the abominations shall be removed from the earth and false gods exterminated; when the world will be perfected under the reign of the Almighty, when all humankind will call upon Your Name, and all the wicked of the eaarth will be turned towards You. May all the earth's inhabitants realize and know that to You every knee must bend and every tongue must vow allegience. May they bend and prostrate themselves before You, Lord our God, and give honor to Your glorious Name. May they all accept the yoke of Your kingdom and may You reign over them forever and ever. For the kingdom is Yours, and to all eternity will You reign in glory as is writen in Your Torah: 'The Lord shall be King forever and ever. (Exod. 15:18)' And it is said: ' The Lord shall be King over all the earth; on that day the Lord shall be One and His Name One. (Zech. 14:9)'"

None of this, as well as nothing of what you quoted, is inconsistent with the Talmudic quote or Rabbi Soloveitchik's quote. The Talmud speculates that, if someone is planting a tree when the Messiah arrives, he should finish planting and then go out to greet the Messiah.

Peace and blessing,
Len

Len said...

6/8/2009

Dear Constance,

Wikipedia compares the Lord’s Prayer to the Jewish Kaddish prayer (declaring God’s holiness) which is recited responsively only in the presence of a community (minyan of at least 10 men):

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great Name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His Kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire house of Israel speedily and soon; and say, ‘Amen’
May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be he, beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, ‘Amen.’
May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say ‘Amen.’
He Who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, “Amen.’”

paul said...

John 15:14,15 says:
"Ye are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known unto you."
_______________

John 16:2 says
"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whoever kills you will think that he does God service."

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