Biggus Chatroom: Obama Speaks To The Muslim World

2:48 PM Biggus: Further to my brief reply to your twitter about complaints other than BS language, it doesn’t bother you that basically accepted the idea that we are essentially the cause of middle eastern problems?

2:49 PM …that Obama basically accepted…

me: Interesting that that was your perception. I don’t think we are, nor did he say anything of the kind

2:50 PM He said Muslims had a warped view of America that was wrong

that Israel had a right to exist

2:51 PM That we were the ones who brought down Iran’s government and reinstalled the Shah, (guess what, we did)

2:52 PM that denying the Holocaust was hurtful

that no speech would solve the issues in the region

2:54 PM Biggus: And given our issues with Iran for the last 30 years we probably should have overthrown the mullahs.

2:55 PM me: Right, but no-where in that speech did I hear any apology for America

Shit he even said he was happy Saddam Hussein had been overthrown despite it being a war of choice

despite

6 minutes

3:02 PM Biggus: I would have to say he apologized for acting “contrary to our traditions and ideals.”

3:03 PM me: Right, but our traditions are a beacon to the world, and we did. Even Lindsay Graham, John McCain, The Joint Chiefs of staff say we did

because we did

Biggus: Well, case closed. It’s debatable, at best.

me: I don’t believe that being American means never having to say your sorry

Biggus: I don’t believe it means you do it at every opportunity either.

3:04 PM me: But I understand you feel we didn’t torture

Biggus: Especially when I don’t think there is anything to be sorry about.

me: Well if you feel he does no at every opportunity they we’re watching different people

Biggus: Okay.

Moving on.

3:05 PM This is patently untrue:
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’ve endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring 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. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own.

If it were simply a put-upon people longing to be free they’d be free.

3:07 PM me: Yeah Gaza in January was a fucking picnic

I agreed with Israel going in there

Biggus: Because they were launching fucking rockets.

me: right see above

Biggus: That’s the problem.

3:08 PM me: but to say that it’s patently untrue that they are suffering is wrong

Biggus: They aren’t some innocent people who Israel is dicking over.

They aren’t suffering because of the indignity of occupation.

me: They may be suffering because of Hamas and Israel going at each other, but it’s no picnic for them

Biggus: They are suffering because they have no institutions or sane leaders and a good percentage of the population are terrorists.

3:09 PM me: you have a specific number?

85%?

Biggus: I’d guess 10-15%.

I said a good percentage, not a fucking outrageous number.

3:10 PM me: well then they deserve it then

Biggus: Though better than half want Israel wiped out according to the most recent poll I saw.

3:11 PM me: Well more than half of Israelis think settlement growth is a blockade to peace

Biggus: Good for them.

3:12 PM What’s your point? That one nation actually would like peace and the other wouldn’t?

3:14 PM me: what was the source of your poll?

AIPAC?

3:15 PM Biggus: Yes.

It was last year sometime. I don’t fucking remember whose poll it was. Someone considered legit.

me: when was the last Palestinian suicide bombing?

3:16 PM Biggus: I don’t know. However, launching missiles randomly toward civilians is every bit as bad.

3:17 PM me: You seem to be arguing not that the Palestinians are not suffering, but that they deserve it

when you were originally arguing that they weren’t a suffering people

3:19 PM Biggus: I was originally arguing that their suffering was not brought about by occupation, but by their own leadership.

Look, the speech is mostly okay. He pandered too much for my taste, but he also had some fine statements. I doubt it will do any good for anything but his own image, but we’ll see.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 7th, 2009 at 6:44 am and is filed under Biggus Chat Room, History, Politics, World Affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.