Designs and Hey There (HEY There!!).
Ditto to your thoughts on this thread. I've tried to avoid it, as I do all threads with the politicallly entrenched, conspiracy theorists and those with OCD. The Muslim extremists have been trying diligently to attack US soil since 9/11. Since they have had little success, other than 'home grown' Boston bombers, it shows that attacking the US isn't so easy. Friendly neighbors and two oceans will do that for you.
Still, of course they will keep trying. How successful will they be? No one can say with any certainty. But there are a lot of ridiculous statements being made based on conspiracy theorist websites/spokespersons, political spinning from those who hate Obama and the rabid anti-whatevers with OCD. If I was looking for a target rich enviornment for dumbass, reactionary, irrational, sometimes hysterical defnitive statements about something for which most posters have very little actual knowledge, I've certainly come to the right place.
Ich bin ein Berliner", ("I am a Berliner") is a quotation from a June 26, 1963, speech by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in West Berlin. He was underlining the support of the United States for West Germany 22 months after Soviet-supported East Germany erected the Berlin Wall to prevent mass emigration to the West. Obama's Muslim statements, llike it or not, is his attempt to reach out to the Muslim world, find common ground, and show them that the US is not their sworn enemy. Does he sometimes stumble over words? Duh. But one of his objectives was to try to 'fix' or heal some of that rift caused by so many US wars waged in Muslim countries. That is a noble objective. How successful? Who knows. But to criticize him for those statements, or even worse to insinuate that he is part of the Musllim Brotherhood, or some Muslim conspiracy, is ridiculous. He should not be ashamed of his Muslim heritage any more than he should be ashamed of his Christian heritage.
Obama is first and foremost a politician. Shocking. Just like Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, etc. before him. He is more of a compromiser and pragmatist than some and seeks to build bridges rather than burn (bomb) them. He is inclusive rather than exclusive (Designs said it welll). As a result he will sometimes look weak, but a hawkish president who won't consider alternatives other than bombs and bullets is better???? I'm with Metatron on this (did I just say that??).
I'm apolitical; I'm for my president regardless of which party he represents. The spin nauseates me.