I just read the transcript of The President’s interview with
Al-Arabiya TV (link on left side bar under news section). I had written another post called
escargot instead of apple pie, but I guess i will post it another time. First, folk rocked that shit,
never before has an American President been able to say to the world, especially the Muslim and Arab world that I have lived in Muslim countries, or that members of my family are Muslim.
And yep, folk here use Muslim and Arab separate because they are not the same albeit most
US citizens don’t understand or know that they are; just like
messenger RNA is different from
transfer RNA. Arabs are a group of people from the Middle-East and North Africa. Muslims are people who practice and abide by the Muslim religion. Some Arabs are Muslim, but some Arabs are also Jews and Christians.
It was definitely a clear paradigm shift
(Kuhn, 1957) for he specifically attempted not to alienate Arab and Muslims from being partners in the problem at hand.
At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprise if he addressed the Muslim world in some place like
Lebanon,
Indonesia or
Jordan to lay his cards on the table.
In
Memphis we call this a Mac move.
First he attempted to broaden the discussion beyond the Israeli-Palestine Theater to the entire region inclusive of
Israel.
In addition, he also put the heat to Al Qaeda say in essence, what are you contributing
I give the Presidents big props on this, speaking directly to the nations of Asia that traditionally we in the west, especially back up in this camp, have historically turned a blind eye to. He spoke of respect and may have stated or said the word more than a dozen times in his interview. Only time will tell if playing the Muslim card will, work, but he did, and played it like he was sitting at a table playing in the world championship of poker. Now he may have received a D plus on his economic proposals to date, or a C minus on his quick Executive orders to close Gitmo for example, but he gets at least a 90 on this, from my narrow minded understanding of things and history and events and foreign policy.
Now true it could be smoke and mirrors. He still says that he will keep Israel as a fundamental alli of the United States, and his attempt to disenfranchise Al Qaeda by playing to Muslim and Arab moderates as being out of touch and preferring to destroy as opposed to build, may be tested. Also, the Israelis may be a source of consternations for they may prefer hegemony over peace, and with an election coming up, may put Bibi Netanyahu in office – which won’t broker well for what the President has spelled out for the region. But none the less – this tactic was trump tight. I’m just mad that he was not as lucid regarding the economy and my loot. Hats off to you folk, again, you rocked that shit and it took balls. Now fortify them balls and do something to stimulate the retail sector and business with annual earnings under $250,000.
