WE know he's got the words in him, he just needs to get some proper nouns in place.
Imagine the celebration when we hear the President of the United States of America, the first Black president in the nation's history, the man whose speech before the Democratic convention moved him to the short list of presidential candidates and whose speech in Grant Park coalesced a nation around his victorious ascent to the White House, speak these words declaring the liberation of the people of Palestine.
We know he's got it in him.
Here's what he could say, Deo volente; Inshallah:
Transcript: President Obama Delivers Remarks on Palestine
Monday, August 22, 2011
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. I just completed a call with my National Security Council on the situation in Palestine. And earlier today I spoke the leaders of the unified Palestinian government about the extraordinary events taking place there.
The situation is still very fluid. There remains a degree of uncertainty and there are still regime elements who pose a threat. But this much is clear: The Netanyahu regime is coming to an end, and the future of Palestine is in the hands of its people.
In just six months, the 63-year reign of zionism has unraveled. Earlier this year, we were inspired by the peaceful protests that broke out across Palestine. This basic and joyful longing for human freedom echoed the voices that we had heard all across the region, from Tunis to Cairo. In the face of these protests, the Netanyahu regime responded with brutal crackdowns. Civilians were murdered in the streets. A campaign of violence was launched against the Palestinian people. Netanyahu threatened to hunt peaceful protestors down like rats. As his forces advanced across the country, there existed the potential for wholesale massacres of innocent civilians.
In the face of this aggression, the international community took action. The United States helped shape a U.N. Security Council resolution that mandated the protection of Palestinian civilians. An unprecedented coalition was formed that included the United States, our NATO partners, Iran, and Arab nations. And recently, the international community launched a military operation to save lives and stop Netanyahu's IDF and security forces in their tracks.
In the early days of this intervention the United States provided the bulk of the firepower, and then our friends and allies stepped forward. The unified Palestinian Transitional National Council established itself as a credible representative of the Palestinian people. And the United States, together with our European allies and friends across the region, recognized the PTNC as the legitimate governing authority in Palestine.
Netanyahu was cut off from arms and cash, and his forces were steadily degraded. At border crossings and occupied lands from to the western mountains, the Palestinian opposition courageously confronted the regime, and the tide turned in their favor.
Over the last several days, the situation in Palestine has reached a tipping point as the opposition increased its coordination from east to west, took town after town, and the people of Gaza rose up to claim their freedom.
For over six decades, the Palestinian people have lived under the ideological tyranny of zionism, which denied them their most basic human rights. Now, the celebrations that we’ve seen in the streets of Palestine show that the pursuit of human dignity is far stronger than any ideology. I want to emphasize that this is not over yet. As the regime collapses, there is still fierce fighting in some areas, and we have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting.
Although it’s clear that zionism’s rule is over, its leaders still have the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Palestine and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Palestine.
As we move forward from this pivotal phase, the opposition should continue to take important steps to bring about a transition that is peaceful, inclusive and just. As the leadership of the PTNC has made clear, the rights of all Arab and Jewish Palestinians must be respected. True justice will not come from reprisals and violence; it will come from reconciliation and a Palestine that allows its citizens to determine their own destiny.
In that effort, the United States will be a friend and a partner. We will join with allies and partners to continue the work of safeguarding the people of Palestine. As remaining regime elements menace parts of the country, I’ve directed my team to be in close contact with NATO as well as the United Nations to determine other steps that we can take. To deal with the humanitarian impact, we’re working to ensure that critical supplies reach those in need, particularly those who have been wounded, and to release those who have been unjustly imprisoned.
Secretary Clinton spoke today with her counterparts from leading nations of the coalition on all these matters. And I’ve directed Ambassador Susan Rice to request that the U.N. Secretary General use next month’s general assembly to support this important transition.
For many months, the PTNC has been working with the international community to prepare for a post-zionist Palestine. As those efforts proceed, our diplomats will work with the PTNC as they ensure that the institutions of the Palestinian state are protected. We will support them with the assets of the zionist regime that were frozen earlier this year, and we will divert all US military aid remittances from the regime to the PTNC. Above all, we will call for an inclusive transition that leads to a democratic Palestine.
As we move forward, we should also recognize the extraordinary work that has already been done. To the American people, these events have particular resonance. The zionist regime has murdered scores of American citizens, as well as innocent civilians of our allies and friends, in acts of terror in the past. Today we remember the lives of those who were taken in those acts of terror and stand in solidarity with their families. We also pay tribute to Commander William McGonagle, as well as all of the men and women who have displayed extraordinary bravery and risked their lives to challenge the blockade of Palestinian lands. And all of this was done without putting a single U.S. troop on the ground.
To our friends and allies, the Palestinian intervention demonstrates what the international community can achieve when we stand together as one -- although the efforts in Palestine are not yet over. NATO has once more proven that it is the most capable alliance in the world and that its strength comes from both its firepower and the power of our democratic ideals. And the Arab and Iranian members of our coalition have stepped up and shown what can be achieved when we act together as equal partners. Their actions send a powerful message about the unity of our effort and our support for the future of Palestine.
Finally, the Palestinian people: Your courage and character have been unbreakable in the face of a tyrant. An ocean divides us, but we are joined in the basic human longing for freedom, for justice and for dignity. Your revolution is your own, and your sacrifices have been extraordinary. Now, the Palestine that you deserve is within your reach. Going forward, we will stay in close coordination with the PTNC to support that outcome. And though there will be huge challenges ahead, the extraordinary events in Palestine remind us that fear can give way to hope and that the power of people striving for freedom can bring about a brighter day.
Thank you very much.
Ameen
Inshallah
Deo Volente
Shalom
12:23 PM PT: this comment/explanation of why the diarist will not delete the diary, was itself deleted (apparently).
Here is that comment:
this diary is meant to point out gross injustice.
The Palestinian people deserve to be liberated from their oppression.
These are just words. They harm no one of good will.
Israel kills people just because it can. Only strong words can stop Israel's intransigence.
Israel's intransigence is not known to the broader world because strong words about Israel's bad behavior are so often stifled.
1:04 PM PT: There are some very powerful ways... (2+ / 0-)
...to make the point for peace between Israel and Palestine, and to call for justice and human rights for Palestinians.
This isn't it.
"Faced with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage." - Confucius
by IndieGuy on Tue Aug 23, 2011 at 12:20:02 PM PDT
diarist responded (below) but the response was deleted.
here is that response:
"if there were effective ways, they do not appear to have worked yet.
Israel uses violence. These are just words, words that call out Israel's bad acts.
If the truth bothers you, maybe you have a guilty conscience."
I would add that Palestinians have been oppressed for over 60 years.
Relative to friendly stranger's earlier diary, http://www.dailykos.com/...
Israel kills more or less wantonly; without any evidence that it was indeed Palestinians who had attacked Eilat, Israel killed about 14 Palestinians in retaliation. Two of those killer were a physician and his two year old child, on the way to a hospital seeking treatment for the child.
Weasel also wrote a diary that discusses Israel's fear of being "delegitimized." Ironic term, since Israel pays no attention to the rule of law, does so in a systematic way, and has done so throughout most of its existence (according to the writing of Israeli journalist Gershom Gorenberg in "The Accidental Empire"). Weasel's diary: http://www.dailykos.com/...