Another blog on Obama's Cairo speech

Changing minds requires continuous conversations and a long chain of actions versus sporadic acts of charity. It's a diligent process that needs to focus on dignity, independence and inclusion versus dependence and exclusion.

The experience of Obama's Cairo speech was interesting. The content, I expected. He's an eloquent, intelligent, charming storyteller with sincere passion and values. I truly believe he's a good man. He's also got some amazing people around him as part of his communication team - among which are some great strategists and outstanding writers. Very admirable.

So what of Obama, Muslims, the Arab world, etc?

I really can't understand how we got here actually. How did the Arabs decide that they want to be a castrated race when it comes to their own issues? When did we agree that to be so pathetic and helpless is what we need to be? Where in history is the day we planned to become such dependent beggars? How do our own leaders keep getting away with spewing anesthesia in their public rhetoric?

I watched Obama's speech twice. Once to hear what he said, and the second to amuse myself at the reaction of the audience in that room. Hilarious! Waiting to applaud this serious, hard working man, who came very well prepared. Every time he mentioned a reference to the Quran - applause... cheering at his phrases of sensible thinking and an attitude of compassion.



While Obama used the theme 'a new beginning', I wonder when we, the Arab people want our new beginning to start. When will our leaders work for change rather than pitch for charity? When will we, the people, garner the confidence in ourselves and find our own common ground? When are we planning to start working?

That work needs to happen on this end of the world. We need to get our act together to fix negative stereotypes against Islam. We need to invest in economic empowerment of our own. We need a shakedown on education towards the rise of learning and enlightenment. The man came, he spoke, he conquered hearts and minds. It's now up to the Arabs... leaders, people in the region and beyond, to rise to the occasion. Rather than follow suit of what some are already doing by dismissing Obama's words, dissecting through conspiracy theories and paranoia, and being skeptical about what may be, it's time to shift into progress mode, change our own attitude. Time to do, time to deliver. Oh, PS: Obama is not the mahdi!

متى سينهض العالم العربي بنفسه؟