My "Meme" which I consider to now be historical fact, Obama's Cairo Speech INSPIRED the Iranians

[RollWithIt]

My title stands for itself. This speech, that our President gave in Cairo just a month ago accomplished more in the Middle East for American interests than anything in history. Just a simple speech. Beamed around the world and translated to their television stations.

Watch the speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfSR_V5BZ5s&feature=PlayList&p=66810738D55B70D3&index=0&playnext=1

Tell me it didn't matter. Over 1 billion people saw it.

[Captain Hilts]

1. And Reagan caused the collapse of the Soviet Union. It's not always about us. Iranians...

started ousting this guy out in 2006 when his party lost a large chunk in the parliament.

[liberalmuse]

3. Whether you can call this, 'The Obama Effect' or not...

you have to admit that these are very interesting times. Once again we're reaping what we've allowed the authoritarians among us to wrought, and we're fucking fed up. I guess this happens a lot in the early part of the century. Stay tuned for mass revolution. What happened in American with the election of Barack Obama has actually played a large part in giving many in the world hope. The Iranians were watching us a few months ago (remember when Ahmadinejad told them there was no way America would ever elect a black man as President?), and now we're watching them.

[firedupdem]

9. +1 n/t

[RollWithIt]

6. I would recommend actually watching all the parts of the speech

Which was viewed by the vast majority of Iranians.

[Captain Hilts]

22. They swatted his party, hard, in 2006. This is part of a larger trend which

runs similar to our own - being sick of idiots who mouth off running our countries.

[QC]

7. Are you trying to suggest that the whole world doesn't revolve around Amerca?

Shameful!

[Captain Hilts]

21. Yeah. Funny, Reagan's own ambassador to the USSR said we had nothing to do with the collapse

of the Soviet Union.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

16. RAYGUN NEVER DID ANYTHING POSITIVE

[Captain Hilts]

23. And he certainly did NOT cause the collapse of the Soviet Union. It's not all about us. nt

[Abq_Sarah]

25. It's absurd to think

That Iranians were perfectly happy until President Obama's speech. This has been in the works for the last 3 years and it would have happened regardless of who was elected back here in America.

[lamp_shade]

2. Oh.... it mattered... a lot!

[proud patriot]

4. I will agree that it played a part ,

A factor in an already progressive movement .

[NYC_SKP]

5. It is a combination of factors, of which Obama's win and his Presidency are a part.

First, coming from behind to be the "likely" candidate in the primaries, and becoming the first black president, and being personally conversant and outspoken in Muslim matters, and in reaching out to the Muslim world and all citizens in the Middle East.

These things all made a difference.

K and R.

[pnorman]

8. I tend to agree with you on that, although the magnitude of the inspiration is subject to debate.

I was ASTOUNDED to hear Obama make an unambiguous reference to that CIA-sponsored coup of 1953. And I expect that caught the attention of those Iranians now out in the street. I believe Obama spoke EXACTLY right in his recent statement on developments in Iran. At present, there are about a half dozen countries that have indicated that they'll permit their embassies to be open for "safe havens" for anyone needing it. I hope that he'll do the same with our embassy there!

pnorman
On edit: Shit! I just recalled that there are NO American embassies in Iran anymore! I believe the Swiss are handling our affairs there.

[JI7]

10. don't forget that he also had a personal message for the people of Iran

[lunatica]

11. Well there was little thing we did to Iran back in the day

And everything since has been repercussions from that. We overthrew their Democratically elected President and installed the Shah as King. It was a brutal dictatorship. Things just kinda went to hell after that, but hey, if you think one nice speech suddenly made the Iranians want to be just like us go ahead. Be delusional.

[JI7]

13. it's not just a speech, but Obama has been a symbol for the entire world

not just the united States.

his election has changed the perception of the united states in many parts of the world. it's n ot the speech in itself but many things.

he isn't seen as anti Muslim and people know he has muslim family.

people don't think Obama wants to attack and take over as Bush and others did.

and remember Obama acknowledged what happened in 1953.

[lunatica]

17. I'm sure they liked the speech. Who wouldn't. It was a good speech

But I'm also sure they're watching what he does too. And what he does is continue the two wars with Iranians closest neighbors to the North and West. And the American Navy is still in the Gulf to their south. Bush was itching visibly to bomb the crap out of Iran, and Obama has said he doesn't rule out a military response against them. He appointed Hillary as Secretary of State and she's come right out and said she would obliterate them if they attacked Israel. So you think they trust the US now, over a nice speech, in spite of the fact that they're surrounded by our military?

[JI7]

24. i don't think they fully trust us, but i think they trust OBama more than not

i guess a better way of saying it is that they are willing to "accept" him unless he shows he is like the others.

this wouldn't have been the case if Mccain was President who they would not have trusted at all.

in some ways it's the same with Mousavi. the protestors aren't thinking he is going to make everything perfect. but they do think he will be better than Ahmadinejad and were willing to give him a chance.

[invictus]

12. Obama's televised Persian New Year's Day message to the Iranian people helped too.

Obama is certainly a different kind of US president than any previous. He can reach out to a broader and more diverse group of people than any previous US president.

[Oregone]

14. In a splinter reality, McCain supporters are citing his, "Iran, tear down that burka" speech

Uhhhh, ug.

[Oregone]

15. I forgot--Meme considered historical fact: Bush's fucked presidency INSPIRED an Obama win...

and hence, the Iranian revolution. Oh goodie, thank Bush.

[Life Long Dem]

18. It may be downplayed but it does matter.

Just like the President saying "The world is watching". CNN and the media can downplay all of this but the President word's and Iran's word's do go around the world.

[girl gone mad]

19. I don't know.

Even if there is any truth to this idea, is it a good thing? People are dying right now, and for what? The possibility of some incremental reforms? It would be almost like people rioting and dying to get President Obama into office, when on so many of the fronts that count his policies are virtually indistinguishable from those of his predecessor. I can't help but feel that some of these young people are being used as pawns and that money, not freedom, is the real motivating force at work here.

[Abq_Sarah]

26. Generally speaking,

Totalitarian governments do not reform on their own. If everyone is meek and silent, there is no fear on the part of the government and reform would never be needed.

[Peacetrain]

20. Words matter...and they did