Dear Editor,
Obama's messianic speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2014 truly sets him at the forefront of being, perhaps, one of the most-gifted orators of all time.
But listening to his speech, and watching the reactions of some of the delegates of some of the world's major powers, I couldn't help feeling that he was sermonising or lecturing them. Just like in a Sunday sermon at church, some will be saying, 'Amen, brother', whilst others can't wait for the preacher to stop.
Obama addressed many issues, including Russia's actions in Crimea, and Eastern Ukraine; the Ebola epidemic; climate change; and so forth, but the central message of his speech was about the violence perpetrated by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and America's response to such violence. Plus, he pleaded and demanded that the world get involved in the fight against this group, whom he described as 'the network of death'.
The United Nations has already taken some action in passing a resolution to criminalise the actions of those leaving from their host country to go and fight Jihad in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere. Now, will Obama's sermon change the minds of the fence-sitters to get involved in the fight against ISIL? Or, will they just ignore his demands to become involved? But, more importantly, how will ISIL take his denunciations and military actions against them?
Well, one of their affiliate groups in Algeria has already beheaded the Frenchman Herve Gourdel at the moment it seems that Obama was giving his speech. And they threaten to behead other captives, including Alan Hennin, the present British hostage. So, it seems that their message is clear: 'It's a fight to the death'; 'It's either you or us'. So it seems that this is going to be a long drawn-out war between ISIL and those who reject their ideology.
So where do we stand? What are we to do? Protect ourselves as best as possible and hopefully try and persuade those who think that they are God or Allah's avenging angels that they are very wrong. For, the last time I checked the Holy Qur'an, and the Holy Bible, God was preaching 'love and compassion'.
George S Garwood, PhD
Gifford Street, FL
merleneg@yahoo.com
Who will heed Obama's sermon?
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Obama's messianic speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24, 2014 truly sets him at the forefront of being, perhaps, one of the most-gifted orators of all time.
But listening to his speech, and watching the reactions of some of the delegates of some of the world's major powers, I couldn't help feeling that he was sermonising or lecturing them. Just like in a Sunday sermon at church, some will be saying, 'Amen, brother', whilst others can't wait for the preacher to stop.
Obama addressed many issues, including Russia's actions in Crimea, and Eastern Ukraine; the Ebola epidemic; climate change; and so forth, but the central message of his speech was about the violence perpetrated by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and America's response to such violence. Plus, he pleaded and demanded that the world get involved in the fight against this group, whom he described as 'the network of death'.
The United Nations has already taken some action in passing a resolution to criminalise the actions of those leaving from their host country to go and fight Jihad in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere. Now, will Obama's sermon change the minds of the fence-sitters to get involved in the fight against ISIL? Or, will they just ignore his demands to become involved? But, more importantly, how will ISIL take his denunciations and military actions against them?
Well, one of their affiliate groups in Algeria has already beheaded the Frenchman Herve Gourdel at the moment it seems that Obama was giving his speech. And they threaten to behead other captives, including Alan Hennin, the present British hostage. So, it seems that their message is clear: 'It's a fight to the death'; 'It's either you or us'. So it seems that this is going to be a long drawn-out war between ISIL and those who reject their ideology.
So where do we stand? What are we to do? Protect ourselves as best as possible and hopefully try and persuade those who think that they are God or Allah's avenging angels that they are very wrong. For, the last time I checked the Holy Qur'an, and the Holy Bible, God was preaching 'love and compassion'.
George S Garwood, PhD
Gifford Street, FL
merleneg@yahoo.com
Who will heed Obama's sermon?
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