June 12, 2009
Obama's False Equivalencies
During last week's Violent Roundtable on WPRO's Matt Allen Show, we discussed some of the faux moral equivalencies brought up by President Obama in his speech to the Muslim world. Charles Krauthammer also weighed in:
(A) He told Iran that, on the one hand, America once helped overthrow an Iranian government, while on the other hand "Iran has played a role in acts of hostage-taking and violence against U.S. troops and civilians." (Played a role?!) We have both sinned; let us bury the past and begin anew.(B) On religious tolerance, he gently referenced the Christians of Lebanon and Egypt, then lamented that the "divisions between Sunni and Shia have led to tragic violence" (note the use of the passive voice). He then criticized (in the active voice) Western religious intolerance for regulating the wearing of the hijab -- after citing America for making it difficult for Muslims to give to charity.
(C) Obama offered Muslims a careful admonition about women's rights, noting how denying women education impoverishes a country -- balanced, of course, with "meanwhile, the struggle for women's equality continues in many aspects of American life."
Well, yes. On the one hand, there certainly is some American university where the women's softball team has received insufficient Title IX funds -- while, on the other hand, Saudi women showing ankle are beaten in the street, Afghan school girls have acid thrown in their faces, and Iranian women are publicly stoned to death for adultery. (Gays, as well -- but then again we have Prop 8.) We all have our shortcomings, our national foibles. Who's to judge?
For a variation on this theme, you need to read Ann Coulter's hilarious rendition, "Welcome Back, Carter."
Check it out here:
http://townhall.com/columnists/AnnCoulter/2009/06/10/welcome_back,_carter
Posted by: Mike Cappelli at June 12, 2009 12:19 PMLet's not forget Iran Air Flight 655. What would be our reaction be if Iran shot down a Airbus A300, saying they thought it was an F14?
Or how about support supplied to terrorist groups seeking to overthrow the Iranian government? (more here)
What again are the "faux moral equivalencies" here?
Posted by: Russ at June 12, 2009 4:36 PMRuss-the Kurds are oppressed by three regimes.What should they do?Roll over and die?
Posted by: joe bernstein at June 13, 2009 12:31 AM