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In President Obama's middle east speech marathon, its interesting the degree of attention given to the speech at Cairo University versus that at the Holocaust Memorial. This speaks to how much the past dictates matters of the present, or at least the interpretation of present events. Given the recent history of an interpreted American "war on [Islamic] extremism, there was much anticipation as to how the Muslim world would receive the President's words. Major media outlets had been baiting the Cairo speech for months prior. This to some, may have rendered the arguably equally important speech at Buchenwald, less so. Perhaps indirect messages like this is what lead a young Jewish gentleman during an overheard conversation recently to express his concerns with the President's stand for Israel. Interestingly enough, his friends sparked back expressing their belief that the president was one of them. Citing the First Lady's Rabbi cousin as proof. Its important to be note that in familiar things misconceptions are tested. The focus has been placed for so long on the perceived tension between America and the Islamic world, that potential events such as the shooting at the Holocaust museum in D.C, were not properly intercepted and followed up. The recent unrest in Tehran shows that people, no matter the nation are the ultimate voice of every voice in that particular situation. If they are happy we will know. If they are abused we will know. If they are cheated, we will know that too. If they are hurt, we will hear their cry [of rebellion]. In familiar things as well, people find peace, and a call for peace in any corner of the world, has the potential to make the universe a tad bit more stable. Much like N. Korea's threat to continue testing missiles, possibly as close to home as Hawaii undermines national boundaries of all nations. No one or two speeches can fix years of patterns, but continued dialogue will give a potential new listener the opportunity of reinterpretation.
-O.Lucius
