10.09.2009

Obama Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, Statement, Transcript

by the Left Coast Rebel

Apart from the bizarre, surreal, other-worldly-ness of the Obama Nobel Prize affair today, I wanted to point you to his acceptance speech, of which I have transcribed. Note my emphasis in bold.

Transcription -

I am both surprised and deeply humbled, by the decision of the Nobel Committee, let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people of all nations.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize. Me and women who have inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace. But I also know that this prize reflects the kind of world that those men and women and all Americans want to build. A world that gives life to the promise of our Founding documents.

And I know that throughout history the Nobel Peace prize has not been used just to honor specific achievement, it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes. And that is why I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations to confront the common challenges of the 21 century. These challenges cannot be met by any one leader or any one nation.

That's why my administration has worked to establish a new era of engagement in which all nations must take responsibility for the world we see. We cannot tolerate a world in which nuclear weapons spread to more nations in which the terror of a nuclear holocaust endangers more people. That's why we've begun to take concrete steps to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. Because all nations have the right to pursue peaceful nuclear power , all nations have the responsibility to demonstrate their peaceful intentions.

We cannot accept the growing threat posed by climate change which could forever damage the world that we pass onto our children, sewing conflict, famine, destroying coastlines and emptying cities. and that is why all nations must share their responsibility for transforming the way we use energy. We cannot allow the differences that we see between peoples to define the way that we see one another, that's why we must pursue a new beginning of people of different faiths, races and religions, one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect.

We must all do our part to resolve those conflicts that have caused so much pain and hardship over so many years. That effort must include an unwavering commitment to finally realize the rights of all Israeli and Palestinians to live in peace and security in nations of their own. We can't accept a world in which more people are denied opportunity and dignity that all people yearn for. The ability to get an education and make a decent living, the security that you won't have to live in the fear of disease or violence without hope for the future. Even as we strive to seek a world in which conflicts are resolved peacefully and prosperity is widely shared, we have to confront the world as we know it today.

I am a commander in chief of a country that is responsible for ending a war and working in another theater to confront a ruthless adversary that directly threatens the American people and our allies. I'm also aware that we are dealing with the impact of a global economic crisis that has left millions of Americans looking for work. These are concerns that I confront every day on the behalf of the American people. Some of the work confronting us will not be completed during my presidency, some like the elimination of nuclear weapons may not be completed in my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it is recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration, it's about the greatest efforts of people around the world. That's why this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity. For the young woman who marches silently on the streets on behalf of her right to be heard even in the face of beatings and bullets, the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refused to abandon her commitment to democracy, for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away. For all those men and women across the world who sacrificed their safety and their freedom, and sometimes their lives for the cause of peace. That has always been the cause of America, that's why the world has always looked to America and that's why I believe America will continue to lead.

Thank you very much.

Being a wanna-be bloggo-pundit, I noticed a few things; noted in bold. First of all, the sweeping, grandiose, kumbaya rhetoric is to be expected. The call for disarmament of nuclear arms likewise.

Now note, however that He points to 'climate change' as nearly the biggest threat to mankind in the history of the world. Note the rhetoric. In His eyes and agenda, global warming alarmism is the whole enchilada.

And oh yah, how about a world in which prosperity is widely shared? Not created, not produced; shared.

I also noted that he referred to Iraq as a war and Aghanistan as a theater. Note the contrast.

I actually like the last segment of the speech, albeit if you substitute the word peace with liberty. But then again that's not what this man want for us and the world.

Widely shared prosperity, global-warming mania, kumbaya, a war and a theater.......

Via Memeorandum


10 comments:

Michael said...

Just to bring it to your attention: Locations where a war is being fought is often referred to as a "Theatre." Back when we fought WWII, there was the European Theatre and the Pacific Theatre. The use of that word in Obama's speech was just using proper language, nothing odd or sinister about it.

El Cerdo Ignatius said...

To paraphrase the great John Derbyshire, from the point of view of the United States, I don't see how the country could ever have too many nukes.

A crying shame, it is, that the president doesn't agree.

CJ said...

It sounds like there’s not much to criticize about this speech. You’re upset because he used the word “share”? LOL Sharing, in the sense of giving something away, is a fundamental good value for everyone except some rightwingers. But he’s talking about sharing in the sense of “to have in common”. He wants people to have prosperity in common, pretty normal stuff for this kind of speech.

The things he says about climate change are facts. They’re the inherent risks of locating so many people and means of production in coastal areas during an interglacial period of an ice age (i.e. a period like this one with ice sheets at the poles) when sea level rises. The energy source that gave us the means of production that allow the world to support billions of people is accelerating the interglacial period and rising sea levels that come with it. Obama did not say it, but I think it’s fair to consider that “the biggest threat to humankind in the history of the world.”

I am optimistic that we’re centuries away from controlling the world’s climate. We might be able to choose whether to stay in an interglacial period, or maybe choose to leave the current ice age all together and grow palm trees on the ridges formed by glaciers that I ride my bike over every day. (WI had a sub-tropical climate prior to the current ice age.) We might even develop the technology to protect our cities against rising water on the coasts and encroaching glaciers here in Wisconsin.

But all that is my sci-fi engineering fantasy. In the world as it is today, rising water and changing climate patterns are a major theat. I can’t believe people would criticize Obama for point out a clear fact.

Nickie Goomba said...

CJ, keep wringing your hands about the sky falling while citizens lose their individual liberties. I'm sure you're a well-meaning individual but, at some point, the grown-ups have to step in and bring back jobs, industry, polar bears and national defense.

boyd said...

From the Speech:

"let me be clear, I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather as an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people of all nations."

"This award is not simply about the efforts of my administration, it's about the greatest efforts of people around the world. That's why this award must be shared with everyone who strives for justice and dignity. For the young woman who marches silently on the streets on behalf of her right to be heard even in the face of beatings and bullets, the leader imprisoned in her own home because she refused to abandon her commitment to democracy, for the soldier who sacrificed through tour after tour of duty on behalf of someone half a world away. For all those men and women across the world who sacrificed their safety and their freedom, and sometimes their lives for the cause of peace. That has always been the cause of America, that's why the world has always looked to America and that's why I believe America will continue to lead."

How in the HELL does a proud American disagree with those quotes? This was about America's accomplishments, and we should all be proud.

CJ said...

@Nickie Goomba
I wrote that we're a couple centuries away from having technology to control the climate of the entire planet. How is that chicken-little hand-wringing?

I'm not sure what individual liberties, jobs, industry, polar bears, and national defense have to do with one another, but they're all important things to work on.

Who are the grown-ups in your scenario: politicians who institute policies you consider "grown-up" or people out here developing new technologies and starting businesses?

CJ said...

Speaking of "hand-wringing" and "grownups stepping in", usually it’s the grownups who prepare for perils and the children who dismiss this as hand-wringing.

blackandgoldfan said...

Global warming isn't the issue here. The arrogance of a man who says he's "humbled" by receiving the NPP is. I have yet to read one blurb about exactly WHAT he has done to deserve this only 11 days after assuming office (The nomination deadline was Feb. 1).

He says he'll donate the $1.4 million award to charity. Any takers that he'll give it to ACORN?

Left Coast Rebel said...

@ Michael - Nice try! I noted the nuance and you can deny it, thank you for being predictable.

@ El Cerdo - Unilateral (dis)armament. Do you think our enemies will go along with that?

@ CJ - You and I just disagree on climate change/global warming.

@ Boyd - Did you even read my roundup here? I clearly stated that I liked the end of the speech. This post was centered on transcribing. Nice try, go back to Plouffe HQ.

@ blackandgold - I know! It's crazy to even bring it up.

psoriasisguru.com said...

it would seem that Obama winning the Nobel Peace prize represents a vote of confidence from Europe

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