The Speech

Wow. I just read this in transcript and all I can say is wow.

This stuff needed to be said:

We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you. For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

First point, this: "{W}e say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

So often over the years, the terrorists' intentions have been used as justification for all manner of immoral acts. "They want to kill us!" it was said. "They want to destroy us!"

Yes, but they can't, because our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken. Finally! The President states the obvious, that is, that terrorists can only terrorize us not conquer us.

And to hear Obama admit this aloud is refreshing, not only because it's true, but because it means that he will not use the threat of terrorism to justify unhelpful, boneheaded policies like, you know, torture, among other evils.

And then, there was this part:

"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers."

Even the atheists get a shout-out in Barack Obama's America.

Finally.