Against a backdrop of protesters shouting their disapproval of a president who affirms a woman's right to choose, our commander in chief gave a masterful speech that envisioned an America where those of us who disagree, even vehemently, could engage with each other in ways that expand understanding instead of shutting it down.
In short, we must find a way to live together as one human family.
It is this last challenge that I'd like to talk about today. For the major threats we face in the 21st century -- whether it's global recession or violent extremism, the spread of nuclear weapons or pandemic disease -- do not discriminate. They do not recognize borders. They do not see color. They do not target specific ethnic groups.
Moreover, no one person, or religion or nation can meet these challenges alone. Our very survival has never required greater cooperation and understanding among all people from all places than at this moment in history.
Unfortunately, finding that common ground -- recognizing that our fates are tied up, as Dr. King said in a "single garment of destiny" -- is not easy. Source: Barack Obama Notre Dame Speech
President Obama did not shy away from the red-hot issue of abortion either. At one point, he spoke past the audible protest coming from the audience and addressed how those of us who have opposing opinions can perhaps talk to each other using "fair-minded words."
That's when we begin to say, "Maybe we won't agree on abortion, but we can still agree that this is a heart-wrenching decision for any woman to make, with both moral and spiritual dimensions.In my opinion, on the 55th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education, President Obama gave his finest speech since his seminal address on race, "A More Perfect Union," in March of 2008.
So let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies and making adoption more available and providing care and support for women who do carry their child to term. Let's honor the conscience of those who disagree with abortion and draft a sensible conscience clause and make sure that all of our health care policies are grounded in clear ethics and sound science, as well as respect for the equality of women."
Understand, I do not suggest that the debate surrounding abortion can or should go away. No matter how much we may want to fudge it. Indeed, while we know that the views of most Americans on the subject are complex and even contradictory, the fact is that at some level, the views of the two camps are irreconcilable. Each side will continue to make its case to the public with passion and conviction. But surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature.
Community Discussion
+ Norte Dame: That Was Painful
Comments: (10)
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By: bella on 5/18/2009 9:33AM
Shame on Notre Dame!!! They have bowed to Baal.
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By: HERNOT VERSAINT on 5/18/2009 2:51PM
Whether all of this contreversy rally is just about the president's opinion, that's the reason that indeed experience must be old to make people see and know better. Who knows how many of the same group or students may in the future feel sorry of being so agressive against the president's idea? And some of them have clearly said that they've been encouraged by their own parents. In the other hand, the real HONOR for this president was already given to him. His main concern wd be trying to succeed by making a monumental political figure of the twety 1st century.
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By: dman on 5/18/2009 5:10PM
Feisty Lady Lawyer Tells Chief Justice: Investigate Obama
March 30, 2009
AMERICAN FREE PRESS
Was Barack Obama ever eligible to be president of the United States ? Have he and his wife committed massive tax fraud?
Has he perjured himself? Has a forger been at work on his personal documents? These are just a few questions feisty lady lawyer, Orly Taitz , recently demanded Supreme Court Justice John Roberts to address.
When Chief Justice John Roberts opened the floor to questions following a recent speech at the University of Idaho, he and 5,000 people finally heard the truth about an attorney’s frustrated attempts to have the court force purported President Obama to prove his naturalborn American citizen status.
When the audience was told after the lecture that they could ask questions, Russian-born Dr. Orly Taitz, the southern California lawyer handling the suit filed by former presidential candidate Alan Keyes et al. , was the first to run for the microphone.
“I left home at three o’clock in the morning and flew and drove thousands of miles to talk to you and ask you a question,” she said to the chief justice. “Are you aware that there is criminal activity going on in the Supreme Court of the United States ? I have submitted my Lightfoot vs. Bowen case to you. You agreed to hear it in the conference of all nine justices on January 23rd."
“Your clerk, Danny Bickle , on his own accord, refused to forward to you an important supplemental brief that he has hidden from you and refused to post on the docket. Additionally, my case was completely erased from the docket one day after the inauguration, only two days before it was supposed to be heard in the conference. Outraged citizens had to call and demand for it to be posted. I saw Justice (Antonin) Scalia, and he had absolutely no knowledge of my case that was supposedly heard in conference on January 23rd. “It is inexplicable, particularly knowing that roughly half a million American citizens have written to him and to you, Justice Roberts, demanding that you hear this issue of eligibility of Barack Hussein Obama, aka Barry Soetoro, to be the president of the United States.”
At this point she showed Roberts a stack of papers, her pleadings and printouts containing the names of some 350,000 people who had signed the petition, and the chief justice, lassoed with no comfortable avenue of escape, surrendered.
“I will read your documents, “ he said. “Give them to my Secret Service Agent and I will review them.” Taitz had a full suitcase of documents which she then handed to a Secret Service Agent who showed his ID, introduced himself as Gilbert Shaw and promised her that Justice Roberts would get them.
The tenacious Orly Taitz had done her homework well. In addition to 3,300 pages of the signees of the petition, were a motion to reconsider Lightfoot vs. Bowen , with all the supplemental briefs, and a copy of Quo Warranto Easterling et al. vs. Obama et al., the challenge by military officers of Obama’s qualifications to be their commander-in-chief.
In addition, she included a 164-page dossier and all the other documents sent to Eric Holder , attorney general, describing suspected criminal activity associated with Obama and his supporters. It described a whole campaign of cyber crimes, intimidation, harassment, defamation and assassination of character, and the mysterious impersonation of her and U.S. Army officer Scott Easterling by persons unknown. It showed screen shots of information being erased from the docket of the Supreme Court and contained information of court cases being created and fabricated in order to commit voter fraud and sway public opinion.
The package also contained the astounding list of 100 addresses for Barack Obama with numerous different Social Security numbers, issued all over the country and attached to those addresses.
It showed the address Obama used in Somerville , Mass. , attached to the Social Security of a man who, if still living, is 118 years old. It showed evidence of Obama committing perjury, lying under oath. It had his school registration from Indonesia under the name Barry Soetoro , citizen of Indonesia , religion: Muslim. Right after this page there was a page of Obama’s registration to become an attorney and office of the court in Illinois , where he stated under oath that his name is Barack Hussein Obama and he had no other prior names. It contained a report from federal agent Steven Coffman , stating that there are numerous signs of forgery in his Selective Service certificate.
Furthermore, the dossier contained a letter from renowned expert Sandra Line, stating that there are signs of forgery in Obama’s short version “Certification of Live Birth,” and the original birth certificate needs to be reviewed in order to ascertain his status.
It contained 130 current job positions for Barry Obama , Barack H. Obama and Michelle Obama , but none of them was reported on the Obama’s tax returns.
All of these documents suggest possible massive tax fraud, corruption of a public official, bribery and massive campaign contributions fraud, whereby large campaign contributions, well over allowed limits, were reported as fictitious positions with different companies, not surprisingly involving most mainstream media outlets.
As one of the announcers introduced Roberts , he stated that Roberts has his priorities straight. He described an event when Roberts missed most of a reception because he wanted to be there for his young son, at the sports tournament where his son was participating. He described Roberts as a caring and loving father.
“I missed time with my children, too,” says Taitz, “because I am criss-crossing this country talking to justices of the Supreme Court, representatives, senators, FBI agents, attorney generals, U.S. attorneys; asking all of them, “What is wrong with you? Did some evil magician put a spell on the men in this country and you stopped being men? Why are you afraid to speak up, to stand up for your Constitution?” At least now everybody at that meeting knows the truth and knows that the leftist media thugs, such as the Seattle Washington Observer, shamelessly twists the truth to fit their pro-Obama, blind idiot agenda.
“I hope Justice Roberts teaches his son by example and not by empty words,” she said.
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By: friday on 5/18/2009 6:14PM
i don't understand the christian community in america. didn't jesus come to save sinners and not rightous?
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By: Rhonda on 5/19/2009 11:41AM
Obama Indicted for Treason
http://americangrandjury.org/american-grand-jury-hands-down-indictment-of-fraud-and-treason-against-obama
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By: Lisa on 5/19/2009 4:24PM
He should not have been the speaker at a Catholic University
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By: kcn9971 on 5/19/2009 9:15PM
We as a nation have truly lost our way when a Catholic University arrests the preists who fight for life, and rolls out the red carpet for a man wishing to desroy it. When will americans learn that as long as we continue to embrace this kind of insanity the days of economic and social prosprerity will continue to spiral downward into oblivion. People have more faith in this magic politician called Obama than they have in God, they believe more in lies, and less in truth. Yet they believe that God will continue to "bless America". Unfortunately it seems Notre Dame has also been bitten by the Obama bug, and that bite has eaten away at the spiritual core of this Institution. The Alumni of Notre Dame behave more like star struck groupies begging to have their virginity taken by the rock star Obama, but rather than throw their panties on stage, they drape him with a gold hood and scholar robes....Shame on you Notre Dame!!!!!
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By: IRONBLUEEYES on 5/19/2009 10:55PM
I think your post presents an accurate picture of what happened. I signed the online Petition and I got 10 others to sign, I guess we can all expect a visit from the thought police.
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By: tad on 6/08/2009 10:38PM
OMG we need a great leader. i hope the resurection comes soon. we need you jesus.
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By: KoClark on 7/28/2009 2:27AM
Barack is our president and the only reason why people are coming up with these falsehoods is b/c he's a black man that is leader of the free world. It's sad that so many people didn't rally together when both Bush's were in office and were actually destroying our country. I'm glad to see a man of intelligence as POTUS instead of some bafoon with his own agenda which does not include the best intrest of the american people!
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