Obama's Cairo Speech and Recognizing the U.S.

Of course, the New York Times is slobbering all over Obama's speech in Cairo.

From the New York Times editorial, "The Cairo Speech":

When President Bush spoke in the months and years after Sept. 11, 2001, we often — chillingly — felt as if we didn’t recognize the United States. His vision was of a country racked with fear and bent on vengeance, one that imposed invidious choices on the world and on itself. When we listened to President Obama speak in Cairo on Thursday, we recognized the United States.

Good grief.

Does the NYT editorial board remember, REALLY remember, what happened on 9/11?

Afterward, there was reason to fear. There was reason to fight back.

When the country united after the attacks, I saw the very best of America.

Unlike the reaction of the NYT editorial board when Obama delivered his address in Cairo, there were many moments when I didn't recognize the United States at all.

It was very painful.

...Before Thursday’s speech, and after, Mr. Obama’s critics complained that he has spent too much time apologizing and accused him of weakening the country. That is a gross misreading of what he has been saying — and of what needs to be said. After eight years of arrogance and bullying that has turned even close friends against the United States, it takes a strong president to acknowledge the mistakes of the past. And it takes a strong president to press himself and the world to do better.

I must live in a different universe.