President Obama in Cairo

President Obama’s Cairo speech will be studied centuries from now. The analysis of it so far has focused on the “something to make everyone mad/happy” angle, and that much is true. But more important are the courageous and intelligent stands taken on human rights, terrorism, women’s rights–and especially, the dangerous stereotypes of Muslim and Western peoples. It was a brilliant hour.

My message to the reluctant students of history who parse his transcript in the future: Hang in there, it will be worth it in the end. Oh, and if grades still exist, don’t panic if you get a C- in the course. Trust me, by the time you’re middle-aged, no one will know or care how bad you were at translating.

One of my favorite quotes from the speech: