I cannot say the same for his audience, willing to applaud for his call to the end of Israeli settlements, but not for the end of Hamas support for violence or to recognize the right of the State of Israel even to exist.

It is a first step, though and a step in keeping with who we are as a nation.  We left that path somewhere during middle part of the Vietnam War and it has taken us about forty years to get back on it, but we are.  

There are always questions to be asked about the claim of American exceptionalism, but when we send a person of this quality to say these kind of things to a foreign audience, there is much to be said in support of the claim that we are the last best hope and a beacon for a world in conflict.

As with all great speeches, its words keep rebounding in my head.  I am looking forward to hearing it again.

Throughout the last portion a prayer from many Saturdays of my youth kept playing itself in my head.  I have looked up the exact English text and in quoting it, I submit that "Israel" in this context means the Jewish people" not the State of Israel, which did not exist when the prayer was written:

Grant us peace, Thy most precious gift, O Thou Eternal Source of Peace, and enable Israel to be its messenger unto all peoples of the earth.

Bless our country, that it may ever be a stronghold of peace and its advocate in the council of nations.May contentment reign within its borders, health and happiness within its homes

Strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship among all the inhabitants of all lands.

Plant virtue in every soul and may the love of Thy name hallow every home and every heart.  Praised by Thou, O God, lover of peace.

You may call those wishes naive, as some have already, but (with the exception of the call to honor God) it is a message of hope and as expressed by the President of the United States to students in a Muslim nation, one well worth conveying.

Still, that it is politically incorrect to applaud for the end of violence is off putting to this American.

I really see this speech as a challenge to the Muslim world, one which the prior President tried to convey but could not, particularly given his childish views about evildoers.  This President has thrown the political equivalent of a hard fastball down the middle and challenged the Muslim world to try to hit it, but at least swing for it, hoping that they can.

My pride in our president really is beyond description.