If there was anyone out there who still doubts the importance of electing Barack Obama President of the United States, his Speech to the Muslim World is your answer.

Of course, this one gesture can’t heal his predecessor’s seven-year plan to piss off the Muslim world.

Of course, we still have to deal with the aftermath of seven-years that flaunted International Law and common decency, mostly at the expense of the Muslim world.

Of course, there are Hawks and Conservatives that will spew vitriol against any sign of empathy for any foreigner they do not deem worthy. Hawks and Conservatives who will look to Tehran and see fundamentalists as enraged and committed as they to spreading ideas through violence.

Of course, these critics will call Obama naïve—as if a political movement that despises scientific theories like evolution, that invades non-aggressive countries without conducting a meeting of the National Security Council to weigh the move, that nominates Sarah Palin to the Vice-Presidency can expect us to take their judgment on naivety seriously.

But the image of a man who would have been declared 3/5 of a man at the founding of this country standing as the President of the United States was America’s new answer to the world. And that same man poignantly advocating non-violence is proof itself to the Muslim world that anything is possible when women and minorities are given the transformational power to vote.

He didn’t condemn the feudal states that oppress their people. He didn’t ask for forgiveness for the US’s role in perpetuating the refugee crisis in Palestine. But he did present a simple way forward through fundamental respect and engagement.

If there was anyone out there who doubted if peace was better than war, George W. Bush did his best to give you his answer.

If there is anyone on earth who still hopes to live in peace, thank you for your patience. We’re de-Cheneyifying ourselves as fast as we can.

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