What Obama Says and What he means

This quote is taken out of context with the whole speech made by Obama and published in a local Chicago newspaper eight days after 9/11:

"We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with the humanity and suffering of others."

"Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent, is not innate; nor history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion, or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence and may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics. Most often, though, it grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."

Perhaps some who read the above may refer to the total speech made by Obama, and thereby balance these excerpts with a hopefully more reality based response on his part. Obama's method, in many of his speeches, includes an attempt to transcend all conflicts, regardless of any of the particular details; that is, Obama may believe that he can grasp the precepts involved in the conflict and somehow find a universal solution to it, using a humanitarian common denominator, disavowing any national singularity. Personally, I don't understand how any American can transcend three thousand innocent lives. But I have not read the whole speech, and as an American, I must give him the benefit of the doubt until I have more information on what he said in the entire speech.