Blairing values

Up early. Showered and actually blew dry and styled my hair. It's not every day that one gets to hear a first world leader speak in person. Drove down to the Westin in downtown. I hate driving downtown. However, I found the entrance to the parking lot after only a few wrong turns, and since I was so early, found a good parking spot.

In the Westin, things were already a-buzz. Got my name tag and did a little sudoku while waiting for instructions. Assigned to help with tickets. This is good because I like seeing people as they come in, and it means not standing in punishing heels for the hours at a time.

After we'd done out duty, we were ushered in to the main ballroom, and ate a hasty lunch. And then he started.

Must say that Tony Blair is a fabulous orator. After so many years with President Bush, I'd almost forgotten what good oration sounded like. Blair was charming, witty and sincere. Few facts: he was born the same year that the World Affairs Council was organized (1953). He is the first British PM to have a working wife. He is the first working British PM to have children born to him while in office. These are the notes I took, but the full speech can be viewed at the Los Angeles World Affairs Council homepage.

Need alliance of moderation, across politics, religion and wealth
Need dramatic change in strategy.
Reactionary vs moderate islam
Struggle over how the world should govern itself.
We (western world) were blind to long-reaching effects of extremism because we weren't initially directly affected.
Taliban ~ fault of the government
Part of growing muslim movement to not be taken over by the west.
Taliban like early revolutionary communism ~ unsuccessful at Muslim vs. Muslim
Had to create new battle: Muslim vs West ~ 9/11
Values: challenged Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq
Alliances formed under threat of changing values
Sharon's bravery at meeting opportunity
Anti-pacifism
Defense of Israel
Condemn Hezbollah, Iran and Syria
Democracy as the universal spirit. Given the change, people will ambrace it
Empower moderates to defeat extremists
Need two state solution (for Israel~Palestine)
Remove islamic outrage
Iraq needs non-sectarian, democratic state
Syrai and Iran need to make choice to "play by the rules"
Pro-controlled immigration
Global terrorism
Advice ~ Keep US in the lead. Unilateralism can't always be avoided, but not preferred
Need China and India to progress
Promote clean technology
Promote and reinforce values in Africa
Spheres of influence base on justice instead of power, humanity's progress over ages
No stable relationships between nations unless both progressing toward democracy
Evidence for global warming is clear.

Anyway, it was a fascinating afternoon. Will post the group picture as soon as I get my copy.

CNN article on the event
Ronan Head's article on growing anti-Americanism in Middle England.