Obama remembered Mahatma Gandhi, says film no excuse for attack on US

United Nations: President Barack Obama on Tuesday remembered Mahatma Gandhi’s word in his address to the UN General Assembly here as he remembered US envoy to Libya who was killed in violent protests that erupted in the aftermath of an anti-Islam film, saying the “crude and disgusting” video was no excuse for an “attack on America”.
Obama took the stage at the UN General Assembly hall to address world leaders in what is his last international speech before the November 6 presidential elections.

He began his address by remembering the memory of Christopher Stevens, the American ambassador who “helped the Libyan people as they coped with violent conflict, cared for the wounded, and crafted a vision for a future in which the rights of all Libyans would be who respected.”

He said over the last two weeks, “a crude and disgusting video” has sparked outrage throughout the Muslim world.

“I have made it clear that the United States government had nothing to do with this video, and I believe its message must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity,” the president said.

“Together, we must work towards a world where we are strengthened by our differences, and not defined by them. That is what America embodies, and that is the vision we will support,” Obama said.

Obama said the video is an “insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well – for as the city outside these walls makes clear, we are a country that has welcomed people of every race and religion.

We are home to Muslims who worship across our country. We not only respect the freedom of religion – we have laws that protect individuals from being harmed because of how they look or what they believe. We understand why people take offense to this video because millions of our citizens are among them.”

“Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like Chris Stevens, and not by his killers. Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations,” Obama said.