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US PRESIDENT JOE Biden quoted lines from WB Yeats’ poem The Second Coming during his last speech at the UN General Assembly in New York today.
In a speech that took in the major world events the outgoing president has seen through his decades-long political career, Biden said:
“The Irish poet William Butler Yeats described a world, and I quote, where ‘things fall apart, the centre cannot hold, mere anarchy is loosed upon the world’.”
He continued, “Some may say those words describe the world, not just in 1919, but in 2024, I see a critical distinction. In our time, the center has held.”
Biden said that “leaders of people from every region and across the political spectrum have stood together” to deal with the Covid-a9 pandemic.
In his farewell speech at the UN General Assembly, Pres. Biden referenced William Butler Yeats' poem, "The Second Coming," adding, "The choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come." https://t.co/7YkNKqjmrD pic.twitter.com/MaOn34ZQ8U
— ABC News (@ABC) September 24, 2024
“We defended the UN Charter and ensured the survival of Ukraine as a free nation.”
He said the US had made “the largest investment in climate clean energy ever anywhere in history”.
“There will always be forces to pull our countries apart, and the world apart: aggression, extremism, chaos and cynicism, the desire to retreat from the world and go it alone,” he said.
“Our task, our test, is to make sure that the forces holding us together are stronger than those that are pulling us apart.”
Biden said the “principles of partnership”, exemplified by the UN gathering today, “can withstand the challenges that the centre holds once again”.
“My fellow leaders, I truly believe we’re in another inflection point world history. The choices we make today will determine our future for decades to come.”
During his lengthy speech, Biden went over the major world events since he first took up political office in the 1970s: the Cold War, the American war in Vietnam, 9/11 and the US War on Terror, the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and now the war in Ukraine.
He said the US would continue to support Ukraine and continue to develop alliances in Asia in order to oppose China.
He also said the US wants to bring peace to the Middle East. He condemned the Hamas-led attack on Israel last October and said the families of hostages in Gaza are “going through hell”, as are the people of Gaza.
He said Gaza must be “free of Hamas’ grip” and that the war must come to an end.
He also called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Referring to his withdrawal from the presidential race this year, which paved the way for Vice President Kamala Harris to take up the Democratic nomination, Biden said “somethings are more important than staying in power”.
“This summer, I faced a decision whether to seek a second term as president. It was a difficult decision. Being president has been the honor of my life, there’s so much more I want to get done,” Biden said.
“As much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided after 50 years of public service it’s time for new generation of leadership to take my nation forward,” he added.
The audience applauded as he said: “My fellow leaders, let us never forget, some things are more important than staying in power.”
“It’s your people that matter the most.”
Those comments will likely raise some eyebrows in his own party though, as he spent weeks refusing to withdraw despite widespread calls for him to do so following a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.
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Great, can’t wait, a DJ who isn’t afraid to play what people ask for instead of the rubbish the record companies insist other stations put on their play lists.
He not gona have much luck with radio novas playlist. Same tired old songs played on rotation every hour or two.
great news! let there be rock!
Legend …..
Loved John Clarke’s show, best music show on weekend radio, couldn’t believe they axed it. Sunday morning radio is dire talk clap trap!
I’d usually stick up for 2fm before,because there were shows that I liked but the station has now become brutal. It seems anyone over 40 now is pushed to the weekend, where ironically, the best presenters are now. Big mistake moving Rick O’ Shea from weekdays though. Eoghann McDermott adds nothing to Drivetime that Will Leahy wasn’t already doing.
Delighted for him and Radio Nova.. About time someone stood up to RTE.
If RTE didn’t get rid of popular presenters and popular shows maybe they wouldn’t be losing listeners by the shed load.
RTE trying to bring Nova to court just stinks of pettiness.
Also great free advertising for John Clarkes new show starting 27/09/15..
I’ll be sure to tune in!
What time? I love John Clarke, always plays great tunes and always made the music the star rather than talking too much.
Fair play to him
Proper order
a proper DJ and a true gent , welcome back!
Proper order
didn’t John Clarke start his career on Pirate Radio in the 80s and was it radio Nova. has the wheel turned dust circle
John heading back to his radio birthplace. NOVA. Rocking the bay.
I thought he was one of the chuckle brothers without my glasses on ..
I’m not a linguist but doesn’t the word “Nova” mean “new” or “novel” or “original”? They really can’t come up with a new name for a show?
In spanish nova means “it doesn’t go” vauxhall found that out after trying to market their vauxhall nova!
In spanish nova means “it doesn’t go” vauxhall found that out after trying to market their vauxhall nova!
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