If you have ever wondered about the power of oratory, or thought its impact has been blunted somehow in the age of mass media sound bites and Internet twitters, I suggest you pay closer attention to recent dramatic events on the world stage.

Specifically, two critical changes occurred in the Middle East immediately following President Obama's speech, delivered in Egypt.

Moderates unexpectedly defeated Hezbollah in a democratic election in Lebanon, and Iran's election has been hotly contested through recurring, massive public protests.

Could a single speech accomplish both of these significant outcomes? Indirectly, yes.

Obama has made two clear points in his oratory, in the Cairo talk and previously: (1) America is not at war with Islam, yet it will not tolerate terrorism conducted in that faith's name; and (2) America seeks a new, non-adversarial relationship with the Middle East, and is willing to conduct an ongoing dialogue, not a bombastic monologue, to accomplish that outcome.

The election aftermaths in Lebanon and Iran are implicitly demonstrating that citizens in those countries are interested in pursuing alternatives to their governments' pugilistic policies.

This is a very hopeful sign to anyone that values the prospect of ushering in an era of diplomacy and tranquility to the region.

It is probably a more dramatic impact than President Obama could have ever anticipated.

But we may look back on Obama's efforts as we do the speeches of President Kennedy and President Reagan at the Berlin Wall, presaging an end to that barrier's existence, and the intractable, hostile stalemate it symbolized.

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