Here is one:
Sir, I was saddened to read the Archbishop of Canterbury’s ill-advised comments about US imperialism (report, Nov 26). Quite apart from the assertions, which are simply incomprehensible, as a man of God, the Archbishop will know two key principles. One is the importance of motive and the other is gratitude and appreciation.
Americans may be naive but their motives are generally “principle-driven” and charitable. They may have got Iraq wrong (although events may yet prove them right) but their intentions were to create a better world, just as their intentions were when they bailed us out in two world wars and when they provided us with a shield during the Cold War and when they rebuilt Europe, economically, under the Marshall Plan. The world owes America a huge debt of gratitude. A debt it can never repay but at least it can, and ought to, appreciate.
Joshua Rowe
I’m always more than a bit abashed by the invocation of World War II in the attempt to coax gratitude from critical Europeans, particularly now, 60+ years later. Our fathers and grandfathers fought that war, not us…it is not our gratitude to demand. The stance is particularly unseemly when directed at Britain, who almost single-handedly defended the world from the darkness of fascism in both Europe and Asia. If there is national gratitude to be expressed, Britain’s enormous sacrifices in those intervening two years merit no less than America’s after Pearl Harbor.
We defended Western Europe from the menace of communism because it was fascism’s equally-hideous cousin and it was, frankly, in our interest to do so. It is an idealism, yes, because it is undeniable that liberal democracy and capitalism are superior in every way to collectivism (in whatever flavor) and dirigisme. I would have hoped a man with a mind as keen as ++Rowan would be able to see this bigger picture and, simply out of pure utilitarian reasoning if nothing else, offered a word of encouragement. Alas, the urge to pander to the Dark was too great, and now we have the garish spectacle of WWII-era gratitude being paraded again.
We foreigners are thankful to the Americans for their brave world defense of the world. Thank you for reacting to the tragic death of 2000 Americans in New York, and producing the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and 4000 American soldiers. I’m sorry that the Pope, the Dalai Lama, and the Archbishop of Canterbury questioned such a necessary action. As your Commander in Chief so kindly explained, you needed to attack the terrorists overseas, so that, no matter how bad the blood bath in our countries, it keeps another 9/11 happening in your towns.
Of course, #2, the alternatives were to either simply leave Saddam to do what he pleased or to prolong the conditions that provoked the 9-11 attacks to begin with. It’s not the Pope, ++Rowan or the Dalai Lama(!) who has the responsibility to protect America and its interests, but the President’s and Congress’s.
well Jeffersonian, we may not be actually fisghting on European soil (there’s no war to fight fortunately) – but we still have our troops spread out across Western Europe. And we still fight on behalf of Western Europe in Iraq, Afghanistan, wherever need be.
So I think they should remain appreciative. Mr. Rowe is to be commended.
Well spoken, Jeffersonian, you sound like a true Hamiltonian.
You’re right, the eradication of Hussein is a truly righteous act–when compared to the early US funding of the selfsame dictator (with full knowledge of his bloody, murderous acts), and the current funding of the bloody regimes of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and others. Good thing we’re acting on principle.
Chris, I commend you for your heartfelt defense of “The Greatest Generation.” As one reads so often on this site, the Jews, Europeans, and the rest of the world should be grateful for US sacrifice in WWII. The Greatest Generation became the fighters that helped liberate the world from Nazism. They were also the generation of statement that refused the influx of Jews begging for temporary refuge in Alaska on the eve of their annihilation. I’m betting you never heard about the abortive Alaska Homeland? The conquerors truly do rewrite history.
“statement” should read “statesmen”
[blockquote]Well spoken, Jeffersonian, you sound like a true Hamiltonian.
You’re right, the eradication of Hussein is a truly righteous act–when compared to the early US funding of the selfsame dictator (with full knowledge of his bloody, murderous acts), and the current funding of the bloody regimes of Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China, and others. Good thing we’re acting on principle. [/blockquote]
We “funded” an oil-soaked Mideast nation like Iraq?? Tell me more. Or maybe you mean [url=http://www.command-post.org/archives/002978.html]armed?[/url] I think it was those nice Russians, French, Chinese, Poles, etc. And I really don’t think we’re sending any aid to Saudi or China.
We’re treaty-bound to fund Egypt ($3 billion a year as I recall) and that has assisted in 30 years of peace between Israel and that nation. You prefer bloodshed?
I’m wrong. America acts out of selfless, Christian interest for the rest of the world. You’re right. Back to unquestioning self congratulation.
# 8; poor old Britain – you lost your empire, now you’ve pretty darn near lost your country. Nothing for the angry lion to do but howl like lear at his fate and denounce his errant daughter.
As for Rowan Williams, his outlook makes perfect sense as a self-described hairy lefty lad from Wales who grew up in the 60s, when “the world” was denouncing Amerikkkan aggression against those brave peasants of Vietnam yearning to be free, and the Cultural Revolution was announcing a new dawn in China. Remember all that crap? That’s the atmosphere RW was inhaling then. Some things are just a bit too hard to unlearn.
[blockquote]I’m wrong. America acts out of selfless, Christian interest for the rest of the world. You’re right. Back to unquestioning self congratulation. [/blockquote]
I think I made it pretty clear that we removed Saddam out of self-interest (with British assistance, I should point out) and that I see much of the self-congratulation over decades-old events more than unseemly. If you want to snarl, please do so alone. If you want to address the issue, I’d be happy to do so in a civil fashion.
Justinmartyr, you’re right. We should have done it the English way, and had the prisoners taken in AFG blown from guns.
#8 I guess you’re just anonther “Hate Amercia First” folks……..huh?