Posted by
Gregory Noelck on Saturday, November 08, 2008 10:26:01 PM
I was reading through the IBD editorials Thursday night and came across some information regarding Russia moving nuclear armed ships into the Caribbean. I found a supporting article at Fox News: the links to both the editorial and the article are found below. I also wanted to include a few of my thoughts for reflection. it might be better to read the editorial and article first. If you take the time to read any of this at all - thanks!
One of the cultural values that has surfaced in the United States is an aversion to ethnocentrism. The way in which ethnocentrism is applied is as a negative value implying that it is wrong and morally unacceptable to believe in and advocate for the position that the "American" culture or the United States is in any way shape or form better than any other culture or country. The value stems from relativism and morally equivocates all actions of other cultures in the name of the core parent value of tolerance.
While the idea of anti-ethnocentrism has steadily won favor in western cultures it is not shared universally. Relating to the topic at hand many have argued that it is unjust for the United States to have nuclear weaponry all the while trying to coerce other countries away from the same. Unfortunately this argument fails to realize the difference between the desired outcome of the United States, power to maintain peace, and that of certain other countries, power to create despotic domination. The global ramifications are identical to that of the police. To understand this one must only imagine the consequences of having no police at all working in our neighborhoods.
Since this past Tuesday the United States, for the next three plus months, finds itself in a very precarious position. With the President Bush in a lame duck position and the new administration unassembled, a window of opportunity is created whereby global factions may position themselves for an entirely new game. Contrary to the anti-ethnocentric views of many here, the real enemies of the United States seek to find us as a powerless defeated global force, not because we should all be equal, but because our nation acts as the single most bulwark to despotic evolutions and elevations of global power.
With the advent of an Obama administration will US foreign policy focus more towards pleasing the global community as Obama presented himself in campaigning thru Germany, or perhaps offering moral equivocation demonstrated when the Republic of Georgia was invaded? The American people have exercised their right to promote a seemingly lamb among global wolves to lead the country that has singularly been the greatest advocate of freedom and liberty the world has ever known. An excellent opportunity has now been presented for our enemies to go toe-to-toe with a new leader that has little national and less global experience. Can a populous pleasing personality having campaigned on the pursuit of equality negotiate with forces marked forever by the pursuit of power domination or will he stand courageously putting the security of the American people at greater priority than their global popularity? Based on current events, and as Joe Biden explained, what Obama has revealed of his principles and intents during these last months combined with his inexperience has emboldened our enemies. The next answer to discover is how much.
Thoughts?