Posted by
darrelmulloy on Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:43:53 PM
The opening of the mission statement of the State Department (on page 71 of the FY2008 budget), states the following:
"America stands committed to a bold mission-supporting growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in the world. Consistant with historic American ideals, the mission is also vital to U.S. national security. For democracy and freedom represent the best way of defeating ideologies that use terror as weapons and the surest means of building peaceful and stable societies.
The mission requires bold diplomacy. American diplomacy must be transformational-seeking not just to report on the world as it is, but to change it for the better. Together with partners on every continent, the United States must work to promote effective democracy and responsible sovereignty."
If you think this is America's role in the world, raise your hand. I hope there are not many hands raised.
I'm sure the mission of Islamic nations would be to go to every continent around the globe and transforming every nation into a believer of Islam, to change the world for the better. Why is Islam's goal any different than the stated goal of the State Department of the United States?
I sure as hell don't want to have to convert to Islam in order to make the world a better place to live, and I am sure there are nations in the world who want nothing to do with being converted to democracy.
Personally, I would not like it if we continued to push for democracy in this country. This country was established under a republican form of government, not a democracy. No democracy in history has survived for longer than about two hundred years. If we keep up doing what we have been doing, we will not survive much longer either.
We cannot continue to be the standard setter for the rest of the world, either financially or morally.
It would be a wonderful thing if all nations demonstrated the freedom to their people that America does, but it is not our place to see to it that is what happens.