Ronald Reagan called America a "shining city on a hill." The Founding Fathers saw America as the great promise for all generations, present and future, as a unique and exceptional nation.
Benjamin Franklin said, "It is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own."
Freedom is contagious.
With the exception of necessary engagements like World War II, the best way for America to serve as a beacon of freedom is getting our own dysfunctional act together. Our best gift to the world is for us to be free, and to serve as a great example of liberty.
Tyrants still exist, and I realize that often it is necessary for us to engage in war. The Iraq War, for example, was an important opportunity for us to protect Israel, and our own interests, by engaging a tyrannical leader that was prepared to launch an all-out war against Israel, the U.S., and any allies, if he could. I agreed, in the beginning, with the invasion, expecting the war to be concise and quick. Then, something happened.
When American political leaders began to use the words "Nation Building," and "Spreading Democracy," I cringed. Those are not reasons to go to war, and a nation cannot be built as a system that cherishes liberty unless they learn such concepts, and grow into such a system. A tribal mentality, with hundreds of years of Islam embedded into the culture, can hardly be suddenly turned into an American-like country.
America is free, and exceptional, because the people grew into it over hundreds of years. We didn't just say, "Hey, let's be an exceptional nation of liberty." We learned how to become such a nation through the storms of our years as colonies, and through the painful process that forged this nation into existence.
We cannot teach other nations our system, they must learn it when they are good and ready.
I am not saying we should not engage militarily when needed. The cause of freedom, and the fight against tyranny, is too important for America not to be ready to go to war when needed, but let's understand when going to war is a just cause, and not just another excuse for being involved in a foreign entanglement.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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