The quicker you admit a mistake the better, right? My earlier post on Obama's speech was wrong. It wasn't B-, it's B+, maybe even A-. I got too hung up on the language, which I didn't care for. Its goodness lay in the signals it sent of a change in attitude toward the world and in American values. The "nonbelievers" line struck a chord. So did the "we are ready to lead once more." Subtle notes, but notes all the same.
And so, to all other peoples and governments who are watching today,
from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was
born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman
and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to
lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations
faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but
with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.
understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle
us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through
its prudent use. Our security emanates from the justness of our cause;
the force of our example; the tempering qualities of humility and
restraint.
I'm correcting myself because of the news programs I watched, which selected some of these bits to suggest the revolution in our values that may be occurring. And from Jack Ross, who writes:
After
Gaza, the last thing America can afford to do is bomb lots of Muslim
civilians, and this has forced Obama and those around him to face facts
about Afghanistan and avoid a potentially catastrophic escalation.
