If you’ve read more than three things I’ve written, you’ve probably noticed that I’m frequently delighted by words. Periodically something in the Bible, or a book, or that someone said, will really grab my attention and captivate my thoughts and emotions. Such was the case today when I read a quote from Shimon Peres. Peres is Israel’s former prime minister and current president. A couple of years ago someone had asked Shimon Peres what he thought of America’s ongoing conflict in Iraq and here was his response:“First I must put something in context,” he began. “America is unique in the history of the world. In the history of the world, whenever there has been war, the nation that is victorious has taken land from the nation that has been defeated – land has always been the basis of wealth on our planet. Only one nation in history, and this during the last century, was willing to lay down hundreds of thousands of lives and take no land in its victory – no land from Germany, no land from Japan. America. America is unique in the history of the world for its willingness to sacrifice so many of its precious sons and daughters for liberty, not solely for itself but also for its friends.”
I adore this statement because I actually believe in what President Obama has referred to as “American exceptionalism” (only in his references, this is not seen as something good). Of course I don’t think that America is the only nation with anything good to offer, but I do believe in the historic American fundamental principles of economic and political freedom. I grow weary of the attitude I keep hearing that America is just one nation among many. I am saddened by the fact that not too long ago our own commander in chief president Obama went on what has since been referred to as “Obama’s American Apology Tour”. I’ve been disappointed in recent years to see us not honor our commitment to our allies, and watch as our own president has been praised by the likes of such as Hugo Chavez and Mummar Quaddafi.
Am I alone in these thoughts?
3 comments:
My wife and I were talking just the other day about America and our national debt. She then told me how Prez vowed some 28 billion dollars and more America troops to Japan to assist with relief efforts.
AMERICA! We are up to our ears in debt and war, yet we STILL give generously to other nations!! Sometimes we give to a fault: we give to enemy nations and they repay us by grinding our names in the mud.
AMERICA is STILL the greatest country in the world. And that is a fact only by God's grace until He decides when to take it away from us.
Mike-I'm with you in believing that it's all by God's grace; not only for our country, but for us as individuals. I also never want to put out there that I think America is God's favorite - because that's not true. It's just that I am an American, and am grateful for the freedoms that we have in this country. I'm grateful for the rich history of our country in generosity. Doesn't mean that we haven't done some things wrong and can not learn from those things; but it does mean that I think we need to stay strong as a country so that we can assist the causes of freedom across the globe.
You are not alone. I'm young and I'm in the arts but that doesn't mean that I agree with the way the media and our current government have been portraying the US.
It just seems like so many people today are praising Europe and believing that everyone over seas are so much smarter and better than us.
Not so! I'm also sad that many people my age don't know our nation's history! Some don't even know who were our presidents!
We have things sooo good here in the US and to see so many people complaining and comparing and whining about... well everything really makes me wonder how much longer we as a nation will last.
I believe God is merciful and slow to anger but if our nation keeps going in the direction it is headed I won't be surprised if the consequences overwhelm us.
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