Post by AmericanPride on Jan 31, 2006 10:23:51 GMT -8
Is There Such Thing as Too Fair?
One of the principle tenants of modernist ideology appears to be a commitment to a vague ideal of objectivism that reduces each ideology and culture to an artificial equality. Indeed, the very notion leaves the morally-inclined to be hamstrung when there exists concerted campaigns to destroy elements of humanity as it requires the suspension of one’s ethical code in favor of submission to a foreign myth or deception.
Americans in particular appear to have super-objectivity that renders our values useless when applied abroad. An appeal to our decency never fails to incite a feeling of friendship or understanding, whether or not it is intended to exploit us or befriend us. It is evident in our tolerance of an enormous variety of cultures and beliefs that we act, when we can, with an objectivism without parallel in most of the world. What other country would give the holy books to their captured enemies and respect their religious practices? Certainly, we were not given the same fair treatment when our mission in Somalia took a turn for the worst. Yet, we still remain so afraid of committing injustice that we would rather commit an injustice upon ourselves. No other country guides its policies by law, reason, and moral principles as much as we do, and this has cost us many opportunities in protecting ourselves, not to mention preventing the loss of American lives.
No one would say this is fair. What is more terrifying, however, is that many will grant a noble portrayal of our adversaries that is entirely unfounded. In contrast, even the slightest indication of self-interest on our part is intolerable, while the most false philosophy is embraced as our equal. While Europeans have destroyed hundreds of cultures, and tribes across Asia and Africa spill blood in a thousand different feuds, we work endlessly on repairing an image stained by wrongly perceived notions of ethnocentrism. When an American is abducted in Iraq and beheaded, no cries of cultural imperialism are heard; no effort is made to protect Americans. But when a holy book is mishandled, an entire region of the world revolts and we are forced to publicly apologize for a mistake none of us have made. And our efforts go on unappreciated.
To continue with the idea of objectivism then is a mistake, and an injustice to our own people. While we thrive and prosper, we are burdened by the millions of insults claiming a fault in our national character, even though our history demonstrates an American nation unknown to the world. Should we be so objective and fair that we deny ourselves our own history and values, that in the end we endeavor towards our own destruction?
There is only one thing that is incontestably objective for us: We must endure.
One of the principle tenants of modernist ideology appears to be a commitment to a vague ideal of objectivism that reduces each ideology and culture to an artificial equality. Indeed, the very notion leaves the morally-inclined to be hamstrung when there exists concerted campaigns to destroy elements of humanity as it requires the suspension of one’s ethical code in favor of submission to a foreign myth or deception.
Americans in particular appear to have super-objectivity that renders our values useless when applied abroad. An appeal to our decency never fails to incite a feeling of friendship or understanding, whether or not it is intended to exploit us or befriend us. It is evident in our tolerance of an enormous variety of cultures and beliefs that we act, when we can, with an objectivism without parallel in most of the world. What other country would give the holy books to their captured enemies and respect their religious practices? Certainly, we were not given the same fair treatment when our mission in Somalia took a turn for the worst. Yet, we still remain so afraid of committing injustice that we would rather commit an injustice upon ourselves. No other country guides its policies by law, reason, and moral principles as much as we do, and this has cost us many opportunities in protecting ourselves, not to mention preventing the loss of American lives.
No one would say this is fair. What is more terrifying, however, is that many will grant a noble portrayal of our adversaries that is entirely unfounded. In contrast, even the slightest indication of self-interest on our part is intolerable, while the most false philosophy is embraced as our equal. While Europeans have destroyed hundreds of cultures, and tribes across Asia and Africa spill blood in a thousand different feuds, we work endlessly on repairing an image stained by wrongly perceived notions of ethnocentrism. When an American is abducted in Iraq and beheaded, no cries of cultural imperialism are heard; no effort is made to protect Americans. But when a holy book is mishandled, an entire region of the world revolts and we are forced to publicly apologize for a mistake none of us have made. And our efforts go on unappreciated.
To continue with the idea of objectivism then is a mistake, and an injustice to our own people. While we thrive and prosper, we are burdened by the millions of insults claiming a fault in our national character, even though our history demonstrates an American nation unknown to the world. Should we be so objective and fair that we deny ourselves our own history and values, that in the end we endeavor towards our own destruction?
There is only one thing that is incontestably objective for us: We must endure.