Mark West
Liberty's century
By Mark West
Defining America's role in this world has been a challenge that our Founding Fathers faced and that we still face today. Thomas Jefferson coined phrases in the Declaration of Independence intending to define this role. According to Jefferson, America is a separate, independent and equal national power in a world of national powers with the authoritative right to self-defense. Our Founding Fathers must have known the difficult decisions future leaders would encounter when faced with carrying out this mandate. Certainly they understood that future leaders would have to think differently about defending our land although I don't believe they could possibly have envisioned the terrorist threat of our day.
Facing the threat of terrorists to our land is not easy, and honestly must be one of the most difficult situations that our nation has faced. America's role in the world was permanently changed by the events of September 11, 2001. A changing role in the world requires Americans and their leaders to approach the threat of terrorists with a different thought process. All decisions on national defense must be made in light of the possibility of September 11th being repeated.
According to the President, the Iraq War was one of those decisions that required different thinking in light of 9/11. In the President's words, "Do I forget the lessons of September 11th and take the word of a madman, or do I take action to defend our country? Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time." Patriotic? Yes! Accurate? That's been up for debate for quite some time. Lacking a discovery of weapons of mass destruction or of any evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved in the planning of 9/11, the President has endured a firestorm of criticism for this decision. Senator John Kerry calls this Iraq War the "wrong war at the wrong time" echoing Howard Dean's criticism of the war last December. Yet this is a reversal of Senator Kerry's position on this war. Last December, Senator Kerry criticized Howard Dean's opinion as one that belongs to someone unfit to be President of the United States. My oh my, how a presidential campaign can change opinions.
President Bush's own language on the tax code applies to the situation in Iraq. It is a "complicated mess!" Examining Iraq's current mess, we cannot forget that our own Constitutional Republic wasn't formed overnight, or in a year or in two years. Decades passed before we began to really shape our Republic into a properly functioning system of government. American government sprang forth from far more ideal conditions than Iraq has to deal with today! Iraq needs time before we pass judgment on its efforts toward democracy.
President Bush was very wise to frame the situation in Iraq around a concept that has a deep hold on the hearts of Americans. Framed in liberty, the situation in Iraq becomes something more than a conflict over world views, it becomes a national calling in expanding liberty to the world around us. President Bush believes in the power of liberty to transform hearts, communities and nations.
God is in the business of gift-giving, including the greatest gift He gave, eternal life through the death, resurrection and ascension of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). President Bush believes that liberty is one of those gifts that God has given, not only to Americans, but to all of mankind. Expansion of this liberty, in the President's opinion, is essential to bringing peace to the world around us.
President Bush said, "We will build a safer world and a more hopeful America" as he began his acceptance speech. Liberty is the cornerstone of his plan for the next four years. President Bush laid out how he plans to use liberty in this venture when he said that, "By promoting liberty abroad, we will build a safer world. By encouraging liberty at home, we will build a more hopeful America. Like generations before us, we have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom." President Bush believes that he has served a role in initiating what he calls "liberty's century" by promoting the American calling to spread liberty throughout America and the world. As Bush said of the resurrection of New York City, "Here buildings fell, and here a nation arose."
A more hopeful America will be achieved through the expansion of liberty and opportunity in domestic policy as well. President Bush is promoting an ownership society that allows people to have more control of their lives. This is called a compassionate conservative philosophy which is based on helping people improve their lives without trying to run their lives. Proposing to reform the tax code, social security and health care, the President intends to make these elements of American society more user friendly to the American people.
Social structures are also a part of the President's plan as he promises to end discrimination against religious charities, defend traditional marriage, and to insure the unborn have a place in America. Activist judges bear the brunt of the President's blame for the attack on these institutions in our society so he vows to appoint only strict constructionist judges to the federal bench. President Bush also pledged to leave no child behind in the education system.
His opponent didn't escape this speech unscathed by the incumbent President. Criticizing Senator Kerry's claim to be a candidate of conservative values, the President slammed him on his vote against the Defense of Marriage Act and his characterization of the Reagan presidency as being a time of "moral darkness." President Bush was equally critical of Senator Kerry's disrespect toward America's allies in Iraq and his flip-flops on Iraq policy. Does anyone remember Senator Kerry saying, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it" in regard to his failure to support the soldiers serving in Iraq?
More than two trillion dollars would be the cost of Senator Kerry's domestic policies which he promised to pay for by increasing taxes on the rich. President Bush described these policies of tax and spend as policies of the past that support government expansion at the cost of individual expansion of opportunities to the citizens of America. Kerry's lack of support for most of the President's policies was displayed as reason enough not to trust him to govern America.
I noted that President Bush's speech was presidential. Taking nothing for granted, President Bush went on the offensive in a full assault. President Bush detailed his plans for a new term, defended his actions of the previous term, and defined his opponent for the campaign ahead. Leadership is what Americans are looking for and the President gave the impression that he has lead and that he is prepared to continue leading this nation. True Patriots have a decision to make: Do you believe that President Bush has effectively led this nation over the first term of his presidency? Do you believe that any of his competitors would be any more effective? True Patriots decide based on what is best for America, not what is best for the individual.
© Mark West
Defining America's role in this world has been a challenge that our Founding Fathers faced and that we still face today. Thomas Jefferson coined phrases in the Declaration of Independence intending to define this role. According to Jefferson, America is a separate, independent and equal national power in a world of national powers with the authoritative right to self-defense. Our Founding Fathers must have known the difficult decisions future leaders would encounter when faced with carrying out this mandate. Certainly they understood that future leaders would have to think differently about defending our land although I don't believe they could possibly have envisioned the terrorist threat of our day.
Facing the threat of terrorists to our land is not easy, and honestly must be one of the most difficult situations that our nation has faced. America's role in the world was permanently changed by the events of September 11, 2001. A changing role in the world requires Americans and their leaders to approach the threat of terrorists with a different thought process. All decisions on national defense must be made in light of the possibility of September 11th being repeated.
According to the President, the Iraq War was one of those decisions that required different thinking in light of 9/11. In the President's words, "Do I forget the lessons of September 11th and take the word of a madman, or do I take action to defend our country? Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time." Patriotic? Yes! Accurate? That's been up for debate for quite some time. Lacking a discovery of weapons of mass destruction or of any evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved in the planning of 9/11, the President has endured a firestorm of criticism for this decision. Senator John Kerry calls this Iraq War the "wrong war at the wrong time" echoing Howard Dean's criticism of the war last December. Yet this is a reversal of Senator Kerry's position on this war. Last December, Senator Kerry criticized Howard Dean's opinion as one that belongs to someone unfit to be President of the United States. My oh my, how a presidential campaign can change opinions.
President Bush's own language on the tax code applies to the situation in Iraq. It is a "complicated mess!" Examining Iraq's current mess, we cannot forget that our own Constitutional Republic wasn't formed overnight, or in a year or in two years. Decades passed before we began to really shape our Republic into a properly functioning system of government. American government sprang forth from far more ideal conditions than Iraq has to deal with today! Iraq needs time before we pass judgment on its efforts toward democracy.
President Bush was very wise to frame the situation in Iraq around a concept that has a deep hold on the hearts of Americans. Framed in liberty, the situation in Iraq becomes something more than a conflict over world views, it becomes a national calling in expanding liberty to the world around us. President Bush believes in the power of liberty to transform hearts, communities and nations.
God is in the business of gift-giving, including the greatest gift He gave, eternal life through the death, resurrection and ascension of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). President Bush believes that liberty is one of those gifts that God has given, not only to Americans, but to all of mankind. Expansion of this liberty, in the President's opinion, is essential to bringing peace to the world around us.
President Bush said, "We will build a safer world and a more hopeful America" as he began his acceptance speech. Liberty is the cornerstone of his plan for the next four years. President Bush laid out how he plans to use liberty in this venture when he said that, "By promoting liberty abroad, we will build a safer world. By encouraging liberty at home, we will build a more hopeful America. Like generations before us, we have a calling from beyond the stars to stand for freedom." President Bush believes that he has served a role in initiating what he calls "liberty's century" by promoting the American calling to spread liberty throughout America and the world. As Bush said of the resurrection of New York City, "Here buildings fell, and here a nation arose."
A more hopeful America will be achieved through the expansion of liberty and opportunity in domestic policy as well. President Bush is promoting an ownership society that allows people to have more control of their lives. This is called a compassionate conservative philosophy which is based on helping people improve their lives without trying to run their lives. Proposing to reform the tax code, social security and health care, the President intends to make these elements of American society more user friendly to the American people.
Social structures are also a part of the President's plan as he promises to end discrimination against religious charities, defend traditional marriage, and to insure the unborn have a place in America. Activist judges bear the brunt of the President's blame for the attack on these institutions in our society so he vows to appoint only strict constructionist judges to the federal bench. President Bush also pledged to leave no child behind in the education system.
His opponent didn't escape this speech unscathed by the incumbent President. Criticizing Senator Kerry's claim to be a candidate of conservative values, the President slammed him on his vote against the Defense of Marriage Act and his characterization of the Reagan presidency as being a time of "moral darkness." President Bush was equally critical of Senator Kerry's disrespect toward America's allies in Iraq and his flip-flops on Iraq policy. Does anyone remember Senator Kerry saying, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion dollars before I voted against it" in regard to his failure to support the soldiers serving in Iraq?
More than two trillion dollars would be the cost of Senator Kerry's domestic policies which he promised to pay for by increasing taxes on the rich. President Bush described these policies of tax and spend as policies of the past that support government expansion at the cost of individual expansion of opportunities to the citizens of America. Kerry's lack of support for most of the President's policies was displayed as reason enough not to trust him to govern America.
I noted that President Bush's speech was presidential. Taking nothing for granted, President Bush went on the offensive in a full assault. President Bush detailed his plans for a new term, defended his actions of the previous term, and defined his opponent for the campaign ahead. Leadership is what Americans are looking for and the President gave the impression that he has lead and that he is prepared to continue leading this nation. True Patriots have a decision to make: Do you believe that President Bush has effectively led this nation over the first term of his presidency? Do you believe that any of his competitors would be any more effective? True Patriots decide based on what is best for America, not what is best for the individual.
© Mark West
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