Obamanation: National Insecurity
AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY COMMENCEMENT
Two excerpts from that commencement address stand out below the rest; I quote them here.
Sometimes a con man, in his conceit, will effectively confess his crimes to his victims, firm in the belief that they are too dull to fully comprehend what he is saying. I view that first quote as a prime example of that hubris. President Obama expected that the graduates were too excited and we were too lazy to plumb the depth of his words. The following outline may help you to observe how those words apply to the man who spoke them.
In a culture where so many chase the outward markers of success that can so often lead us astray -- the titles and status, the materialism and money, the fame and popularity -- these Americans have embraced the virtues that we need most right now: self-discipline over self-interest; work over comfort; and character over celebrity.
- outward markers of success
- titles and status
- Senator
- President
- materialism and money
- Presidential salary
- book royalties
- expensive Chicago real estate
- fame and popularity
- character over celebrity
Yesterday I visited the National Archives and the halls that holds our Constitution, our Declaration of Independence, and our Bill of Rights. I went there because, as our national debate on how to deal with the security challenge that we face proceeds, we must remember this enduring truth: The values and ideals in those documents are not simply words written into aging parchment, they are the bedrock of our liberty and our security. We uphold our fundamental principles and values not just because we choose to, but because we swear to; not because they feel good, but because they help keep us safe and keep us true to who we are.
What principle is more fundamental to this nation than individual liberty? What safeguards it more than strict limits on the power of governments? Have we so soon forgotten his egregious remarks about the Constitution's charter of "negative rights" which supposedly prevent the federal government from doing what it should for us?
Because when America strays from our values, it not only undermines the rule of law, it alienates us from our allies, it energizes our adversaries, and it endangers our national security and the lives of our troops. So as Americans, we reject the false choice between our security and our ideals. We can and we must and we will protect both.That last quote packs broad meaning into a few words. Lets take a closer look.
- when America strays from our values
- Waterboarding is torture.
- Enemy combatants are innocent.
- it alienates us from our allies
- it energizes our adversaries
- it endangers our national security and the lives of our troops
- false choice between our security and our ideals
To witness the difference between a demagogue and a statesman, read the transcript of former Vice President Richard B. Cheney's remarks to the American Enterprise Institute. Sphere: Related Content