Jimmeh Cahtah at the DNC

[ambitious_wench]

Today, our dominant international challenge is to restore the greatness of America - based on telling the truth, a commitment to peace, and respect for civil liberties at home and basic human rights around the world. Truth is the foundation of our global leadership, but our credibility has been shattered and we are left increasingly isolated and vulnerable in a hostile world. Without truth - without trust - America cannot flourish. Trust is at the very heart of our democracy, the sacred covenant between the president and the people.

When that trust is violated, the bonds that hold our republic together begin to weaken. After 9/11, America stood proud, wounded but determined and united. A cowardly attack on innocent civilians brought us an unprecedented level of cooperation and understanding around the world. But in just 34 months, we have watched with deep concern as all this goodwill has been squandered by a virtually unbroken series of mistakes and miscalculations. Unilateral acts and demands have isolated the United States from the very nations we need to join us in combatting terrorism.

Recent policies have cost our nation its reputation as the world's most admired champion of freedom and justice. What a difference these few months of extremism have made!

The United States has alienated its allies, dismayed its friends, and inadvertently gratified its enemies by proclaiming a confused and disturbing strategy of ``pre-emptive'' war. With our allies disunited, the world resenting us, and the Middle East ablaze, we need John Kerry to restore life to the global war against terrorism.

In the meantime, the Middle East peace process has come to a screeching halt for the first time since Israel became a nation. All former presidents, Democratic and Republican, have attempted to secure a comprehensive peace for Israel with hope and justice for the Palestinians. The achievements of Camp David a quarter century ago and the more recent progress made by President Bill Clinton are now in peril.

Instead, violence has gripped the Holy Land, with the region increasingly swept by anti-American passions. Elsewhere, North Korea's nuclear menace - a threat more real and immediate than any posed by Saddam Hussein - has been allowed to advance unheeded, with potentially ominous consequences for peace and stability in Northeast Asia. These are some of the prices of our government's radical departure from the basic American principles and values espoused by John Kerry!

In repudiating extremism we need to recommit ourselves to a few common-sense principles that should transcend partisan differences. First, we cannot enhance our own security if we place in jeopardy what is most precious to us, namely, the centrality of human rights in our daily lives and in global affairs. Second, we cannot maintain our historic self-confidence as a people if we generate public panic. Third, we cannot do our duty as citizens and patriots if we pursue an agenda that polarizes and divides our country. Next, we cannot be true to ourselves if we mistreat others. And finally, in the world at large we cannot lead if our leaders mislead.

Ultimately, the issue is whether America will provide global leadership that springs from the unity and integrity of the American people or whether extremist doctrines and the manipulation of truth will define America's role in the world.

At stake is nothing less than our nation's soul.


Full text:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4354706,00.html

Comments

[djfiggy.livejournal.com]

Spoken like an Evangelical Christian.
I can't remember if I really was one of those or not. "St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church", it was...

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

How so? I didn't see any references to God.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

One thing I don't think I'll ever understand is how "attack" is always paired with "cowardly."

Although I see the attack as definitely despicable, I don't see how it was cowardly, at all. I don't think a coward could become a kamakazi.

bravery?

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

I understand your confusion. As I understand it, the 9/11 attacks were set up so that only the men who flew the planes knew they were going to die. The men who attacked the crew and took over the planes were ignorant of their fates.

So, I think it could be said that the sacrifices made by the men who knew was not cowardly, and in fact could be called "brave". But I'd say it was a misplaced bravery, and coupled with the duplicity they perpetrated on the other men, it was definitely despicable.

Back in the first few days after the attack, some columnist made a comment about the bravery of the hijackers, and was vilified for it.

Knee-jerkism is alive and well in the US, it seems.

Edie