San Antonio Rose
May 4th, 2009, 11:44 am
I read this in an email this morning and could not have said it better myself. I apologize if anyone has already printed it though haven't found it anywhere.
Arrogant Americans, Mr. President?
Peter Heck - Guest Columnist - 4/14/2009 7:50:00 AM
As I was sitting in church waiting for the start of the service, my
grandpa came walking towards me pointing his finger. No matter how old I get,
and no matter how long he's been out of the U.S. Navy, that's still an
intimidating sight. As he approached me, his voice quivered as he said,
"We saved that continent twice..how dare my president apologize for this
country's arrogance." My grandpa is right. Americans need not
apologize to the world for their arrogance; rather, Americans should apologize
to their forefathers for the arrogance of their president.
Barack Obama's first foreign trip as President of the United States
has confirmed the naiveté so many of us feared during the election cycle. But
worse than that, it has also demonstrated that our president suffers from either
a complete misunderstanding of our heritage and history, or an utter contempt
for it. Neither is excusable.
Garnering cheers from the French of all people, President Obama declared,
"In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in
the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with
you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown
arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive." Consider that Obama spoke
these words just 500 miles from the beaches of Normandy, where the sand is still
stained with 65-year-old blood of "arrogant Americans."
Indeed, columnist Mark Whittington observes, "One should remind Mr.
Obama and the Europeans how America has 'shown arrogance' by saving
Europe from itself innumerable times in the 20th Century. World War I, World War
II, the Cold War, and the wars in the Balkans were largely resolved by American
blood, treasure, and leadership." But all that appears lost on the
president's seemingly insatiable quest to mend fences he imagines have been
tarnished by the bullish George W. Bush.
If Obama wishes to continue trampling the presidential tradition of
showing class to former office holders and publicly trash Bush for his own
personal gain, so be it. But all Americans should make clear that no man –
even if he is the president – will tarnish the legacy of those Americans who
have gone before us. Ours is not a history of arrogance. It is a history of
courage, self-sacrifice, and honor.
When abusive monarchs repressed the masses, Americans resisted and
overthrew them. When misguided policies led to the unjust oppression of fellow
citizens, Americans rebelled and overturned them. When millions of
impoverished and destitute wretches sought a new beginning, Americans threw open
the door and welcomed them. When imperial dictators were on the march,
Americans surrendered their lives to stop them. When communist thugs
threatened world peace, Americans bled to defeat them. When an entire
continent was overwhelmed with famine and hunger, Americans gave of themselves
to sustain it. When terrorist madmen killed the innocent and subjugated
millions, Americans led the fight to topple them.
This is the legacy that generations of Americans have left. If President
Obama seeks stronger relations with the world community, perhaps he should begin
by reminding them of these very truths, rather than condemning his own
countrymen on foreign shores.
This "obsessive need to put down his own country," has caused
blogger James Lewis to call President Obama a "stunningly ignorant
man" who has evidently never spoken to a concentration camp survivor, a
Cuban refugee, a boat person from Vietnam, a Soviet dissident, or a survivor of
Mao's purges.
Unfortunately, I can no longer bring myself to give Mr. Obama that benefit
of the doubt. Not after looking at the pain in my grandpa's eyes...a man
who still carries shrapnel in his body from his service to this country..
As a student and teacher of history, I recognize that America has made
mistakes...plenty of them, in fact. But one of the great things about our
people has been their courage and humility in admitting and correcting those
mistakes. God willing, they will prove that willingness again in four years
and correct the mistake that is the presidency of Barack Obama.
Peter Heck (peter@peterheck.com) hosts a two-hour, daily call-in radio
program on WIOU (1350 AM) in Kokomo, Indiana. "The Peter Heck Show"
comments on social and political issues -- and doesn't shy away from
recognizing how faith influences politics. This column is printed with
permission.
Arrogant Americans, Mr. President?
Peter Heck - Guest Columnist - 4/14/2009 7:50:00 AM
As I was sitting in church waiting for the start of the service, my
grandpa came walking towards me pointing his finger. No matter how old I get,
and no matter how long he's been out of the U.S. Navy, that's still an
intimidating sight. As he approached me, his voice quivered as he said,
"We saved that continent twice..how dare my president apologize for this
country's arrogance." My grandpa is right. Americans need not
apologize to the world for their arrogance; rather, Americans should apologize
to their forefathers for the arrogance of their president.
Barack Obama's first foreign trip as President of the United States
has confirmed the naiveté so many of us feared during the election cycle. But
worse than that, it has also demonstrated that our president suffers from either
a complete misunderstanding of our heritage and history, or an utter contempt
for it. Neither is excusable.
Garnering cheers from the French of all people, President Obama declared,
"In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in
the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with
you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown
arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive." Consider that Obama spoke
these words just 500 miles from the beaches of Normandy, where the sand is still
stained with 65-year-old blood of "arrogant Americans."
Indeed, columnist Mark Whittington observes, "One should remind Mr.
Obama and the Europeans how America has 'shown arrogance' by saving
Europe from itself innumerable times in the 20th Century. World War I, World War
II, the Cold War, and the wars in the Balkans were largely resolved by American
blood, treasure, and leadership." But all that appears lost on the
president's seemingly insatiable quest to mend fences he imagines have been
tarnished by the bullish George W. Bush.
If Obama wishes to continue trampling the presidential tradition of
showing class to former office holders and publicly trash Bush for his own
personal gain, so be it. But all Americans should make clear that no man –
even if he is the president – will tarnish the legacy of those Americans who
have gone before us. Ours is not a history of arrogance. It is a history of
courage, self-sacrifice, and honor.
When abusive monarchs repressed the masses, Americans resisted and
overthrew them. When misguided policies led to the unjust oppression of fellow
citizens, Americans rebelled and overturned them. When millions of
impoverished and destitute wretches sought a new beginning, Americans threw open
the door and welcomed them. When imperial dictators were on the march,
Americans surrendered their lives to stop them. When communist thugs
threatened world peace, Americans bled to defeat them. When an entire
continent was overwhelmed with famine and hunger, Americans gave of themselves
to sustain it. When terrorist madmen killed the innocent and subjugated
millions, Americans led the fight to topple them.
This is the legacy that generations of Americans have left. If President
Obama seeks stronger relations with the world community, perhaps he should begin
by reminding them of these very truths, rather than condemning his own
countrymen on foreign shores.
This "obsessive need to put down his own country," has caused
blogger James Lewis to call President Obama a "stunningly ignorant
man" who has evidently never spoken to a concentration camp survivor, a
Cuban refugee, a boat person from Vietnam, a Soviet dissident, or a survivor of
Mao's purges.
Unfortunately, I can no longer bring myself to give Mr. Obama that benefit
of the doubt. Not after looking at the pain in my grandpa's eyes...a man
who still carries shrapnel in his body from his service to this country..
As a student and teacher of history, I recognize that America has made
mistakes...plenty of them, in fact. But one of the great things about our
people has been their courage and humility in admitting and correcting those
mistakes. God willing, they will prove that willingness again in four years
and correct the mistake that is the presidency of Barack Obama.
Peter Heck (peter@peterheck.com) hosts a two-hour, daily call-in radio
program on WIOU (1350 AM) in Kokomo, Indiana. "The Peter Heck Show"
comments on social and political issues -- and doesn't shy away from
recognizing how faith influences politics. This column is printed with
permission.