In his inauguration speech yesterday, President Barack Obama reaffirmed the United States’ government’s vow to uphold its constitution and live up to the lofty ideals that support its claim as the world’s greatest nation.
And what exactly are those ideals which were first proposed by Norfolk’s most influential son, Thomas Paine?
American Ideals
The American Declaration of Independence states the every person is born equal and has inalienable (irrevocable) rights to
- life
- liberty
- the pursuit of happiness
American Loss of Authority under Bush
The USA lost much of its moral authority in the Bush years
- re the right to life: consider the killing on 100,000 Iraqi civilians in the pursuit of a ‘regime change’ that is illegal from the standpoint of international law
- re the right to liberty: consider the imprisonment of up to 625 detainees at Guantanamo Bay without trial or any recourse to justice
- re the pusuit of happiness: this is very tangential but consider the Bush regime’s failure to acknowledge global warming as a threat and the refusal to sign the Kyoto agreement: air pollution (I am a little athsmatic) and the disappearance of the Maldives as the oceans rise are certainly inhibitors to my pursuit of happiness
Remaking America
Obama’s message to the world is the adherence to those American ideals:
- On foreign policy, the expediency of the invasion of Iraq is recognized:
“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.”
- One of Obama’s first actions was to address the prison at Guantanamo Bay, the executive order states the closure :
“would further the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice”
“..the detention facilities at Guantanamo for individuals covered by this order shall be closed as soon as practicable, and no later than one year from the date of this order”
- On climate change:
“With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.”
One day on the job and the dream is still alive
