Walk the Talk
There was an interesting juxtaposition of political positions in the news again this week.
We had the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
President Bush marked the occasion with a speech in which he again claimed that, “removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision.” He touted military progress and the moral obligation to support the growth of democracy.
We saw the Chinese violently suppress opposition in Tibet.
President Bush remained silent other than to mention that the United States and China have a “complex relationship”.
A topic on which he did not remain silent, however, was the election in Taiwan. He was happy to express his preference of candidates. The incumbent, President Chen Shui-bian, had advocated application for membership in the UN and openly spoke of independence. President Bush condemned this policy as a futile provocation of the mainland. Chen was defeated by Ma Ying-jeou, a smooth Harvard law graduate who advocates better relations with China.
So on one hand, we justify the invasion of a sovereign country on the basis that their leader was a ruthless dictator who persecuted some of this citizens. We have to stay at a cost that may reach three trillion dollars because our mission is to spread democracy. On the other hand, when a democratically elected official attempts to exercise that country’s right to independence from a repressive dictatorship, we object.
And you wonder why we are held in such low regard around the world.
Here’s a hint.
It’s not because we are Christian.