“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding; but he who is impulsive exalts folly”. On April 12th, President Obama finished a summit to address the proliferation and/or the attempt to stop such an action with 47 of the world’s leaders and China actually participated. It has been said that there hasn’t been a meeting like this since the end of World War II. Thomas Jefferson said, “peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it” and I believe that is the attitude taken by President Obama. It is interesting to me that Democratic presidents seem to do more in reaching out to others than those of the Republican persuasion.
While Richard Nixon’s visit to China was indeed an ice breaker or Ronald Reagan’s shout of, “tear down the wall, Mr. Gorbachev” was acted upon; neither they, Ford or the Bush’s had the power to make a real dent in the world’s society as Carter and now Obama. Yes, I know that Reagan had a somewhat friendly relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev, just as Bill Clinton had with Boris Yeltsin and started the steady meltdown of the Cold War but did it change how this country or the world viewed Russia? Jimmy Carter was able to get two enemies, Egypt’s Anwar al-Saddat and Israel’s Menachem Begin, to sit down in the arena of diplomacy and see their similar needs to agree upon and sign the “Camp David Accords”, which has neutralized the animosity between these two nations. Not to say that everything has been peaches and cream since then but that relationship was akin to the current situation between Israel and the Palestinian. Unfortunately, due to zealots in Israel and Egypt, not unlike our current tea baggers, both men were assassinated due to their stance on peace.
“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime”, something the tea baggers should meditate on, and President Obama has dedicated himself to such a lifetime, starting with being a community activist. A closed fist cannot achieve the same results as an open hand of friendship and this is what warmongers fail to realize, whether it’s those in this nation or abroad. It is most interesting that the only two presidents who have ever received a Nobel Prize are two aforementioned and only one during his administration. While Democratic presidents strive to pursue diplomacy as the first line of action, leaving violence as the last resort; Republican presidents see diplomacy as a sign of weakness and do not hesitate in using violence as the primary response to any nation who causes an affront. Well did Andre-Gide say, “It is easier to lead men to combat, stirring up their passion, than to restrain them and direct them toward the patient labors of peace”. The neglect of diplomacy in any matter but especially in foreign affairs is akin to allowing a vicious animal to roam free knowing that the outcome is always fatal. Republicans see diplomacy as a sign of weakness just as society sees compassion and understanding as signs of weaknesses, however, “peace hath higher tests of manhood than battle ever knew”, which essentially means that any bully can start a fight but one who can resolve the issue is one who has strength. I will close with another quote that puts this topic into perspective and it is this, “fair peace becomes men; ferocious anger belongs to beasts”. So, I ask you, are you man or beast and which will you follow?
No comments:
Post a Comment