John F. Kennedy, in his 1961 inaugural address, said, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”
George W. Bush, in his 2005 inaugural address, said, “Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self government. . . Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation’s security, and the calling of our time.”
“It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in the world.”
Peggy Noonan, in her column on OpinionJournal.com today said, “Ending tyranny in the world? Well that’s an ambition, and if you’re going to have an ambition it might as well be a big one. But this declaration, which is not wrong by any means, seemed to me to land somewhere between dreamy and disturbing. Tyranny is a very bad thing and quite wicked, but one doesn’t expect we’re going to eradicate it any time soon. Again, this is not heaven, it’s earth.”
But President Bush didn’t say we’re going to invade very un-democratic country in the world next week and impose democracy on them. He was speaking of an aspiration, he said the end of tyranny is our “ultimate goal.”
Thre are many ways to support movement toward democracy around the world that do not involve immediate action or military intervention. Should the aspirations if the United States include “There will always be tyrannical goverments in the world, this isn’t heaven”? That would have made for an inspiring address.
Maybe Chris Matthews slipped something into Peggy’s water on the Hardball set or something.
