Perhaps it’s time that we all take a step back and hold America to a higher standard than just simple peace offerings. Maybe it’s time, as Americans, to encourage our representatives to answer the problems of the rest of the world with not only open arms but closed fists; to love our friends and at the same time not be trampled by political correctness, shame or guilt.
Last week, President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations, paying tribute to America’s prosperities of the past two years, noting that, “In less than two years, my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country.” The audience laughed.
The U.N. speech was mostly a declaration, or even a display, of traditional American values. Trump stood on stage and declared America a power that puts the protection of its people first, alongside fair trade and interaction with the people of all other nations.
Trump spoke to the record funding for our military: 700 billion dollars this year, 716 billion dollars next year and a 2.4 percent pay increase for military members.
In regards to North Korea, Trump said, “Nuclear testing has stopped. Some military facilities are already being dismantled. Our hostages have been released. And as promised, the remains of our fallen heroes are being returned home to lay at rest in American soil.”
What stands out isn’t what Trump said, but what it actually proves true: a cold war with North Korea since the 1980s that has begun to slowly deteriorate as facilities are slowly being taken down and the last of the American hostages have been released. Perhaps, after all, justice comes from a mixture of friendship and friction, as it would appear is Trump’s tactic for negotiating with countries that pose threats to the United States.
According to Trump, ISIS has been driven out of the territory that they once held in Iraq and Syria. An article by TIME points out that in the years since the nuclear deal with the Obama Administration, Iran’s military budget grew nearly 40 percent. To this day, however, it is not clear how a deal that provides a hostile country with more military power will aid the U.S. or the rest of the world in any way.
Towards the end of his speech, Trump claimed, “Only when each of us does our part and contributes our share can we realize the UN’s highest aspirations. We must pursue peace without fear, hope without despair and security without apology.”
Reading this back, it really is just a calling on all nations to come together to achieve these common goals. Yet Nic Robertson of CNN calls out Trump for being rather pompous during his U.N. declaration. “The longer he spoke, the more portentous it became. ‘We will never surrender America’s sovereignty . . . And we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.’”
As a proud American, stating that America is governed by Americans should not be viewed as portentous, but as a truly just statement. Water is wet, the sky is blue, America is governed by Americans. One should never feel guilty for showing pride for one’s own country, whether from America or New Zealand or Saudi Arabia or France. There is no shame to be had for loving the country one stands with.
However, in any language and culture, there is shame in having contempt for your own country.
