American exceptional
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American exceptional
It seems like a constant sub-plot in our nation's great debate is one variation or another on this fundamental question: What does it mean to be an American? I kind of doubt that Chris Stevens -- the U.S. ambassador to Libya who was assassinated yesterday -- ever talked about that much, if at all. He was too busy living it:
Following his father, Jan Stevens, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982. He then volunteered for the Peace Corps as an English teacher for two years in a remote village in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains — "and quickly fell in love with this part of the world." Still, his next step was a law degree from the University of California's Hastings College of Law in 1989 and employment as a trade attorney in Washington.
One day, said a former colleague recounting Stevens' retelling of the story, the young lawyer put his head down at his desk and said to himself, "I can't do this anymore." He decided then to apply for the Foreign Service, joining in 1991.
By every account, he was a remarkably upbeat and optimistic person, a believer in democracy, diplomacy, and the better half of human nature...even though he knew the risks he was taking. In fact, he sneaked into Bengazhi on a cargo shipd uring the height of the uprising against Moammar Gadhafi, and helped save that city from the dictator's wrath.
Mr. Obama rewarded him with the nomination to become the first ambassador in a post-Qaddafi Libya, and he arrived in May with indefatigable enthusiasm for the country’s prospects as a free, Western-friendly democracy.
“The whole atmosphere has changed for the better,” he wrote in an e-mail to friends and family in July. “People smile more and are much more open with foreigners. Americans, French and British are enjoying unusual popularity. Let’s hope it lasts.”
Instead, Stevens' life was snuffed out by extremists, possibly reacting to a crude anti-Islamic film, although the facts -- like a lot of this complicated story -- are very much uncertain. We also don't know much yet about three other Americans who were murdered -- another diplomat and two Marines. Even without all the facts, everyone on all sides is eager to fit the death of an American hero into their own little narrative.
I don't really want to talk about people politicizing the tragedy because, frankly, accusing one side or another of politicizing a tragedy is, well, politicizing a tragedy in and of itself. When the dust settles, we should have a robust -- and honest -- debate about U.S. policy in the Middle East. But the dust hasn't settled yet. We do know that the hateful bastards who killed Chris Stevens are the worst that humanity has to offer. But it's hard to give up hope, not when you think of Stevens' bravery and not when you see the Libyans (pictured above) who took to the streets to protest -- not against America but against the thugs who killed our ambassador.
Freedom is hard work -- a lot harder than throwing a batch of "freedom fries" in the deep fryer. Chris Stevens was a fighter for free speech -- even though free speech means that an imbecile can call himself Sam Baciile and release a religious hate film without government censorship. Chris Stevens was a fighter for religious freedom -- even as he was targeted by those with a warped vision of the Koran. And he was a fighter for strangers in a faraway foreign land, Libya, to live their daily lives in greater freedom -- until the day when some of those Libyans killed him.
A lot of us believe in the same freedoms that Chris Stevens believed in. But he risked his very life for freedom of others -- and he paid the ultimate price. That made him a remarkably exceptional American.
This was the work of extremists, both in the creation of the film and the reactionaries in Libya. The increasing polarization of the world breeds hate, extremism and bloodshed. Until the day we realize we all are children of the same God will sad events like this be in our history. My sympathies to the families of the slain Americans.— starlight- Any American who believes that these attacks on the American embassies in Cairo and Libya were triggered by a particular Youtube video is sadly mistaken, to say the least. At any given time, there's any number of hateful videos on Youtube! Videos critical of the Muslim religion have appeared on Youtube before. Furthermore, it's perfectly clear that these attacks, particularly the one that led to the assassination of the US ambassador to Libya, were planned for some time and therefore were in no way a "spontaneous" reaction to the particular Youtube video being named. It is not the job of the US government to take responsibility for the statements of any crackpot who wishes to post on Youtube. If the particular Youtube video did not specifically violate US laws, then Mitt Romney is 100% correct in expressing that all that a US apology for such a video accomplishes is to send a message of American vulnerability to these violent malcontents in Libya and Egypt.
Those muslim malcontents fully understand messages from the American politicians. It's not coincidental that the hostages abducted from the American embassy in Tehran in 1980 and held for months were suddenly released on January 20, 1981, the very day when Jimmy Carter ceased to be President and Ronald Reagan was inaugurated.
The situation in Libya is the product of Obama's handiwork. Let's face it, as evil as Moammar Quaddafi was, he would NEVER have dared to allow such an attack on a US embassy on Libyan soil. (He may have covertly sponsored terrorism against American targets outside of Libya, and that specifically shows that he had a degree of fear for the U.S., something that those that Obama assisted in their rise to power in Libya and Egypt do not.)— SammyD - All Americans paid homage to the service Mr. Stevens provided to this nation and humanity.
Hate mongers would like to focus on something else; something hateful! They can be in the hills of Afghanistan or in Oklahoma.— Seed - A post below affirms that our government defends moronic speech. Sammy D's post is the best evidence of that. He parrots the right's talking points, but he has no idea of the sequence of events that lead to Romney's fumbling of this issue. He will be among the 42 % that vote for this opportunistic, flip-flopping, snarky candidate. — Eagle12
- "Eagle12",
American democracy only works if each individual is exposed to as many different aspects of an issue and is encouraged to think for himself or herself. This is one of the major differences between American democracy and totalitarian regimes, the flow of information. Are you hoping that I will be silenced by calling my statements "moronic"? There is nothing "moronic" in what I'm saying, and you know it. Your problem is that you're afraid that my comments will help people to think for themselves. I say let people read and make up their own minds.— SammyD - And,
"Eagle12", since you mention "...the sequence of events that lead to Romney's fumbling of this issue", let people understand that the White House attempted to cover up a statement which was originally made by the administration which condemned the Youtube video and expressed sympathy for muslim anger at it. The Obama propaganda machine attempted to eradicate all record of that initial comment and what you've been fed by the media is the "sequence of events" that was re-written in order to specifically allow Obama to make the outrageous statement that Mitt Romney "shoots first, aims later."
Additionally, thank God that we have media people like Hannity and Limbaugh. They have released a recording of reporters prior to a press conference with Mitt Romney. The reporters did not realize that the microphone was on, and they clearly plotted to attempt to repeat the same inane question (One reporter after another belligerently asked Romney why doesn't he regret the comment he made about the Obama administration apology to Muslims for the Youtube video. ) "Eagle12", when the party in power manipulates the media, democracy is compromised.
Let people have access to all the information on an issue and let them judge for themselves.— SammyD - I'm sorry, explain the equivalence between making a movie and murdering three people. They are NOT both "works of extremists"....one is a movie and one is murder. No equivalence. — tooly
- It is sad, especially sense Obama's lack of leadership caused this mess. You cannot appease and apoligize bad people into liking you. — Comrade Noodlehead
- Your best post. Great piece. Sincerely.— RG
- We probably all agree that the Federal Government should not prohibit moronic or offensive speech. But should the Federal Government publicly "condemn" offensive speech?— Mr. Smith
- you can't yell fire in a movie. Real story 2006 around xmas time some "person" called my nephew a "Moulie" at the KOP Mall. Did he break the law? No Is there Repercussions to the language we use heck yes.— Neoconkiller
- Mr. Smith,
The federal government should absolutely condemn offensive speech. The Westboro Baptist Church should be condemed and shunned in society as should "Pastor" Terry Jones. These folks give Christians a very bad name. They are no better than the Islamic Brotherhood. It is unbelievable to me that so many people are willing to kill for their God. Why do they feel the need to so publicly display their piety? Didn't Jesus say to pray in private?— oldlion - The Federal government should condemn offensive speech...really...which Department? Why limit it to a Federal role - we need a Pa. Dept of Offensive Speech too - Montgomery County and Lower Merion will surely launch a sub-committee.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.
— tooly - There's no point in waiting for the dust to settle. I don't mean acting rashly, but there's always something going on.— SteveMG
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