Two Honest Men
Last week, the world got a glimpse of the ultimate rarity—honest political leaders. Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmedinejad expressed thoughts that many of their compatriots share using unusually blunt language. For those who pay attention, there was absolutely nothing new in either of their speeches, and even Chavez said nothing that he had not said before.
But what of those who don’t pay attention? Might they have learned something from these bold statesmen?
Perhaps, but previous experience provides scant reason for optimism. Much of the world, the leadership of the non-aligned movement, and the United Nations have long been contemptuously anti-liberal. In fact, little unites the world like its opposition to liberalism. It is hard to recall a single conflict over the past forty years in which the more liberal party has received sustained global support. If there has been a single constant in post-war international relations it has been the outpouring antipathy for liberalism.
In today’s world, of course, the clearest manifestations of this phenomena are anti-Zionism and anti-Americanism—two forms of irrational hatred for two of the world’s most liberal societies. By and large though, this universal anti-liberalism has been cloaked in the language of liberalism itself. In so doing, the anti-liberals have successfully confused many who would like to consider themselves liberal, including significant parts of the American public, most of the European public, and the vast majority of the Western left.
What did we gain last week? Perhaps, finally, an end to the obfuscation. Those who agree with Chavez, Ahmedinejad, and their like are free to do so—but they are coming under increasing pressure to admit that they are simply anti-liberal and anti-western. With that, perhaps the battle lines will finally become clear. Perhaps the hoodwinked parts of the West will finally recognize the scope of the challenge, and rise to meet it.
It took the destruction of the twin towers and carnage at the Pentagon to wake up George W. Bush to the nature of the threat. What will it take to wake up the rest of the west?
A question to ponder.
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