A social science that cannot speak of tyranny with the same confidence with which medicine speaks, for example, of cancer, cannot understand social phenomena as what they are. --Leo Strauss, On Tyranny
Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered. Yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. --Thomas Paine, The Crisis
INFORMED BY STRAUSS and inspired by Paine, appealing to Lincoln and alluding to Truman, beginning with the Constitution and ending with the Declaration, with Biblical phrases echoing throughout--George W. Bush's Second Inaugural was a powerful and subtle speech.
Bill Kristol, over at Weekly Standard says what I have been struggling with and mulling over ever since President Bush's inauguration speech last Thursday.
Whatever everyone is running around with their panties in a wad is beyond me.
Our country was founded on these ideals, and as far as I know, nothing has changed since then.
If anyone wants to take issue with President Bush, wait until his State of the Union speech. This was an inauguration speech which NEEDS to be visionary.
My gawd....if John F. Kennedy had said any of these words, everyone would be falling over themselves with gushing praise and adoration...
...and yet, if you look really closely...there are a lot of similarities...
Kristol has it right - this is going to go down in the history books as a great speech...
It will also prove to be a historic speech. Less than three and a half years after 9/11, Bush's Second Inaugural moves American foreign policy beyond the war on terror to the larger struggle against tyranny. It grounds Bush's foreign policy--American foreign policy--in American history and American principles. If actions follow words and success greets his efforts, then President Bush will have ushered in a new era in American foreign policy.
couldn't agree more...
DR
