Proverbs 11:16-19 (King James Version)
“16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.”
I read an interesting "news" piece in today’s Kansas City Star. It seems that Condoleezza Rice is bringing a thaw in the relations between the United States and “old Europe.” According to the piece from Knight Ridder, Rice has “visited nine countries and one territory, given sixteen interviews and twelve news conferences” in which she has “repeatedly said that America’s mission is to spread freedom worldwide.” She seems to be getting results. NATO has agreed to bring more resources to bear in the training of Iraqi security forces, Germany has pledged support, and the French, while still non-committal, have clearly liked what they’ve heard from our new Secretary of State.
In a departure from the “Realpolitik” of the last two decades, Secretary Rice spoke of “transformational diplomacy.” Rather than accepting the status quo in the world, she believes that America must act as the champion of liberty and democracy in the world. She put it this way:
“We have to deal with the world as it is. But we do not have to accept the world as it is. Imagine where we would be today if the brave founders of French liberty or of American liberty had simply been content with the world as it was.”
In remarks before the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris she clearly articulated what the American position in the international arena will be during her tenure. Reaching back to her own childhood and through the history of freedom’s march in the world she declared that:
“Men and women, both great and humble, have shown us the power of human agency in this work. In my own experience, a black woman named Rosa Parks was just tired one day of being told to sit in the back of a bus, so she refused to move. And she touched off a revolution of freedom across the American South.
In Poland, Lech Walesa had had enough of the lies and the exploitation, so he climbed a wall and he joined a strike for his rights; and Poland was transformed.
In Afghanistan just a few months ago, men and women, once oppressed by the Taliban, walked miles, forded streams and stood hours in the snow just to cast a ballot for their first vote as a free people.
And just a few days ago in Iraq, millions of Iraqi men and women defied the terrorist threats and delivered a clarion call for freedom. Individual Iraqis risked their lives. One policeman threw his body on a suicide bomber to preserve the right of his fellow citizens to vote. They cast their free votes, and they began their nation's new history.”
These examples demonstrate a basic truth -- the truth that human dignity is embodied in the free choice of individuals.”
I realize that the future is an open slate. But the things we do today clearly will have a great impact on the future of the world. We have, it seems to me, three choices. We can retreat to the isolationism of the thirties, we can just “accept” the realities of the world and make the best of bad situations in the world, or we can advance our ideals, shaping a better future for ourselves and those in the world who have been bound by tyranny for decades.
For my entire adult life I’ve believed in the principles of freedom and democracy. And, having traveled the world as an American soldier and seen the too much of the world living under the grip of dictatorship and hopelessness, Dr. Rice’s words resonate with this JFK Democrat:
“The Arab people deserve a better future than is currently in front of them. Both our security and our moral conscience tell us that this is a part of the world that can no longer be isolated from the prosperity and human dignity that freedom brings.”
I’ve believed for some time now that Condoleezza Rice has the right stuff. She’s a leader, not a follower; she’s got presidential timbre. Over a year ago I responded to an editorial from Patrick Kelley in our local newspaper. He’s a big fan of Hillary Clinton. I’m not. Even back then people were talking about 2008. There really wasn’t much doubt then, nor is there now, that the junior senator from New York is the presumptive front-runner to be the Democratic Party’s standard bearer on the 2008 presidential ticket. On the Republican side, most seem to believe the nominee will be a centrist like John McCain or Rudy Giuliani.
I set forth my choice of “Condi” as a worthy candidate back then in my response to Patrick Kelley:
Mr. Kelley:
Puhleeze!
I believe I’ve got a pretty good grasp on what eloquence means and Hillary is not one of those names that comes to mind when I think about it. Come to think about it, her name doesn’t come readily to mind when I think about integrity either.
You and I must have different reading (and listening) tastes. When I think of eloquence and integrity names like Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, William Jennings Bryan, or Martin Luther King come to mind, not the “esteemed” senator from New York.
When it comes to eloquence and integrity I’m like Forrest Gump. I’ll paraphrase. “I’m not a smart man, Mr. Kelley, but I know what eloquence and integrity are.”
While you may think she’s eloquent, a lot of us can hear her hissing as the words of deceit ooze from that honeyed tongue. As for integrity, her hands are full of grease, clutching for nothing but raw power.
If the pundits are right Mrs. Clinton will be running for president in 2008. Who knows? Her opponent may give folks like you and me a choice between real eloquence and integrity and a counterfeit. I can almost hear it as I write. “Ladies and gentlemen I give you, from the great state of California, the Republican nominee for president of the United States……Condoleezza Rice!”
It would be a race I’d welcome. How about you? If you’re up to a good political fight by then I’ll be ready to battle with you. You can use you editorial page to tout Hillary and I’ll start a “draft Condi” movement out here in the Flint Hills.
If it comes, I’ll even give you odds. I have full confidence that the good people of Kansas know the real from the counterfeit too.
Phil Dillon
Emporia, KS
Recent events, Dr. Rice’s confirmation in the face of a withering attack by Democratic demagogues, her ability to articulate American ideals and win over lukewarm allies, and her own personal march to become one of this country’s great champions of liberty have confirmed to me what I believed then.
“16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.”
I read an interesting "news" piece in today’s Kansas City Star. It seems that Condoleezza Rice is bringing a thaw in the relations between the United States and “old Europe.” According to the piece from Knight Ridder, Rice has “visited nine countries and one territory, given sixteen interviews and twelve news conferences” in which she has “repeatedly said that America’s mission is to spread freedom worldwide.” She seems to be getting results. NATO has agreed to bring more resources to bear in the training of Iraqi security forces, Germany has pledged support, and the French, while still non-committal, have clearly liked what they’ve heard from our new Secretary of State.
In a departure from the “Realpolitik” of the last two decades, Secretary Rice spoke of “transformational diplomacy.” Rather than accepting the status quo in the world, she believes that America must act as the champion of liberty and democracy in the world. She put it this way:
“We have to deal with the world as it is. But we do not have to accept the world as it is. Imagine where we would be today if the brave founders of French liberty or of American liberty had simply been content with the world as it was.”
In remarks before the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris she clearly articulated what the American position in the international arena will be during her tenure. Reaching back to her own childhood and through the history of freedom’s march in the world she declared that:
“Men and women, both great and humble, have shown us the power of human agency in this work. In my own experience, a black woman named Rosa Parks was just tired one day of being told to sit in the back of a bus, so she refused to move. And she touched off a revolution of freedom across the American South.
In Poland, Lech Walesa had had enough of the lies and the exploitation, so he climbed a wall and he joined a strike for his rights; and Poland was transformed.
In Afghanistan just a few months ago, men and women, once oppressed by the Taliban, walked miles, forded streams and stood hours in the snow just to cast a ballot for their first vote as a free people.
And just a few days ago in Iraq, millions of Iraqi men and women defied the terrorist threats and delivered a clarion call for freedom. Individual Iraqis risked their lives. One policeman threw his body on a suicide bomber to preserve the right of his fellow citizens to vote. They cast their free votes, and they began their nation's new history.”
These examples demonstrate a basic truth -- the truth that human dignity is embodied in the free choice of individuals.”
I realize that the future is an open slate. But the things we do today clearly will have a great impact on the future of the world. We have, it seems to me, three choices. We can retreat to the isolationism of the thirties, we can just “accept” the realities of the world and make the best of bad situations in the world, or we can advance our ideals, shaping a better future for ourselves and those in the world who have been bound by tyranny for decades.
For my entire adult life I’ve believed in the principles of freedom and democracy. And, having traveled the world as an American soldier and seen the too much of the world living under the grip of dictatorship and hopelessness, Dr. Rice’s words resonate with this JFK Democrat:
“The Arab people deserve a better future than is currently in front of them. Both our security and our moral conscience tell us that this is a part of the world that can no longer be isolated from the prosperity and human dignity that freedom brings.”
I’ve believed for some time now that Condoleezza Rice has the right stuff. She’s a leader, not a follower; she’s got presidential timbre. Over a year ago I responded to an editorial from Patrick Kelley in our local newspaper. He’s a big fan of Hillary Clinton. I’m not. Even back then people were talking about 2008. There really wasn’t much doubt then, nor is there now, that the junior senator from New York is the presumptive front-runner to be the Democratic Party’s standard bearer on the 2008 presidential ticket. On the Republican side, most seem to believe the nominee will be a centrist like John McCain or Rudy Giuliani.
I set forth my choice of “Condi” as a worthy candidate back then in my response to Patrick Kelley:
Mr. Kelley:
Puhleeze!
I believe I’ve got a pretty good grasp on what eloquence means and Hillary is not one of those names that comes to mind when I think about it. Come to think about it, her name doesn’t come readily to mind when I think about integrity either.
You and I must have different reading (and listening) tastes. When I think of eloquence and integrity names like Patrick Henry, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglas, William Jennings Bryan, or Martin Luther King come to mind, not the “esteemed” senator from New York.
When it comes to eloquence and integrity I’m like Forrest Gump. I’ll paraphrase. “I’m not a smart man, Mr. Kelley, but I know what eloquence and integrity are.”
While you may think she’s eloquent, a lot of us can hear her hissing as the words of deceit ooze from that honeyed tongue. As for integrity, her hands are full of grease, clutching for nothing but raw power.
If the pundits are right Mrs. Clinton will be running for president in 2008. Who knows? Her opponent may give folks like you and me a choice between real eloquence and integrity and a counterfeit. I can almost hear it as I write. “Ladies and gentlemen I give you, from the great state of California, the Republican nominee for president of the United States……Condoleezza Rice!”
It would be a race I’d welcome. How about you? If you’re up to a good political fight by then I’ll be ready to battle with you. You can use you editorial page to tout Hillary and I’ll start a “draft Condi” movement out here in the Flint Hills.
If it comes, I’ll even give you odds. I have full confidence that the good people of Kansas know the real from the counterfeit too.
Phil Dillon
Emporia, KS
Recent events, Dr. Rice’s confirmation in the face of a withering attack by Democratic demagogues, her ability to articulate American ideals and win over lukewarm allies, and her own personal march to become one of this country’s great champions of liberty have confirmed to me what I believed then.
The next election is not that far away. History’s wheel will spin very quickly and bring us to that day. When it comes I’m convinced that “Condi” will confirm everything I believe about her now. America needs a leader like Condoleezza Rice. The cause of freedom needs a leader like her. She has the right stuff for this time in history! So, this Democrat says once again, emphatically, "Draft Condi!"
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