I was able to catch a little of it on the old PC as I ate lunch. First, it was nice to see Rehnquist up and around, at least enough to administer the Oath of Office. The speech itself was a little flat in it's delivery but quite powerful with it's message. Victor Davis Hanson had a few words to say about this part,
Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.
Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.
The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it.”
The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.
And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom’s enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies’ defeat.
Hanson has this to say,
FREEDOM AND IDEALISM [Victor Davis Hanson]
This is the first time that an American president has committed the United States to side with democratic reformers worldwide. The end of the cold war has allowed us such parameters, but the American people also should be aware of the hard and necessary decisions entailed in such idealism that go way beyond the easy rhetoric of calling for change in Cuba, Syria, or Iran-distancing ourselves from the Saudi Royal Family, pressuring the Mubarak dynasty to hold real elections, hoping that a Pakistan can liberalize without becoming a theocracy, and navigating with Putin in matters of the former Soviet republics, all the while pressuring nuclear China, swaggering with cash and confidence, to allow its citizens real liberty. I wholeheartedly endorse the president's historic stance, but also accept that we live in an Orwellian world, where, for example, the liberal-talking Europeans are reactionary-doing realists who trade with anyone who pays and appease anyone who has arms-confident in their culture's ability always to package that abject realpolitik in the highest utopian rhetoric. But nonetheless the president has formally declared that we at least will be on the right side of history and thus we have to let his critics sort of their own moral calculus.
I would dare say that there are many here in this country who also believe in the pragmatic approach to foreign policy. It is easy to fall into the realist mindset and say we cannot possibly live up to such an ideal and must settle on what is in our best interests alone. I think we can do more, if anything by mere words. Reagen's "Evil Empire" speech probably did more to end the Cold War than anything esle during those sixty years. And there is no reason why we cannot do the same today. It was a powerful part of the speech and I can only hope that those trying to get out from under tyranny across the globe are able to get their hands on a copy and know that he said such a thing...and means it. Read the whole speech if you were not able to hear it today. That is all.
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