In the CBS New's article, Bush Condemns Iraqi Prisoner Pics | April 30, 2004, we hear mostly cries of disgust and very little about the consequences and what our leadership will do with this issue.
Can't we expect more than colorful commentary from our leaders?
I am getting tired of hearing words and comments from our leaders about how something is sad or tragic, or how he is personally bothered by some injustice. In particular when this comes from a leader that can do something about it. Can't we do more than just talk? Can't we take these as opportunities to respond, can't we take embarassing situations and use them to make a point that we are not hypocrites but we hold ourselves accountable to the very standards we apply against others?
Has our culture gone so post-modern that we lost the connection of words with actions, we are somehow content with hearing how we all can have consensus on words but each have separate agendas as to what will really result from it. Our nation's conscience should only be comforted when both words and actions are in agreement otherwise we are hypocrites, and worse, we are hypocrites to those we seek to make become more like us.
Should our leaders lead us not just with words but with actions? Can't our administration do more than speak of disgust and how things are unfortunate and speak just as clearly with how justice and corrections will be made. Can't we send a clear message to an Arab world that is getting filled up with its own highly visible hateful rhetoric that we in America are not mere words but action, and that those words and actions are taken upon ourselves. At least the average Arab citizen might have a chance to think about how the infidel american has integrity and is not hypocritical.
These moments of embarassment can be used to communicate to the Arab world that we are willing to censure and deal severely with our ownselves and we are not hypocritcal when we talk about human rights, we actually deliver and that includes the difficult job of self-discipline which we do in the open with candor.
It appears we have an administration that is taking advantage of our increasingly cynical culture (after the watershed changes of watergate) and we have allowed the 'whatever' attitude to prevail. Rather than leading us through it, we get to hear the "right" words but we rarely see the "right" actions. Instead cyncism is being proven right.
Can't we expect more than colorful commentary from our leaders?
I am getting tired of hearing words and comments from our leaders about how something is sad or tragic, or how he is personally bothered by some injustice. In particular when this comes from a leader that can do something about it. Can't we do more than just talk? Can't we take these as opportunities to respond, can't we take embarassing situations and use them to make a point that we are not hypocrites but we hold ourselves accountable to the very standards we apply against others?
Has our culture gone so post-modern that we lost the connection of words with actions, we are somehow content with hearing how we all can have consensus on words but each have separate agendas as to what will really result from it. Our nation's conscience should only be comforted when both words and actions are in agreement otherwise we are hypocrites, and worse, we are hypocrites to those we seek to make become more like us.
Should our leaders lead us not just with words but with actions? Can't our administration do more than speak of disgust and how things are unfortunate and speak just as clearly with how justice and corrections will be made. Can't we send a clear message to an Arab world that is getting filled up with its own highly visible hateful rhetoric that we in America are not mere words but action, and that those words and actions are taken upon ourselves. At least the average Arab citizen might have a chance to think about how the infidel american has integrity and is not hypocritical.
These moments of embarassment can be used to communicate to the Arab world that we are willing to censure and deal severely with our ownselves and we are not hypocritcal when we talk about human rights, we actually deliver and that includes the difficult job of self-discipline which we do in the open with candor.
It appears we have an administration that is taking advantage of our increasingly cynical culture (after the watershed changes of watergate) and we have allowed the 'whatever' attitude to prevail. Rather than leading us through it, we get to hear the "right" words but we rarely see the "right" actions. Instead cyncism is being proven right.
posted by Pepper | 12:24 PM
|
0 comments
