Gratitude and the retribalization of the world
Indeed. Or perhaps I should say “And yet . . .” As Claudia goes on to note, with all that success came a gnawing sense of unease, even guilt, which, I have noticed, is often not so much a matter of condign contrition about one’s failings or misdeeds as a sort of self-indulgent moral canker — ingratitude by proxy.
Yet with all that has come a sense of guilt and unease. Having led the way out of a 20th century afflicted with totalitarian ideologies and two world wars, America over the past decade has been reviled by many of its own elite for being “unilateral,” for overthrowing in Iraq one of the world’s worst tyrants, for leading a scientific and industrial revolution in which it produced more carbon dioxide per capita than Laos.
The big question before us is whether America will now bow, scrape, regulate and spend its way into decline. Columnist Charles Krauthammer, speaking in New York at the Manhattan Institute’s annual dinner in October wisely argued that decline is not an imminent destiny, but a choice.
I think Charles Krauthammer is right. Our place in the world is a matter of choice, not destiny. The question is whether we still posses the healthy, unencumbered, masculine candidness to recognize the stakes and distinguish firmly between good and evil.
At least, that is one question. At the moment, the choice is ours. But the world is quick changing kaleidoscope. It seems to be a human quirk — maybe it is part of the human instinct for survival — to suppose that the world tomorrow will, in most essentials, resemble the world today. No doubt in many cases, the supposition is justified. But a friend sent me this little animated dramatization about the fate of the British (and incidentally, the French and Spanish) Empire over the last couple centuries. It is, as he said, “utterly fascinating (and depressing).” What it depicts is, first, a journey or moral and material progress through the first couple decades of the twentieth century. It then shows the astonishing swift process of political disintegration that marks what we might call the retribalization of the world. And candid observer can see where it is tending. Which is all the more reason to be grateful for present blessings and stalwart about present and future challenges. You can be sure they will be exigent.
I am an unapologetic and unrepentant United States booster Canadian. (Our MSM, most of our political parties—but not the Conservatives—and panty waist, navel gazing elites would not be at all happy about this.) It does my spirit good to be subversive and loudly proclaim, “God bless America”!
There are a lot of us out here counting on the USA to remain “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. As George Orwell observed, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men [and women] stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” Of course, the MSM, most of the political parties, and the panty waist, navel gazing elites—of both our countries—blissfully and willfully overlook this crucial fact. (These appeasers, in fact, remind me of the blind, white snake: “The typical blind snake is smooth and shiny [slimy?].” Or maybe the term, “surrender monkey” would be more apt!)
May God bless my American cousins and neighbours this Thanksgiving Day, especially those brave souls serving and sacrificing in uniform, and those who unequivocally support them.
Humans, the ungrateful species. In contrast with all those grateful species, for example, …? Wouldn’t it be fairer to call us “humans, uniquely the occasionally grateful species”?
“I think Charles Krauthammer is right. Our place in the world is a matter of choice, not destiny.”
God gave human beings free will. And he ain’t no Hegelian! A casual faith in fate will more often than not guarantee disastrous consequences. Karl Marx may have believed that history was predetermined—-but we should not take anything like that for granted. The very term “destiny” makes me feel a bit uneasy. Does it not minimally imply that the future is a sure thing? Nope, I am afraid that we must make choices. God never promised to protect us from our own laziness and indifference.
I believe it was Dostoevsky’s Underground Man — that great enemy of both scientific rationalism and the “Crystal Palace” of utopian socialism — who defined man as “a biped, ungrateful.”
The Obama administration, with all of its apologizing and groveling, never seems to ask the question of what the world would look like if the United States gave up its leadership role in the world? Who would step into the void and take over either regional or global power? Would it be a growing China, a weakened (but still formidable) Russia, or some third-world country with visions of grandeur (like Iran) but armed with first-world nuclear weapons? Obama just doesn’t get that, for all its warts and sores, American power keeps this squabbling little world together and stops it from committing suicide. When we do give up the leadership role (notice I said “when,” because Obama is doing that right now and a perfect example of what he is doing can be seen at his last speech at the United Nations, where even France was frustrated with his lack of leadership), tribal grudges will explode and old religious wars will come back into vogue. Probably the Muslims in the Middle East will pick a fight with either a Christian country or Israel, but it will quickly degenerate into a global conflict. What is sad is that the world is going to be dragged into a religious-tribal war in the 21st Century, a war that would have been more appropriate in the 15th or 16th Centuries. Some things never change.
“I think Charles Krauthammer is right. Our place in the world is a matter of choice, not destiny.”
I am surprised that Charles Krauthammer would say something like that. Do you have a link to that article?
Before quoting such a statement, one should make the following clear: What do you mean by “our”. I believe I am part of “our”, but does that mean my choice will determine our place in the world? I rather doubt it.
This sounds like a collectivist way of thinking. Anyone who understands the meaning of the freedom of the individual knows that we cannot forecast the results of our choices, but only make them based on available information and how our objectives fit with that information. We are able to modify these choices or make new choices, depending on the circumstances. The final result is destiny. Governments do not make choices, people do. The people in government change their choices as well, and the people in government change. There are many other factors and activities that are constantly changing that affect the outcome of choices made. Anyone who has read Adam Smith, Hayek, von Mises, etc., understands this. Making a choice does not mean having control of the outcome. Did anyone think that making the choice of the impostor in the WH would result in the tea party protests?
howiem asks “I believe I am part of ‘our’, but does that mean my choice will determine our place in the world? I rather doubt it.”
What exactly have you done or failed to do? If you “rather doubt it”, what is “it” which you doubt, and how do you know? And here we reach the unknowable, that is, that which is unknowable to reason. Your doubt then is the choice to stand, rather than make the leap. I trust I am sufficiently obscure.
IMO the USA has a unique opportunity–American exceptionalism, if you will–to become a template for a modern post-tribal society. As we continue to debase our Founding ideals, the risk of failure is rising. I suspect that history would not assess our looming postmodern tribal society as a success.
*******
Newman, Aristotle, Horace and Homer, all in the opening paragraph…
Sir, it is your prerogative to define your intended audience. Nevertheless, while your sometime displays of erudition may appeal to a limited group of Pajamas readers, they also might disconnect you from a larger group that would benefit from your insights.
America is changing.
What is the purpose of Obama’s Civilian National Security Force?
Obama: “We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwaAVJITx1Y
Pravda: America’s Descent into Marxism – Brief Video
http://www.solutionsfromscience.com/
From day one, Obama was eager to communicate to the Muslim global community that pleasing and submitting to Islam is his top priority.
In October, 2009, the Obama administration co-sponsored a UN resolution with Muslim police state Egypt to ban speech that defames religion (Islam). A massive attack that threatens the freedom of every non-Muslim on earth.
Obama’s first official phone call was to PLO Muslim leader, Abbas. Immorally respected by past and present U.S. administrations, Muslim terrorist leader Abbas, financed the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games. Obama’s first interview was with Al-Arabiya, Muslim TV station.
Obama Bows to the Saudi King:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd425zfw5Ew&feature=related
Obama: “My Muslim Faith”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGdkqfBICw
Obama: Muslim call to prayer one of the Prettiest Sounds on Earth
http://www.arkjournal.com/2008/06/obama-muslim-call-to-prayer-one-of.html
The Koran is radically different from the Bible.
PA Muslims Celebrate Murder of 3,000 Innocents 9/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrM0dAFsZ8k
G-D’s eternal Biblical requirement for all humanity is kindness:
Jewish Bible, Micah 6:8. ‘And what does the L-RD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your G-D.’
Obama: ” We are no longer a Christian nation . . . ”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOOrSAbU9z8&annotation_id=annotation_581654&feature=iv
Because of the choices of pro-Islam Western leaders, the world is changing via massive Muslim immigration to Western countries and extremely high Muslim birth rate:
An authoritative Muslim stated: “Thanks to your democratic laws we will invade you; thanks to our religious laws we will dominate you.” http://www.meforum.org/article/448
“Soon we will take power in this country. Those who criticize us now, will regret it. They will have to serve us. Prepare, for the hour is near.”
— Belgium-based imam, “De Morgen”, Oct. 5, 1994. Cited in Koenraad Elst, “The Rushdie Rules”, Middle East Quarterly, June 1998.
In Sweden, many Muslim youth wear a t-shirt proclaiming: “2030-then we take over”
Alija Izetbegovic stated in the Islamic Declaration that:
“there can be neither peace nor coexistence between the Islamic faith and non-Islamic social and political institutions”
http://www.balkanpeace.org/cib/bos/bosi/bosi01.html
Muslim Demographics (alarming)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-3X5hIFXYU
The End of Europe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfOmQ4Eo_as
howiem:
Regarding “Our place in the world is a matter of choice, not destiny.”
This could mean that each of us has decisions (subject to constraints, of course) to make about his place in the world, which strikes me as an individualist, rather than collectivist, way of looking at things.
Additionally, it might mean that the “choice” of an aggregation of people (like a nation) is an aggregate of the choices that each person makes, or something like that, which is in line with what I think you’re trying to say.
I don’t think Dr Krauthammer said that people who make choices have unconstrained control over the outcome of those choices. Dr Krauthammer is a sensible fellow, and I’m sure he knows all about our choices having unintended consequences.
You’re right that having a context for Dr Krauthammer’s quote would make it easier to figure out exactly what he meant. But unless you’re particularly suspicious of Dr Krauthammer for some reason, you may want to give him the benefit of the doubt when interpreting his quote. The quote can make a great deal of sense.
Serious question: Has President Obama said anything since his inauguration to honor American achievements other than electing him? Even indubitable achievements, such as the Berlin airlift and winning the Cold War, he pointed ascribes to “the world.”
Meanwhile, as to what to be thankful for–My grandfather left what was then the Russian Empire and is now Poland in 1912 to earn money to bring my mother and grandmother out. He stopped in Paris where we had family who encouraged him to stay there. He told me he met another Polish Jew who was on his way to England and encouraged my grandfather to come with him. My grandfather thought about it but decided that America was his dream.
And among my many, many regrets is that I never said to him, “Thank you, Grandpa, for letting me be an American.”
At this minute, my gratitude goes to Roger Kimball, Claudia Rosett and Charles Krauthammer.
If America is not responsible for its own decline, who is? Rejecting Charles Krauthammer’s assertion of “Our place in the world is a matter of choice, not destiny” is making excuses and putting the blame on whom, exactly? That’s asserting a vote for unexceptionality while pretending otherwise!
The current statist (“progressive”) movement is a systematic attempt to leverage on mediocrity and lazyness by portraying public institutions as the global answer to everything, whereas the tea party movement is a reflection of pride of the American citizen and his individual greatness. We are going to find out before too long which movement is stronger, and how we will collectively answer the Krauthammer dilemma.
It’s easy for me to answer, because I am an immigrant, and I would never have pulled my roots to make my life in America if I did not believe in it. If Thanksgivings day did not feel quite right to you, it may be because your national pride has gone wobbly. If that’s the case, just attend a naturalization ceremony, and it will be repaired in just a few minutes. America is great, and exceptional, and it will stay that way only if we attend to it, as has always been necessary. If the naturalization ceremony is not enough, study American history, and compare it to other national histories.
Which country has the most immigrants trying to get in.
Case Closed.
Diogenes of Sinope searched Athens in vain for an honest man.
for decades, i’ve searched Manhattan in vain for a grateful leftist.
Cardinal Newman, Aristotle, Horace, Homer … helluva opening paragraph! But all in a day’s work for the Sheridan Whiteside of neoconservatism. I wonder if he could write even a note to the milkman without making it sound line an after-dinner speech.
As long as there is a warrior class and culture in America, The Constitution will be defended. America’s fighting military does not come from Obama’s inner circle, whose contempt for America is poorly concealed. The American military does not apologize for being the world’s best and deadliest. American business does not apologize for being innovative and profitable. American workers do not apologize for quality work and high production. No American apologizes for wanting to live in freedom and prosperity. In less than one year, our President apologizes for America to any outsider who will listen or point a camera at him, establishes an outlaw Justice department, gives American rights to terrorists captured and kept by the military outside America, and bankrupts our future with spending that can only be described as having malicious intent. Our Congress, apologizes for America, decides who must be punished is business and workers, and sends hundreds of billions of their dollars out of America with no accounting, loots the treasury with criminal enterprises like Fannie/Freddie/CRA/Earmarks, sells our children’s futures to China to pay off their political bribes, and line their own pockets with taxpayer money filtered through corporate and special interest bagmen. This government decides America is not a sovereign nation with enforcible borders and opens America’s schools, hospitals, jobs, and opportunity to prey criminally on American citizens to pretty much anyone from anywhere who can get here. The government-created welfare class, recipients of massive government grants, and other entitlement groups like career bureaucrats are kept like dogs on a leash by the government ruling class, and can be counted on 97% of the time to respond as directed as long as the money flows. American cities are largely a cesspool of crime and political corruption, with decent citizens righteously fearing for their safety from thugs, street and political. This is not the retribalization of America of which I dreamed.
Lord, I read the title, in which “world”, and “Tribalism” is part of the come-on, and immediately think of the Trendline expert John Naisbitt, who has stated that as we become global, we act tribal. Even George Friedman, of Stratfor, pretty much stated same.
So what am I treated with? A rambling, incoherent, piece addressing nothing resembling this.
Colour me disappointed.
As long as America continues to turn it’s back on G-d, we will continue to be cursed just like the rest of the world.
We earned it.
Among other achievements, the United States is the only country which has ever helped both friend and defeated enemy to recover – the Marshall Plan. President Obama is anti-American, showing his tyrannical nature by his appeasing dictatorships and rejecting allies of the U.S. His affinities with communism are shown by his associates the Reverend Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers.
Many thanks for Thanksgiving to the pilgrims who established the principle of self-government – liberty – which guided the colonies and then the United States!
Isn’t this the same tripe Kimball runs about every year or two to rile the fondrons here? The world is retribalizing in the midst of unparalleled communication from satellites, phone, internet etc, international groups abou t all sorts of problems and the EU, world trade as the norm, finally reasonably cheap air travel but we are all going back to the post fall of Rome dark ages where we never even travel to the next valley.
twolaneflash
You make no sense with your paranoid, self righteous, self congratulatory rubbish of a rant. I realize that, like most of the people here, you view the in a childishly good evil dualism you learned from B movies. Maybe you should check current crime stats which shows that crime is dropping from highs in the 80s but is spreading out to your little hick hollow. There is evil outside you as well as inside. It’s because of trash like this I can’t take this bastian of conservative anti-intellectualism seriously
em20. Leatherneck:/em
Absolutely!
em23. Horace Wells:/em
It would be nice if you could answer twolaneflashs points without a bunch of insulting language. In fact, it would be nice if you could answer any of the points made at all. Bastian by the way, is a last name; bastion is a common noun.
Where is all the cheery optimistic upbeat Conservativism I was raised on? Most of this blog seems to be chicken little paranoia, little better than the worst of the 50s
blockquoteIt seems to be a human quirk — maybe it is part of the human instinct for survival — to suppose that the world tomorrow will, in most essentials, resemble the world today./blockquote
Actually, no. You just said yourself in the beginning that Fido is like that. This isnt a human quirk, this is the animal default.
This is one of hundreds of fingerprints of evolutionary psychology left all over our species. What it really means is that we havent adapted to our own nature, and to what we do.
To keep things in perspective, when I left the Army (in 1971) I promised myself two things. They were: I would not take a cold shower unless I wanted to and that I would not go hungry.
We sometimes take for granted how much we really do have; and how well off we really are.
Yes,but we don’t want to be a third world country under Communism or Islam !
Here is the link to C. Krauthammer’s article “Decline is a Choice”. http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/017/056lfnpr.asp
From his excellent article:
“The question of whether America is in decline cannot be answered yes or no. There is no yes or no. Both answers are wrong, because the assumption
that somehow there exists some predetermined inevitable trajectory, the result of uncontrollable external forces, is wrong. Nothing is inevitable. Nothing is written. For America today, decline is not a condition. Decline is a choice. Two decades into the unipolar world that came about with the fall of the Soviet Union, America is in the position of deciding whether to abdicate or retain its dominance. Decline–or continued ascendancy–is in our hands.”
I hope you will take the time to read anything that this man writes.