Moving Forward

The ongoing mantra from the left, and certainly form the Obama camp, has been that we need to 'move forward' and get past our differences. This, says Obama, is what he plans to offer with his 'new kind' of politics. Senator Clinton, in similar fashion, urged her supporters and the rest of the country to join her in ushering a new day for America. Those on the Republican side are no less guilty, although one hears less us such talk from the right side of the aisle. 

Here is General Wesley Clark, a NATO commander during the Clinton era, describing what he thinks Barack Obama will do for the country:

And I think what we need to do, Bob, is we need to stop talking about the old politics of left and right, and we need to pull together and move the country forward. And I think that's what Barack Obama will do.

All this vague talk about moving forward makes everyone feel for a moment that our quarreling is just plain stubbornness and that what's really in the best interest of the country is compromise and conciliation. Talk of 'moving forward' is predicated on the idea that there is an objectively determined destination, a definition of progress for the country, that all of us can recognize and all we must do is stop fighting so we can get there. If only someone could show us the way...

But here is the problem. The distinctions between left and right, the visions for America that each one of these ideological camps has, are very different from each other. It's not a matter of just putting our petty differences aside because they're not that petty. Many Americans see our future as one not trying to imitate the flawed socialist policies of Europe, with high taxes, extensive social welfare programs, massive redistribution of wealth, and disincentives for personal responsibility and entrepreneurship. Those are not the ideas that made America what it is and for many millions of people, adopting such policies would be problematic to say the least. But this is what the left wants. The vision of the left has no place for such archaisms as the right to bear arms, the free enterprise system, a meritocratic society in which race, gender or any other collective definition doesn't confer special privileges on some at the expense of others. Nor does it want to preserve a strong and able standing military; when 9/11 happens again, we won't send bombs but rather hugs and kind words of sympathy and repentance for our sins.

So, to trivialize the right-left dichotomy is a fatal and dishonest move. There ARE real differences between the visions of what the United States is to be in the 21st century, and so 'progress' will be defined differently by each side as well. There is no one place toward which we can progress.

Canucks for Obama

The Canadians, pretty much like everybody else in the world, have already decided that they know who's going to be our next president. At this point, it's just a matter of time before King Obama steps up for his coronation.  

As I walk to work everyday, I glance at the front cover of the local Toronto newspapers to see what they're up to. A few days ago, the cover of the Globe and Mail, one of Toronto's premier newspapers, read "Will the US be able to get past race?" 

At first glance this seems to be a reasonable question, but upon further reflection, the implicit statement and the foreseeable reaction to an Obama defeat in the fall become evident. Getting past race is to say that, all other factors considered, there is nothing standing in the way of Obama becoming the president except racism. The Globe and Mail, like the rest of the world, have already anointed their messiah, and, so without flaws is he, that the only reason that they could imagine for his defeat is if a bunch of gun-toting, American bigots show up to the polls in force. Dumbstruck by Obamania, these international observers can't fathom the idea that people would reject the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ because his ideas are inimical to the fundamental principles of the American way of life, or that his paltry resume and his long list of highly suspect associates are the reasons Americans don't want Obama. No, that can't be it!! The Americans are too dense to vote on real issues... Look at the last eight years how they've voted!

I can already hear the collective weeping on November 5, 2008 when the throne is stolen from Senator Obama. And, I have no doubt, that the rest of the world, the Canadians included, will try to comfort themselves and rationalize our resistance to 'change' by saying that Americans are racist, too blinded by their bigotry to let a black man in the White House. 

So, to my lovely Canadian hosts and the rest of the world that thinks we aren't capable of 'getting past race', I say take a cue from the messiah himself.

Yes we can!

A New Face for The Patriot

Hello Patriot readers,
In an effort to reach a wider audience and to bring more news and opinions more frequently to our readers, the Stony Brook Patriot will from now on have its own blog. To be honest, I'm not sure why we didn't have one before, but better late than never. As with everything else, this blog will be a work in progress, and so as time goes on, we'll have more people writing, hopefully as frequently as possible, and certainly we'll jazz up the appearance a lot. Just like with our regular paper, comments and criticism are always welcome, in fact, they're strongly encouraged. That's how we get better, so don't be shy. And, for the truly adventurous, if you like what you read and want to be a part of The Patriot, you can contact me and the rest of the staff at sbpatriot@gmail.com.

Also, if you like what you read, help us out by passing on the word to your friends and family. Share this blog and our monthly issues (also online) with them. Defending liberty, free enterprise, personal responsibility, tradition and the rule of law is no easy task in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to these fundamental values of the American way of life. But the more people who are committed to these things, the louder and more influential our voice becomes.

Stay tuned for more...

-Alex
Editor-in-Chief