ramble through the bronx

Sunday, January 30, 2005

The Speech Bush Should Have Given in 2002, and others

Can be found here.

(via Brian Leiter's blog.

(Brian Leiter is a prof. of philosophy and law down at the University of Texas at Austin; he's the maintainer of the infamous Leiter Report, which ranks all the philosophy graduate programs - this report has been criticized in the past for its attitude toward continental philosophy, which, of course, I study. That said, he's a good source of academic gossip - i.e., who's where, who's taken a job where, moved where, been granted/denied tenure, all that sort of stuff - in the philosophy world).

Further along in Leiter's blog is his quotation of Bush's notorious second inaugural speech, with Leiter's addenda:

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[I]t is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture [unless we are doing active business with them], with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world [a goal that will clearly require armed military interventions, given the number of tyrannies out there, and even discounting those we are presently doing business with]

This is not primarily the task of arms [though it is, admittedly, a task of arms], though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary....[including "defending" ourselves and them when there is no actual threat, as in Iraq]

The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. [Get ready for a lot more bloodshed! And don't be wimpy about it!] America's influence [read: military might] is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed [who are not killed or slaughtered by the invading forces], America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause.

My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people from further attacks and emerging threats [i.e., make-believe threats, or threats visible to no one other than Bush & his bestiary of madmen]. Some have unwisely chosen to test America's resolve, and have found it firm.

We will persistently clarify [as we did with Saddam] the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong [unless we do business with you], and freedom, which is eternally right.... [In other words, it will now suffice as a pretext for military invasions that the country we are invading is not on the side of eternal rightness, of which the U.S. is the arbiter]

Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world [i.e., you are now being warned]...:

The rulers of outlaw regimes [i.e., Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba, and Venezuela et al.--but not Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, et al.] 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 [whose instrument is the United States], 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....[Don't do as we say, and we will attack you]

All Americans have witnessed this idealism [i.e., the invasion of foreign nations and the toppling of their governments], and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character. [In other words, brace yourselves to be drafted.]

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OK... anyway, I'm just going to keep reading and refrain from sharing extensively... a lot of it is shop-talk...

jane 10:00 PM [+]