The American way of life is the best … for Americans

Frontiersman editorial board

Frontiersman received a letter to the editor from Kim Hester who hails from Punta Gorda, Fla., but is currently living in Saudi Arabia. She offers a unique perspective on the struggles in the Middle East, but we wonder if her sentiments are truly those of a patriotic American, devoted to democracy, or if she simply believes that Americanization equates to democratization, and that everyone in the world must want to be Americanized. Below are some excerpts from her letter, followed by the same sentiments from a different point of view. It's just food for thought.

Hester: "As a patriotic American living in a dangerous corner of the world, I am heartened to observe the tremendous strides the Bush administration is making toward reforming the Middle East. President George W. Bush's call for a democratic Middle East is a bold step forward that is badly needed."

Alternative: His [Paine's] first indecent attack is against the English constitution; which with all its imperfections, is, and ever will be the pride and envy of mankind. To this panegyric involuntarily our author subscribes, by granting individuals to be safer in England, than in any other part of Europe.

Hester: "In this region where such basic American rights as freedom of worship, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are prohibited, it is a refreshing change of perspective for our president to speak of democracy in this region."

Alternative: I am perfectly satisfied, that we are in no condition to set the world at defiance, that commerce and the protection of Great Britain will secure us peace, and the friendship of all Europe; but I deny it is the interest of all Europe to have America a free-port, unless they are desirous of depopulating their dominions. His assertions, that barrenness of gold and silver will secure us from invaders, is indeed highly pleasant. Have we not a much better security from invasions, viz. the most numerous and best disciplined army under heaven; or has our author already disbanded it.

The two alternative entries are from "Plain Truth" written by British loyalist James Chalmers in 1776 in response to Thomas Paine's "Common Sense." Chalmers wrote from a nationalist perspective, loyal to Great Britain, and his assertions were that the fledgling United States were better off under the more refined British system of government. His mistake was presuming he could know the hearts and minds of a foreign culture based only upon his knowledge of and passion for his own culture. It is one thing to strive for the improvement of the human condition, but it is another to impose one's own philosophical perspective upon others.