Puffin’s Place

Remember the old story about the eager boy scout who drags the old lady across the street in his frenzy to do a good deed?

I’m thinking these days that the US might want to be a better friend to other countries than insisting on being the leader of the free world.”

The thought came to me today reading Robert Kagan’s column in the Washington Post, a lament which includes this:

Sober analysts such as Richard Haass acknowledge that the United States remains “the single most powerful entity in the world.” But he warns, “The United States cannot dominate, much less dictate, and expect that others will follow.” That is true. But when was it not? Was there ever a time when the United States could dominate, dictate and always have its way?

Kagan’s column laments the current allusions to America’s decline and solaces himself with the certainty that the American people will demand, even of a defeatist president, that the country remain the most important etc. etc.

i have never understood why this country must be “first” in all things. I fail to endorse the notion that because we enjoy a democracy—or did, before Bush, Cheyney, Rumsfeld, et. al—we must insist that every country in the world duplicate our government. When will we once again attempt just to be friends with other countries. Leadership, if it is to come at all, will come when we simply ARE what some other country aspires to be/have/represent.

Palin and McCain will be certain I am not patriotic. So be it. I would love us more if we were not bullies.