"The Arrogance of Power"
In 1966, Sen. William Fulbright's book "The Arrogance of Power" pointed out: "We are not God's chosen savior of mankind but only one of mankind's more successful and fortunate branches, endowed by our Creator with about the same capacity for good and evil, no more or less, than the rest of humanity."
Throughout history a number of nations have thought themselves as the chosen people and convinced themselves that they alone are best qualified to lead the world. Not unlike our present leadership, which after a few false starts now claims democracy alone will ensure peace to the Middle East.
Bush described what he’s doing for Iraq as follows: “For the people across the broader Middle East, a free Iraq will be an inspiration. Iraqis have proved that the desire for liberty in the heart of the Middle East is for real. They have shown diverse people can come together and work out their difference. Years from now, people will look back on the formation of a unity government in Iraq as a decisive moment in the story of liberty, a moment when freedom gained a firm foothold in the Middle East and the forces of terror began their long retreat.”
Delhi’s John Ryan has a much different vision of America. “If our nation were truly a follower of the Lord, the deserts would bloom, the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed and, as in western Europe when we initiated the Marshall Plan, around the world the name of the United States would bring joy into the hearts of millions and all would exclaim, "God Bless America." All this could come to pass but it requires wisdom, a thirst for justice, and feelings of compassion and mercy, all of which are absent from our present government.”
On election day, we followed Ryan’s suggestion and voted: “to amend the course of a wayward nation, to begin to restore ourselves in the eyes of God and of the world. The current government has failed both God and Man. There must be a change or God Bless America will be but an empty and self-righteous phrase, indicating that, although we say that we wish to do God’s will, what we really want is for God to do ours.”
Throughout history a number of nations have thought themselves as the chosen people and convinced themselves that they alone are best qualified to lead the world. Not unlike our present leadership, which after a few false starts now claims democracy alone will ensure peace to the Middle East.
Bush described what he’s doing for Iraq as follows: “For the people across the broader Middle East, a free Iraq will be an inspiration. Iraqis have proved that the desire for liberty in the heart of the Middle East is for real. They have shown diverse people can come together and work out their difference. Years from now, people will look back on the formation of a unity government in Iraq as a decisive moment in the story of liberty, a moment when freedom gained a firm foothold in the Middle East and the forces of terror began their long retreat.”
Delhi’s John Ryan has a much different vision of America. “If our nation were truly a follower of the Lord, the deserts would bloom, the hungry would be fed, the naked clothed and, as in western Europe when we initiated the Marshall Plan, around the world the name of the United States would bring joy into the hearts of millions and all would exclaim, "God Bless America." All this could come to pass but it requires wisdom, a thirst for justice, and feelings of compassion and mercy, all of which are absent from our present government.”
On election day, we followed Ryan’s suggestion and voted: “to amend the course of a wayward nation, to begin to restore ourselves in the eyes of God and of the world. The current government has failed both God and Man. There must be a change or God Bless America will be but an empty and self-righteous phrase, indicating that, although we say that we wish to do God’s will, what we really want is for God to do ours.”
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