Posted on 07/24/2006 3:51:42 PM PDT by inpajamas
Super Power - Stupor Power
By Randy A. Sprinkle
“The terrorists today have the will to destroy us, but they don't have the power. We have the power to eradicate them, but we must now show that we have the will.” - Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Brit Hume on the Fox News - Sept. 14th, 2001
The United States is often referred to as the world’s only super power and while that may be a valid statement, what does it really mean?
The potential of a nation is only that. More often than not, the destiny of a nation is determined by will power and unity rather than physical power. Potential will be realized only to the extent of the will and unity that exists among the people.
History shows that great nations often begin with a small group of determined people. Certainly in the case of America this is true. Many of the people who came to America’s shores were the poor persecuted and despised rejects of Europe. What drove these individuals was self-determination which in the end proved to be the greatest possession they brought with them on their ships.
Historians believe that approximately one third of colonist supported revolution while the remaining two thirds were divided between those who were indifferent and those whose loyalties remained with the crown. In the end the resolved minority not only prevailed over the other two thirds but also against the world’s super power of the time.
There is more than one important lesson in this. First, a determined minority, although small, like a rudder on a ship can decide the course - Second, a great power can be defeated by an inferior minority under certain circumstances if the minority is unified and has the greater strength of will. America presently faces fulfillment of one or the other. If America prevails it will again be by strength of a minority within.
Rarely has a majority within the nation initiated greatness. The inspiration for movements leading to greatness has been provided by a moral minority who persevered while enduring the vehement opposition of their antagonist. The remainder of society largely in self absorption existed effectively in a stupor.
Presently not only are threats posed by terrorist and state sponsors of terrorism, but also by a resurgence of communism and socialism. Authoritarian governments and quasi-democracies through international treaties and organizations are seeking to consolidate the power of many to compete against a few. However, threats are not limited to external elements, for the greatest threats today come from within.
We are no longer poor, but we are still reviled, despised, and rejected by many in the world. Because of this, there are some among us who willingly accept collective guilt on our behalf for everything that is wrong with the world today. Believing that because America is a super-power, not only is she responsible for all problems and their respective solutions; she also holds an unfair advantage in terms of wealth and power.
Proponents of these ideas work to weaken America in every aspect and bring her under submission to prevailing world views in an attempt to create equality among nations. They hold the road to peace is only possible through capitulation - In effect, surrender.
On the other hand, the moral minority are categorized and labeled among other things as: bigots, warmongers, dividers, unilateralists, fanatics, extremists, and cowboys. Even so, if this group will not only endure but be proactive, they will join in the greatness of those before them.
Since half of the nation is uninvolved and would rather exist in a stupor, battles are decided by the minority groups who do engage. During the next decade not only will the course of America be decided; but the course of the world. If America were to fail, virtually all of humanity would fail. Over forty years have past since the following words were spoken but never have they been any truer than they are today:
“You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children's children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done“. - Ronald Reagan, 1964
Will a minority rise to the occasion as others did in the past?
Yes. The question is, when?
When you start talking about "will," you are getting to the crux of the matter.
Let's win one for the Gipper!
That might just be "Quote of the Decade." Well, no, it would come second to, "We will make no distinction between terrorists and those who harbor them," which is quote of the Millenium.
shame on me for not mentioning it.
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