Posted on 08/26/2007 10:44:41 AM PDT by davidosborne
Some excerpts from George Washington’s Farewell address:
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/democrac/49.htm
The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury, to lay hold of slight causes of umbrage, and to be haughty and intractable when accidental or trifling occasions of dispute occur.
So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification. It leads also to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions by unnecessarily parting with what ought to have been retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill will, and a disposition to retaliate in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld; and it gives to ambitious, corrupted, or deluded citizens (who devote themselves to the favorite nation) facility to betray or sacrifice the interests of their own country without odium, sometimes even with popularity, gilding with the appearances of a virtuous sense of obligation, a commendable deference for public opinion, or a laudable zeal for public good the base or foolish compliances of ambition, corruption, or infatuation....
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy, to be useful, must be impartial, else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people to surrender their interests.
The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.
Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and impartial hand, neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences; consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing with powers so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of our merchants, and to enable the Government to support them, conventional rules of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will permit, but temporary and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view that it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under that character; that by such acceptance it may place itself in the condition of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion which experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard....
I think it’s high time, no past time, people stop using the PC liberal terms used solely for social engineering and manipulation. Terms like “hater” “bashing” among others, just reek of DU, Moveon, Huffington post, HRC, etc etc etc. And the use of these terms on this forum is very unbecoming of FReepers, and Conservatives.
Primaries elections and the campaigns surrounding them are for the express purpose of vetting candidates and discussing issues. These terms have no place in that debate.
Hate is a very ugly emotion. It is reserved for things far beyond debate or opposition. When overused, it winds up meaning nothing. And THIS is exactly how hate crimes laws gain footing. Nothing in hate crimes laws defines anything close to hate either. People need to get a grip and stop falling for this PC non reality based garbage.
I didn't know about Rudy's liberal socialism then, and this was well before Fred & Paul entered the race.
I see you still have an obsession with a tall black transvestite. Just showing your conservative creds?
There you go again, insinuating that Paul supporters are a bunch of basement, skater-boy dwellers spending their lives online.
Insinuate????? I state it as fact, except you forgot the most important part:
STONER “basement, skater-boy dwellers spending their lives online” who are at this point looking quite a bit brighter than lemmings like yourself.
On second thought: Either lemming or one of them.
No way that’s going to happen. Ron Paul wants to have his cake and eat it too.
Interesting.......The Pasadena Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group is organized by Bill Dumas. This is the same guy that acknowledged the fact that Ron Paul’s campaign was attracting wackos. You’d think if he wanted to distance Ron Paul from the Moveon Whack Jobs he would have pulled those posts, wouldn’t you?
I’m a Ron Paul supporter and you are a liar.
I don’t have much interest in the Paul race, but this internet manipulation efforts by his supporters is kind of interesting.
As a freeper, I probably should be annoyed, when I see that they are trying to cloud our own polls here at FR, with their spamming, ballot box stuffing, it seems evidence of a lack of integrity and depth (which doesn’t apply to the actual FR Ron Paul poll voters).
“I see you still have an obsession with a tall black transvestite. Just showing your conservative creds?”
Still? Please provide evidence I’ve ever said RuPaul before.
Blah blah whatever. You’re just talking mumbo-jumbo now.
“I’m with you! Ask the Paul haters what their candidate will do to shrink the size of government.”
Ah, we don’t support your guy so we are “haters”. More influence from the left, I see. Disagree and you are a “hater”. Sad and pathetic.
Even more sad and pathetic is that the brunt of Paul’s supporters are anti-war liberal loons. I don’t hate Paul because of that. It does appear you hate his detractors for pointing out that ugly, inconvenient fact.
And lastly, if you think there is a man alive capable of shrinking modern Western government without completely breaking it and starting over, you have no business discussing politics with adults. That “shrinking government” is an idealistic pipe-dream of the highest order. I guess next we will have “world-peace” and “social justice”. Just as realistic.
I appreciate your position, but I am not a liar. How many uber libs do you know that would never ever vote for RP, but are now waving his flag. I see bunches.
Here is the important part: You are being propagandized. Your hopes are being built up in order to make you disappointed when RP gets his ass whipped in the primaries. It is hoped that you will turn your back on the election and say: WHATEVER. This happened with Dean. Remember? They learned and are trying to create a conservative Dean. You all that support RP need to get a friggin clue and get out of mom’s basement for a bit.
Don't mind the real nasty ones. They're that way with anyone who disagrees with them. They also hate us for what we're directly involved with. ;-)
Stay safe and maybe I'll run into you soon. I'll be back there in a very few days. :(
Lots...and the fact he was even on a major moonbat talk show...Ron Paul made promises when he was elected to congress...term limit for one...he didn’t stick to it...
“Insinuate????? I state it as fact, except you forgot the most important part...” LOL! Even the organizer of the very meetup group in question agrees with you about that!
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003614862
“Blah blah whatever. You’re just talking mumbo-jumbo now.”
Great retort. Hate to say this, but you deserve RP. Your myopia is stunning.
Maybe you need to check out the world today too.
I was mistaken. It is Italianquaker who has the RuPaul obsession. I apologize for lumping you in with him.
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