Posted on 11/24/2007 11:42:20 PM PST by Roberts
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has said that the United States wields its power in a way that is worse than Britain during its imperial heyday.
Rowan Williams claimed that America’s attempt to intervene overseas by “clearing the decks” with a “quick burst of violent action” had led to “the worst of all worlds”.
In a wide-ranging interview with a British Muslim magazine, the Anglican leader linked criticism of the United States to one of his most pessimistic declarations about the state of western civilisation.
He said the crisis was caused not just by America’s actions but also by its misguided sense of its own mission. He poured scorn on the “chosen nation myth of America, meaning that what happens in America is very much at the heart of God’s purpose for humanity”.
Williams went beyond his previous critique of the conduct of the war on terror, saying the United States had lost the moral high ground since September 11. He urged it to launch a “generous and intelligent programme of aid directed to the societies that have been ravaged; a check on the economic exploitation of defeated territories; a demilitarisation of their presence”.
He went on to suggest that the West was fundamentally adrift: “Our modern western definition of humanity is clearly not working very well. There is something about western modernity which really does eat away at the soul.”
Williams suggested American leadership had broken down: “We have only one global hegemonic power. It is not accumulating territory: it is trying to accumulate influence and control. That’s not working.”
He contrasted it unfavourably with how the British Empire governed India. “It is one thing to take over a territory and then pour energy and resources into administering it and normalising it. Rightly or wrongly, that’s what the British Empire did — in India, for example.
“It is another thing to go in on the assumption that a quick burst of violent action will somehow clear the decks and that you can move on and other people will put it back together — Iraq, for example.”
In the interview in Emel, a Muslim lifestyle magazine, Williams makes only mild criticisms of the Islamic world. He said the Muslim world must acknowledge that its “political solutions were not the most impressive”.
He commends the Muslim practice of praying five times a day, which he says allows the remembrance of God to be “built in deeply in their daily rhythm”.
How sweet it is!
Good comments. Since church attendance in England (theoretically an Anglican country) is lower than just about anywhere else, I’d say he’s doing something seriously wrong with the only thing that is his responsibility, and he’d better look to that first. But that might be difficult.
Besides, it might require believing the Christian faith, which I suspect he ceased doing many a long year ago.
The Archbishop of Canterbury? ..... how many divisions does he have?
What a total, complete idiot.
Some of the more recent comments aren’t bad. Most of the pro-US comments are from foreign countries whereas many US-bashers are from here. Not surprised. The enemy is within.
Is he then a heretic?
How about the Heyday of the Roman Empire...lets not forget that little delight
“Rowan Williams claimed that America’s attempt to intervene overseas by “clearing the decks” with a “quick burst of violent action” had led to “the worst of all worlds”.”
He needs to be a victim of a Dictator like Sadaam Hussein. His attitude would get adjusted.
It’s looking like the Worldwide Universal Church is well along toward completion, the way big mouths like him are sounding.
There’s a terrific restaurant in our area (SE Michigan) called Priya, which serves a daily buffet.
Its food is so good I prefer it to Italian food! But this must be why the Brits stayed in India so long. Can you imagine going from South Indian food back to English food?
And, his ignorance of the cruel tactics used by the British Empire for centuries is astonishing....
Ah, yes, the leftists' theology of victimhood: the west can only be "moral" while it's being attacked by the lesser cultures of the world.
Coincidence? I think not!
There is something about western modernity which really does eat away at the soul.”
There are times I wish we could somehow fast forward into the world that would come about if people like the archbishop had their way.
What is it about you ask? Britian's imperial legacy here in SE Asia.
The Indians want to file a petition to the British Commission asking for Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen's counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British Government for bringing Indians as indentured labourers to then Malaya and exploiting them.
I was hoping to get the post on how Hillary is perceived in Asia up today - but there is a LOT of stuff going on here today - The Indians in Kuala Lumpur have been protesting here near the British Embassy and the Malay police have shot tear gas into the crowds and using water cannons at them - situation is still a bit volatile at the moment (evening here - they closed a lot of roads from last night in the capital here) and I'm going out again - several people have been arrested and are being charged with sedition.
I'm going to get updates and get them posted on the situation later - but I need to get out there. I might not get stuff up tonight but it will be soon. Gotta Run.
Surprised all this is not on Drudge.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Nobel Peace Prize are both relics of the left.
I'm waiting for someone like Oliver Cromwell to come in and clense Isle Brittania. Sadly, I also see that in my lifetime, England will turn into (whatever the Fanatics call conquered England).
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