I'm from America, and I DON'T Apologize

Posted By Bobby Eberle On April 8, 2009 at 6:47 am This past week, we witnessed Barack Obama during his "I'm sorry for being an American" tour. During remarks in France and Turkey, Obama showed little knowledge of facts and history as he tried to make Europe "like" him by apologizing for America being America... for taking the lead when no other countries will. It was absolutely pathetic that a president of the United States feels the need to disparage his predecessor on foreign soil and to make apologies for America. America leads, America succeeds, and America is willing to take a stand. For a president to apologize for this is something that is beyond crazy. Obama has already shown his disdain for the American dream with his policies at home. Now, he is bent on showing the world that America is no good either. Well, I'm from America, and I DON'T apologize! As a bit of background, following the G-20 summit, Obama made a series of "campaign" stops in countries around the world and carried a similar theme throughout his talks: I'm sorry for the America of the past. Here's some of the lowlights and their translation: * Obama Comment: In a student town hall meeting in Turkey, Obama asked the world to look past his nation's "stereotypes and flaws." * Translation: Every country has stereotypes, but I'd love for Obama to actually list what our flaws are. What Obama is really doing is saying, "The country may have its stereotypes and flaws but I'm perfect, so follow me and disregard the country that elected me. We will soon transform it to be more like you." * Obama Comment: "You can choose to make new bridges instead of new walls." * Translation: Despite America's long history of fighting for freedom, liberals in America talk about how George W. Bush "went it alone," and alienated countries... so Obama is going to perpetuate this by talking about "walls." * Obama Comment: "I am personally committed to a new chapter in American engagement. We can't afford to talk past one another and focus only on our differences, or to let the walls of mistrust go up around us." * Translation: There we go... more walls, but in this case, it's phrasing like this that are direct swipes at former President Bush. I challenge anyone to find a Bush speech where he "looked past anyone" or focused "only on our differences." How many times did we go to the U.N. regarding Iraq? How many countries were involved in its liberation? Yet, Obama felt it necessary to talk about "walls of mistrust." * Obama Comment: "Some people say that maybe I'm being too idealistic. ... But if we don't try, if we don't reach high, we won't make any progress." * Translation: Does this one need a translation? Geez! He's the president of the United States, and he's shouting, "Look at me, look at me, look at me." And then, of course, there is this gem from another town hall meeting in France: * Comment: "It's always harder to forge true partnerships and sturdy alliances than to act alone. ... In America, there's a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world. Instead of ... seeking to partner with you ... there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive." * Translation: Where do I even start? What is NATO? Isn't that a "true partnership?" What about all the other treaties, trade agreements, economic collaborations, etc.? Aren't these true partnerships? Of course they are. But it's so much easier for Obama to label himself the good guy and his country the bad guy. He's seeking to be liked in Europe by bad-mouthing the country he represents. When he talks about "arrogance," this, of course, is another swipe at George W. Bush and the image that liberals sought to spread. Again, I challenge Obama to actually list where America has been arrogant, dismissive and derisive. We are talking about world politics, not talking points! You can't just throw out lines like that about the greatest country in the world! (Yikes, being arrogant.) If that is how he feels, then he needs to be specific and put out a list. Fortunately, most Americans do not agree with Obama's perception of his own country. As Scott Rasmussen points out in his latest Rasmussen Reports poll, most American voters -- 54% -- say "it would be better for the world if Europe became more like the United States." Only 22% had the opposite view. There are two real problems I have with Obama's comments. The first is that they are simply cheap political theater. A sitting president of the United States should not be taking shots at his predecessor, especially on foreign soil. Making yourself look good by making America look bad is not an action becoming a president of the United States. It is pathetic. Second, Obama's comments show that he has little understanding of history, Europe, or America. European leaders, and thus a portion of each country's citizenry, don't dislike us because we are dismissive or derisive. They dislike us because we are successful. While other nations bowed to the demands of dictators and aggressive nations, America stood up and said, "Not only will we fight for us, we will fight and die for you too." America, in a little over 200 years, has built the largest economy in the world. Other nations turn to us for advice, protection, guidance, you name it. America is not afraid to lead. Leadership and success lead to resentment, and to have Obama apologize for this is disgraceful. I am an American, and I am proud of this country. I am proud that we fought for Great Britain, France, and other countries of the world during WWII. I am proud that when no other countries moved a muscle, America took the lead in throwing Iraq out of Kuwait. I am proud that American innovation has put men on the moon and lead to a medical system that is the envy of the world. Where do those America-bashing world leaders go when they are sick? One guess. I'm from America, and I DON'T apologize.

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I'm not sure I entirely agree with the "translations" given, it seems like everyone is trying to tell us what someone else "really" means. Maybe what is said is what is meant. But then again, we're talking about politicians, and we all know that politicians can say one thing, mean something else, and expect us to understand they're saying something else entirely different. Sorry, I left my Politician to Citizen translation book in another dimension. But I do agree with one thing: I'm from America and I don't apologize - for being from America or being an American. As a country, we may have made mistakes. Our leaders may have and maybe will make mistakes. The last I looked, our leadership, as well as the citizens of this country are humans, and as such, will make mistakes. As adults we show responsibility by admitting to our own mistakes. I am not going to throw someone else under the bus by pointing fingers and essentially saying that someone else screwed up. And I am not going to keep throwing them under the bus over and over again. This is change? This is going forward? That doesn't seem to be in my translation guide. I'm an American and I make no bones about it. The things that we are criticized about today are the things that we used to be praised for: leadership and generosity. The rest of the world used to look to the US in times of need such as war. The rest of the world looked to the US when disaster struck. The rest of the world knew they could depend on the US to send troops, money, goods, whatever was needed. The US is expected to do the right thing. Know what? Even though the rest of the world looks down on us because we did what they expected, they will continue to expect us to do exactly the same thing. Why not follow our hearts and do what we know to be the right thing? They will damn us if we do and damn us if we don't. Mr. Obama, don't apologize for America. You want change? Ask the rest of the world to apologize to us and tell them to go pound sand the next time they need something if they don't. I'm tired of our politicians sounding like teenagers trying to make the "cool" kids like them. We might need something from the rest of the world, but they need us just as much, if not more.