Response to criticisms of U.S. policy

I come away from my first panel participation struck by a duality I often experience at international forums. I am very critical of much of American policy under President Bush, both foreign and domestic. In answer to the first questions posed, I voiced these criticisms. I was pleased to have the chance to point out the enormous disparity between the President's inaugural rhetoric and the policy over which he presides. I can think of no country - literally - that has made promotion of democracy or freedom the main part of policy, or even an important one.

Even in Afghanistan, we invaded - with my support - only after they refused to give up Osama. But as I listen to criticisms of the U.S. from some others, the degree to which I support American policy in the broadest sense, and the values I believe we embody, becomes clear to me intellectually and emotionally.

For example, when a Chinese representative essentially dismissed the notion that there are fundamental democratic precepts by which China's governance can be measured, and talked of an alternative form of democracy - apparently unlike any the world has ever known - I had to voice my complete skepticism and support for the western-type of democracy she denigrated.

Even more strikingly, when a British speaker expressed the idea that China and Iran were admirable countries as sources of regional stability, I had to ask her what countries she considered bad ones. When she responded with a list of negatively-rated nations consisting of Syria, Iraq and Israel, I was jolted by the gap that existed between me and someone whom I first saw as something of an ideological ally.

I am again struck at an international forum (as a man of the left politically) at the gap between me and other American liberals on the one hand and some none-Americans on the other. And I fear that they let disagreements with specific American policies - which I often share - become a platform for anti-American positions and positions of American allies, even when the left should be more supportive of these. While I disagree with some Israel policies as a man of the left, by every value that leads me to be in politics, Israel is by far the most admirable country in its region.

-- U.S. Congressman Barney Frank

Comments

[NTodd]

Goes to show that rhetoric for domestic consumption often gets lost in the translation. Also goes to show that empty rhetoric and repeated use of words like "freedom" tends to devalue and dilute their meaning.

As Sinclair Lewis said in It Can't Happen Here:

I tell you, an honest man gets sick when he hears the word ‘Liberty’ today, after what the Republicans did to it!

[shel israel]

Unlike Dan Bricklin, I'm an ex-constituent who has respected you since the days you were in Kevin White's office. What a wonderful contribution and sharp eye you display. Please blog more often. If for no other reason, so that Massachusetts ex-patriots like me can have access to your candid, useful insights.

[Daniel Bricklin]

Congressman Frank, as one of your constituents, it is a pleasure to see you expressing your thoughts to us in blog form. You have a distinct writing style that I've come to like from reading your periodic letters to us and watching you on Nightline, et al. Keep it up! How about an "official" blog with at least one post a week or more when the spirit moves you? I'm sure you'd get a wide following.

[Johan]

Freedom, freedom, freedom..and "we have a calling from beyond the stars" (leading to Abu Ghraib?)
2005, George Bush

With great power comes BIG responsibilities. If the US rashly picks a conflict here and there, engages and then leaves which is the risk in Iraq. For many Europeans the divise between rhetoric and responsiblity in proportion to might is nauseating. And hasn't the Bush neo-cons and Fox TV created a feardom in the US? It's time the Americans start to listen to others, instead like congressman Barney, who I probably share many beliefs with, withdraw into the bubble of American 'exceptionalism' when confronted with voices of 'the others'.

"War is peace"
1984, George Orwell

[harepeace]

lets be frank for just a minute there barnIE.

your post reads LIEk just more&more of the same old nazi greed/fear/death mongering ?pr firm? scriptdead spew of your corepirate felon execrable bosses?

[Sudarshan Gaikaiwari]

I find it interesting that the offical armed forces of your "most admired" country in the region engange in atrocities such as this

http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1358173,00.html

While democracy is valuable we often forget that demagogues such as Adolf Hitler were elected into office. I think it is wrong to judge a nation soley on the form of governement it has.

[bmw]

yes

I agree

that fence that Israel has put up is a neon sign that it is the best of region or show or whatever its called...

[rony]

Congressman Frank's comments are well taken.
The words "democracy", "freedom", and "stability" are often lost in translation.

When we say "freedom" we mean freedom. When other people say freedom, perhaps they mean "freedom of the leadership to do as it pleases and abuse its citizens and human rights".

China and Iran are far from free, and very far from any principle of democracy. They are feardoms, and smell no different from other fascist, controlling regimes where the freedom of an individual realy is that.

-R