10/3 "Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence has been or shall
be unfurled, there will [America's] heart, her benedictions and her
prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy.
She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is
the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the
general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant
sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under
other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign
independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of
extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual
avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the
standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would
insensibly change from liberty to force.... She might become the
dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own
spirit..." --John Quincy Adams, 1821
\_ The Prime Directive!
\_ I'm waiting for the day when the conservatives start telling us
that the founding fathers were full of shit. Then we'll know
that it's over.
\_ What? Apparently you either flunked or never took a good course
on American History. The founding fathers were in general
isolationist (at least in theory). You can reference Washington's
farewell address or Jefferson's inaugral address as case and
point. Initially this notion extended over the original
colonies, but obviously didn't hold water with the Louisianna
Purchase and the concept of Manifest Destiny. A reinterpretation
came essentially with the Monroe Doctrine in which this
"isolationism" was extended to not only the continental U.S.
but the Americas in general. As for isolationism in the modern
day context it is all but a dead concept, especially since
WWII. Anyway, taking quotes out of context is always fun, but
makes for crappy public policy (q.v. "axis of evil").
\_ you are saying not invading another country is consider
a policy of isolationism?
\_ Healthy Forests, Clear Skies, Aggressive Isolationism!
\_ Thanks, I took AP History in highschool too.
\_ god damn it, I was never qualified to take AP classes |
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