{"id":609,"date":"2009-05-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-05-02T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/obama-apologizes-to-europe-for-american-arrogance\/"},"modified":"2017-10-24T13:24:16","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T17:24:16","slug":"obama-apologizes-to-europe-for-american-arrogance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/obama-apologizes-to-europe-for-american-arrogance\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama Apologizes To Europe For American Arrogance"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Pres.

Pres. Obama bows to Saudi King<\/p><\/div>\n

(shades of John Kerry’s apology tour)<\/p>\n

by: Joseph J Kusnell for Boomeryearbook.com<\/a><\/p>\n

An open letter to the President of the United States: <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDear Mr. President: It is not America that is arrogant; it is you who are arrogant. That has become increasingly obvious with each of your public appearances. It might nevertheless be a good idea for you to take a moment to review American and World History since you seem to be somewhat lacking in historical perspective. To assist you in this undertaking, l will take a moment here to review specific examples of world-power arrogance and together we can see how America shapes up. It might be illuminating. <\/p>\n

England: The English Colonial Empire extended around the world and into North America for centuries. To say England was arrogant on the world scene would be a gross understatement. If arrogance is defined as acting without regard to the opinion of others, then the English may have invented arrogance. Even so, it was certainly not limited to England. Most European countries at one time or other have been arrogant ranging from the Greeks to the Roman Empire to the Ottomans. World powers usually do that, act without the permission of others. <\/p>\n

France: France is another example of a country that has acted arrogantly in its past. Study the conduct of the French in North Africa and see whether their conduct would properly be classed as arrogant. I’d say it would be. (By the way they also sent their fleet half way around the world to assist the fledging United States of America because of their hatred of the British. (A good example of national arrogance even if it did benefit America.) <\/p>\n

Germany: This would be funny if the subject matter wasn’t so serious. Germany started two world wars that resulted in the death of eighty million people. Were they sensitive to the feelings of other nations? Give me break. America left 350,000 dead soldiers on European soil, boys sent there to defend EUROPE \u2013 not America – from that arrogance. (By the way, no one objected when our troops landed in Europe to save those Europeans from a German dictator but they did object when we landed in Iraq to save the Iraqis from an Iraqi dictator. If the shoe fits \u2013) <\/p>\n

Spain: Has everyone forgotten the history of the Spanish in the Western Hemisphere? The Spanish Armada or the brutal colonization of the New World by Spain? Arrogance anyone? <\/p>\n

Russia: Would you call it arrogant when a people\u2019s government decides to kill tens of millions of their own citizens as well as millions of citizens of other countries in order to create communist states? Did they ask the permission of any other nations before they acted? Did they care what anyone else thought of their activities around the world? No, I don\u2019t think so. They just did what they wanted to do and slaughtered whomever they wanted to slaughter. <\/p>\n

China: Mao Tse Tung and Chou En-Lai killed many tens of millions of their own people to install communism and then invaded peaceful Tibet. In doing so, they ignored the complaints of all other nations. I call that arrogance personified. <\/p>\n

Japan: How arrogant was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor or their treatment of America prisoners of war in the South Seas? And what about their brutal, arrogant and vicious attacks on China before that? How much did they care about world opinion when they decided to act militarily against their neighbors? None at all. <\/p>\n

Iraq: Would you call gassing 300,00 of your own people in order to establish and maintain a dictatorship, acting arrogantly? What about attacks on your neighbors and ignoring UN mandates? Would your call Hussein an arrogant dictator? will leave that one to you. <\/p>\n

Who have I missed? Castro? Chavez\u2019 Peron? How about Hannibal, Alexander and the Moors? <\/p>\n

It would seem to me that arrogance is a staple of world superpowers and always has been. Why even recently, England sent warships half way around the world to fight the Argentines over Islands off the shore of Argentina. That seems to have been colonialism at its worst. You see, arrogance is acting without caring much for the opinion of others and by that definition, every one of these countries has acted arrogantly when it suited their purpose. <\/p>\n

But you, Mr. President, never mentioned their histories. For some reason, all you could think to criticize was America. So tell me specifically sir, where and how America was so arrogant that you felt the need to apologize. As you do, keep in mind:<\/p>\n

It was America that suffered on 9\/11. <\/p>\n

It was America that suffered from terrorist attacks that killed 250 of its Marines in Beirut. <\/p>\n

It was America that was the victim when the US Cole was the target of terrorists. <\/p>\n

It was America that was attacked in 1991 when the first WTC bombing occurred. <\/p>\n

So Mr. President, it is obvious that we were provoked. So with that in mind, please point out where America was so arrogant and what did we gain from that behavior. <\/p>\n

We went into Viet Nam but that was to aid the French who were there and stave off communist expansion as the French retreated (which they do so well). Did America have a national interest there? No, the French did. America went in to halt the takeover of South Vietnam by communist North Vietnam. <\/p>\n

What about Korea? Was that an example of American arrogance? I think North Korea attacked South Korea and we entered the fray once again to halt the spread of a ruthless and despotic North Korean communist government. We had no other interest there and when we left, we took nothing with us. And what did we gain personally from that war? Nothing. What did we take away with us from that war. Nothing. Nothing that is except our wounded. <\/p>\n

So exactly where was America arrogant? And who says so besides you? Is it your position that it’s arrogant for a world power to act in its own self-interest and if so, what are we doing in Afghanistan and what are our troops doing around the world defending those who do not wish to defend themselves. Is that more American arrogance?<\/p>\n

Perhaps, Mr. President, you should go back and re-read a bit of history before you rip America. <\/p>\n

So that takes us to Iraq, your long personal whipping boy and Democratic Talking Point (until you got elected). As I look back on Iraq, I see a dictator vanquished and a country that has now held three consecutive free elections for the first time in its long history. Remember those nine million Iraqis who risked their lives to vote? Remember how proud they were? Remember how they held up their green fingers. We did that. <\/p>\n

So Iraq now has freedom for the first time along with a freely elected government. Hopefully they can keep it but we gave it to them. We suffered and died giving them freedom. No one wanted to help so WE are arrogant???? Would this freedom have occurred had we listened to Europe? <\/p>\n

America put up the blood and the money to depose the madman Saddam Hussein. And what did we get out of it? How did we personally gain from it? What did we take home from Iraq to compensate for our sacrifice? <\/p>\n

Nothing, sir. And what do you see that was arrogant in that? Or do you mean we were arrogant because others – particularly in Europe – didn\u2019t want to fight there and so we did it ourselves. Was that arrogant, Mr. President? Should we have left when Germany, France and Russia refused to help out? Is that what you think should have been done? <\/p>\n

Are other countries now going to make policy decisions for America during your administration? Is that how you plan to run our great country? Didn\u2019t John Kerry once say he would do that if elected, visit every country (including anti-American countries) to ask if they approved of some contemplated US move? Just to make sure it was okay with them? Isn’t that what he said, Mr. President and is that where you got the idea?: <\/p>\n

Now tell me, sir, which European power had done that in the past? When have they checked with us before taking actions they felt were in their own self-interest? If they did, I must have missed it. <\/p>\n

Today we are in Afghanistan fighting another war and none of those European powers that wouldn’t help Bush is going to help you either. Know why? Because you are arrogant, sir. Look in the mirror. You just added more American troops to Afghanistan and so far none of the countries you have apologized to, has offered to send troops to help out. Same as with Bush. Therefore, to use your own logic, you must be arrogant. <\/p>\n

Your speeches were ridiculous and ill-considered. Personally, I don\u2019t think you know much about world history and I don\u2019t think you know what you are talking about and were it not for the utter stupidity of so many American voters, you would still be working as a community organizer. But sadly, you are not. You now are leading the greatest country in the world. But where you are leading her is the big question. <\/p>\n

So we were arrogant in Iraq because Germany, France and Russia refused to come in and help us to depose Hussein? Why when everyone knows these three countries were in bed with the guy. They were the primary markets for his oil. They were participants in his food-for-oil scam. They traded with the Middle East entire region and it was that which motivated their disinterest. Or did you think their lack of involvement was based on principal or simple altruism? Don\u2019t make me laugh. They were all busy serving their own self-interest. Would you call that arrogance, Mr President? I dame sure would. <\/p>\n

Finally, Mr. President let me look at something you said once in a speech, something about despots and dictators. You said we don\u2019t have to fight them, we can let them \u2018rust out\u2019 or \u2018run out of time\u2019, words to that effect. In other words you can wait them out rather than go in and root them out. Of course many would die in the waiting, but you seemed to think that was the way to handle them. <\/p>\n

I suppose this would indeed be the non-arrogant approach. But would it work? Can you really get rid of dictators by waiting them out? Let\u2019s check on a few.<\/p>\n

Castro President for Life<\/p>\n

Peron President for Life<\/p>\n

Chavez President for Life<\/p>\n

Duvalier President for Life (Papa Doc)<\/p>\n

Duvalier President for Life (Baby Doc)<\/p>\n

Chou En Lai President for Life<\/p>\n

Mao Tse Tung President for Life<\/p>\n

Stalin President for Life<\/p>\n

Hitler President for Life (Killed)<\/p>\n

Mussolini President for Life (Killed) <\/p>\n

The list goes on and on. Dictators don\u2019t quit any more than their powerless people remove them. That almost never happens. Either someone else comes in and removes them or they don\u2019t get removed. Your comment was pacifist nonsense. You recommend the gutless approach which itself is very self-serving. <\/p>\n

What arrogance means to Europeans is that we fought in Iraq when Germany, France and Russia would not. They were against our being in there but we went in anyway. That\u2019s why we were arrogant. Because we did what we thought had to be done \u2013 just as they have done throughout history. <\/p>\n

Keep in mind, Mr. President, these same countries were not against us coming to Europe and leaving 350,000 dead American kids on European soil to save their butts in two World Wars. Coming in and using our power to save them could have been seen by some as acting arrogantly, but it was not because they needed us. Definitions can be flexible depending upon circumstances \u2013 and politics. <\/p>\n

Your comment to Europeans that we are an arrogant nation played into their bruised psyches and they ate it up. What you said and where your said it and to whom, acted to elevate them at our expense. For that you should be taken to task since you are President of the United States and not of Europe. More to the point, what you said was dead wrong. You have no pride in America and it\u2019s obvious. Your view is that of a one-worlder and Americans better understand that before you do irrevocable harm to our country. <\/p>\n

Tell me, sir, America fought in Europe twice, in Iraq, in Viet Nam, and in Korea all in this century. What did we take home with us? What did we personally gain from those battles? What plunder did we amass as the Russians did in World War II or England and France and Spain did in their heydays. What plunder did America take home with us for our sacrifices? <\/p>\n

The answer is nothing. That\u2019s what we took home. When you were in Harvard, did they bother to teach you American history at all??? Or wasn\u2019t American history all that important to them?<\/p>\n

In all those wars, America fought for someone else or for freedom for someone else. We were not protecting anything we had from someone who wanted to take it from us. They were not wars of conquest. We fought to make life better for others. We fought to save Europe and the world from Nazi domination. We fought to save the South Koreans from the communist North. We fought to save the South Vietnamese from the communist North. <\/p>\n

What selfishness! What arrogance!<\/p>\n

America took nothing home from their victories. Nor did we occupy lands or rob national treasures. We did none of the things most victors do to the vanquished. <\/p>\n

Yes, we\u2019re the bad guys Mr. Turncoat President Obama. We\u2019re the arrogant ones all right; not the European leaders that refused to fight Dictator Hussein for political and economic reasons. Who could care less about the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis he murdered or the young women he took off the streets and raped. They didn\u2019t care. We cared enough to fight but they didn\u2019t. And you call us arrogant? <\/p>\n

According to you, MR. PRESIDENT, it was America that was arrogant, self-serving, and dictatorial. Well sir, you are lucky we have such a dishonest American press today otherwise you would be roasted on every front page in America. But you won’t be because they are arrogant in their politics and diseased in their dishonesty. Integrity is no longer a part of American journalism so your little gaffe will be largely ignored. But not to worry, you will repeat it because you believe it and in that will lie your undoing. <\/p>\n

America is the best country this world has ever seen. Not perfect but the best. Someone ought to have told you that before you decided to run for the Presidency. <\/p>\n

It might have helped you preserve her. <\/p>\n

Joey <\/p>\n

Articles in Joey\u2019s Comments and Controversy are the express opinions of Joey and not Boomeryearbook. However, while non-members can read articles on boomeryearbook.com only members can make comments. Joey\u2019s section is called Joey\u2019s Talk and Controversy for a good reason. In Joey\u2019s words, “I hope I\u2019ve given you food for thought and you will join boomeryearbook<\/a> and respond”.<\/p>\n

Boomer Yearbook<\/a> is Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds and political opinions, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!<\/p>\n

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(shades of John Kerry’s apology tour) by: Joseph J Kusnell for Boomeryearbook.com An open letter to the President of the United States: \u201cDear Mr. President: It is not America that is arrogant; it is you who are arrogant. That has become increasingly obvious with each…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[118,28,532,17],"tags":[75,241,533,408],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/609\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karenturnerphd.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}