Arrogance for Strength

For too long we in this country have mistaken arrogance for strength, and although the right-wing hate radio listeners will have a hissy fit for me saying this - the last eight years we have been led badly by a President who thought that a unwavering and rigid adherence to a policy of arrogance was actually presenting a strong face to the world.

This was wrong.

Last week on some hate radio station I heard some DJ asking one of his dimwitted listeners what exactly President Obama has done to show America's strength.

This is exactly the wrong question to ask. I would counter, "Why does he have to show America's strength?"

Why are we such cowardly playground bullies that we have to make these false shows of strength?

What about showing American compassion? What about showing American willingness to work for the common benefit of the entire world? What about showing American giving? American charity? American acceptance?

All of these are nobile qualities - what about American dignity? (I'll admit there's precious little of that!) but American honor! American faith! American hope! American dream!

Books could be written about the subject, but to put it succinctly - Arrogance is not strength; in fact, it is the very opposite of strength. For too long we have believed that by flexing our muscles the world would be afraid of us and thus leave us alone. We have been lying to ourselves. We can flex our muscles all we want and the world doesn't care - the world is stronger than we are. As soon as we realize that, the better for all of us.

True strength lies in the ability to hold firm to our ideals of fairness and decency, but also to be able to reach for common ground for the betterment of all.