Many American pundits and foreign policy experts love to depict themselves as crusaders for human rights, but it almost always takes the form of condemning other governments, never their own.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Individuals have the right to pick and choose which expressions to condemn, which to praise and which to say nothing about. Governments, however, must remain neutral as to the content of expression. And governments must protect the rights of all to express even the most despicable of views.
At any time, somebody can blow themselves up and take Americans with them. They can blow up an airplane; they can crash an airplane. That's something we have to worry about every day - we spend 40 billion dollars yearly on homeland security. That has nothing to do with Crusades or any of that other nonsense.
We must never forget that many around the globe are denied the basic rights we enjoy as Americans. If we are to continue enjoying these privileges and freedoms we must accept our mission of expanding democracy around the globe.
Patriotism has served, at different times, as widely different ends as a razor, which ought to be used in keeping your face clean and yet may be used to cut your own throat or that of an innocent person.
Human rights are not worthy of the name if they do not protect the people we don't like as well as those we do.
I condemn everyone and anyone who commits acts of terrorism. And Hamas has committed acts of terrorism.
From pacifist to terrorist, each person condemns violence - and then adds one cherished case in which it may be justified.
The world is full of nations that are part of the community of nations that don't respect rights.
Even though we may focus first on the rights of our own country, that does not mean that we should disregard the rights of everyone else.
No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.