Declaration of Independence in Arabic?

Apparently, this doesn't exist. We're trying to show people freedom and liberty for the first time, and we're not even showing them how to do it. One of my readers sent an email to the US state department and asked them. They responded:

Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of State.

You might want to try googling it. Unfortunately, this is not a document that we have.

Sorry we were unable to help.

Thank you again for contacting us.

Now isn't that interesting? How are we going to show a country how to be free and how to have inalienable rights and how to be free from religious oppression if we won't even show them how we did it?

This reader also sent a letter to Charles Osgood of CBS Sunday Morning, asking about this rather strange development:

Dear Charles, (Osgood - "CBS Sunday Morning")

Just thought I would check your side of the battle front to see how the war is going.

This week, the first week of 2007, I received an email from the U.S. State department that I found rather disturbing, and was hoping someone in the media would also find it disturbing. On Thursday I sent it to our self-proclaimed "Culture Warrior" friend, Bill O'Reilly, then followed-up with a call to his show on Friday. I was quite surprised to discover he didn't seem to "get it." (Show is available on pod cast.)

Here is what I sent to Bill:

"Dear Bill,

This just in. Over the holidays I had contacted the U.S. Information Agency, and The U.S. State Department to see if the Declaration of Independence is available from either of those sources in Arabic. Read for your self. It's not! The real question is: "Does the United States still believe in what it hopes to impose on Iraq."

In my opinion this is the core question/problem, even where the Culture War is concerned!

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: United States Declaration of Independence
From: U.S. Department of State
Reply-To: U.S. Department of State

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Thank you for contacting the State Department.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
United States Declaration of Independence

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of State.

You might want to try googling it. Unfortunately, this is not a document that we have.

Sorry we were unable to help.

Thank you again for contacting us.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Status: Solved

Bill, perhaps if only our State Department spoke their language, and really believed in what we claim we stand for, it wouldn't be necessary for our War Department to rely on bombs, bullets, and gallows, at least, not in the first instance. Seems like "... a decent respect for the opinions of mankind... " would have made dropping pamphlets a better alternative!

As for your part, may you know the thrill of victory as a "Culture Warrior!"

James Jay Ferris - Golden Valley, NC

P.S. I was working in Germany when the Iron curtain came down, and Eastern Europe was crying out with questions as to how to be free. I asked the State Department then if they had the "Declaration" in the German language. The answer was that they only had it in French, Spanish, and English. :-\ (The irony was/is that the first time it was published it was in German.) Even then I was reminded of a book written back in the 60s by an FBI man. It had "Treason" in the title. Perhaps you remember it. What has been betrayed, and by whom?

I hope to call in tomorrow, just thought I would provide the evidence ahead of the call."

So Charles, now I'm wondering if anyone on your side "gets it." Here's the problem as I see it. If this country is intent on bringing the "culture of freedom" to other cultures and nations. Wouldn't it be better to start by communicating in their native language, the reason and principles of our own existence as a nation, rather than to start with more violent means?

Perhaps I'm just old fashioned, but that seems like a no brainer to me, no matter which side of the culture war you happen to be on.

This is so patently obvious that I can only conclude the powers that be in this country, either the media powers or the other governmental powers have already repudiated the stated reasons for this country's existence. In short, it has become apparent that the "U.S. Declaration of independence" is no longer considered politically correct. This being the case, the next obvious question is,

"Whose idea of freedom are we trying to drop on Iraq?"

Shouldn't this kind of question be an acceptable part of the public dialogue, unless of course freedom has already lost the war even in this country? If we ourselves no longer agree on what we stand for, does it really make sense to be bombing others to get them to stand for the same thing?

Just one more observation:

The reason for the existence of governments stated in the "Declaration" is the securing of rights to life, in a sense the power to live. What occurs to me is that, as Dams secure the power of water, Governments secure the power to live. When a dam leaks or breaks, it doesn't make sense to work on the problem downstream rather than upstream. The stated reason for our existence is upstream of our history. The refusal to go there to work on the problem becomes more and more suspect with each passing day. Surely, like Rodney Dangerfield, "... the opinions of mankind... " have already noticed.

Whatever happened to the "... respect..." part of the deal?

Terrified, but not with what's going on overseas,

That's some good observations there. Can anyone tell me why the US State Department hasn't created an Arabic version of the Declaration to show them how to be free? It is indeed not "PC" to be free any more? Does the United States really want to destroy state-sponsored religion and allow freedom?

Posted by: Ogre at 03:08 PM

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