A few days ago, Secretary Rubio delivered a magical speech about the West:
Rubio also described a distinctly Western understanding of what sacrifice means — thanks to the Greeks — and compared it to how Third Worlders view sacrifice. Christian martyrs and patriots who were loyal to their principles were willing to sacrifice their lives for if needed, whereas Iranian rulers who glorify death worship death itself.
“Our heroes may be willing to die for their cause; but our heroes do not worship death,” Rubio pointed out. “We take the West’s conception of these things – heroism, honor, duty – we take these things for granted. We assume that these somehow are universal to all people in all times and in all places. They are not. They are the product of a distinct character, a distinct character which arose here and shaped the whole story of the civilization that came after it.”
Rubio’s distinction underpins the greater problem facing Western nations and their immigration policies. A people make a nation, and western values are not universal. Therefore, importing people who do not share Western values risks the nation.
Right on. Would you invite someone to stay in your home if he hated your family? I wouldn't and you wouldn't either.
Furthermore, many in the West are no longer proud of their story or heritage. Yes, we made mistakes but we were not the only who enslaved people. What we forget to say is that we made slavery illegal and there are thousands of young men buried in the country who fought to make that happen.
I don't know how much we can change what's happening in Europe as we see these "student riots" in France. But maybe we can do something about the US and explain to our children that they are beneficiaries of a great culture as Secretary Rubio spoke.
Based on that speech, I am convinced that Secretary Rubio learned history the right way..
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