America Should Stop Apologizing and Lead

   Reflecting over the first hundred days of the new administration, I feel like I am listening to the opening apologetic line in Elton John’s 1970’s hit; “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” The singer asks “What do I have to do to make you love me?”

   Bowing to misogynistic oil despots, constant public contrition for all manner of past American sins and silence after a one hour international berating by tin horn dictators are history. So is a “let’s make nice” video entreaty to holocaust deniers hell bent on brandishing a nuclear scimitar to dispatch their avowed enemies

   This is not leadership and we do not need impossibly expensive messianic plans for national salvation from alleged wayward ways.

   World leadership is not principally about being loved. Do the right, not necessarily the popular. Affirm the constitution as conceived. Give up the notion that somehow teleprompter tangos will soothe the savage beasts of inequities in a difficult and capricious world. Mr. Obama, please lose the delusion that another spoonful of monopoly sugar money will help the mediocre medicine of socialism go down. Down is exactly where the epoch of America is headed if this nonsense of publically working out the weightiness of all of our sins does not stop.

   Will we next resurrect Grand Inquisitor Torquemada to indict and imprison leaders acting in good counsel during perilous times to secure our safety? That is torture of a nation. It enfeebles those who would protect us.

   Staying this course means ample need for apologies. We will be sorry for dousing the light on Lady Liberty and squelching “American Exceptionalism”. We will regret turning down the thermostat on the fires of a frighteningly less productive economy. We’ll mourn the waiting lines, rationing of medical care and malaise of medical research. We’ll slap ourselves for the silliness of avoiding nuclear power and the chaos and corruption of carbon credit schemes based on sham science.

   Let’s apologize in advance for all the patents in science, medicine, industry, and agriculture accompanying the death of capitalism. Let’s mourn the demise of world leading American ingenuity and the fall in charitable giving from this most generous nation. Let us grieve the coming weakness under the weight of entitlements and extend condolences to nations who may never know the liberating power and joy of pursuing the American dream.

   In enormous debt, our children may look at us wide-eyed ignorant of the loss of what it is we are apologizing for; ingenuity, resourcefulness, autonomy in daily life and decisions. They may not ever miss that wonderful lump in the throat, the swell in the chest and the tear in the eyes mourning those who fought to protect the American Dream.

   Despite our eternal hunger, let’s be sorry in advance for losing our appetite for God. Let’s apologize to future victims of terrorists whose assailants were unfettered by the fear of swift and righteous retribution. And a big “oops” to Merriam Webster for the extra work of having to acquiesce and put “politician” under the definition of ignorance, fear, pandering and self serving.

   Clearly, contrition is cathartic, necessary and comforting when sincere, valid and corrective in intent. Clearly, Americans are mortal, imperfect and will and have failed. However, this great nation has in the past and will in the future be called to step into the breach when others will not, to walk the line and man the parapets when others cower and to hold up against the twin onslaughts of apathy and tyranny. That is what America does

   I am not saddened or sorrowful to be an American. I have warts and worries and unsavory attributes and “issues” as does my nation. However, confederate contrition is no substitute for courage.

   One day, when the anthem of America rings I shudder at the thought of hearing, “Who’s Sorry Now”

© Kevin Ryan 2009