"America, Stop Apologizing For Your Greatness."

From a 2003 article by Steven Tennett, an oppressed citizen in Zimbabwe:

"On behalf of the Zimbabweans who desire to live as human beings, free from the shackles of Mugabe's tyranny, I have a favor to ask of you, America.

"No, it is not a request for a check or some other handout. Nor is it a request to send over your 4th Infantry division to liberate us. Our suffering does not give us a right to your wealth or to the lives of your brave soldiers.

"No, the favor I have to ask is very different--and far simpler. America, stop apologizing for your greatness.

"Stand up and proudly champion the principles that have enabled you to earn your wealth and power: capitalism and the individual's inalienable rights to life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. Condemn every form of tyranny and tell the world that the political system created by your founders is the only noble system the world has ever seen. Tell every individual across the globe that no matter if he is black, white or Arab, the *only* path to freedom and prosperity is through the ideas contained in your Constitution and Bill of Rights. To modify a saying from one of your great founders, George Washington: Proclaim a standard to which the wise and the just can repair.

"To do so costs you nothing--and will achieve much.

"You will give hope and inspiration to any individual in Zimbabwe, Iran, Hong Kong or elsewhere who is actually fighting for his liberty. You will earn the respect of freedom- loving people the world over--the only "world opinion" it could ever make sense to win. And by your moral certainty you will strike fear in the hearts of your enemies--and any tyrant who dares to violate the rights of the individual.

"America, when you refuse to speak out against evil--and worse, when you apologize for your virtues--you discourage those who love liberty and give hope to the Mugabes of the world. But when you proudly and guiltlessly stand up for the good, you help move the world toward your ideals.

"America, your moral voice is at once your least costly and your most powerful weapon. A lonely individual from Zimbabwe asks of you only this: Won't you please use that voice?"

I heard the above part of the article in a lecture video and was really moved by it, so I tracked down the full article. This is the message every American should hear.