February 20, 2006
Teddy R's Wisdom!
Theodore Roosevelt:
There are occasional crimes committed on so vast a scale and of such peculiar horror as to make us doubt whether it is not our manifest duty to endeavor at least to show our disapproval of the deed and our sympathy with those who have suffered by it. The cases must be extreme in which such a course is justifiable...What form the action shall take must depend upon the circumstances of the case; that is, upon the degree of the atrocity and upon our power to remedy it."
H/T: Alan Dowd at NRO via my good friend Timothy Birdnow
Posted by GM Roper at February 20, 2006 09:34 AM | TrackBackAmen!
Posted by beth at February 20, 2006 10:13 AM
Which of the many really awful things do you have in mind?
Posted by Tad at February 20, 2006 02:39 PM
This is a great quote and TR's words obviously remain relevant 100 years after they were spoken. I believe this quote comes from the last paragraph of TR's message to Congress of 12/6/1904.
This speech sets forth what is today referred to as the Roosevelt Corollary and it was named because it was an extension of the Monroe Doctrine to Central and South America. However, the section you quote specifically references atrocities to Jews and Armenians as events that should be of concern to Americans.
There are other good thoughts in TR's address, including the duty of free nations to arm and stay armed, and the following statement: "A great free people owes it to itself and to all mankind not to sink into helplessness before the powers of evil."
Here's a link to the entire speech if you are interested: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/us-relations/roosevelt-corollary.htm.
Posted by DRJ at February 20, 2006 02:45 PM
As of late, my *diplomacy* level has been VERY low, actions speak louder than words.. And ACTION is the only thing our current enemies truly understand...
Posted by TexasFred at February 20, 2006 03:19 PM
