Deluded America

By Diana West - June 23rd, 2006 - The Washington Times

In the 21st century, however, there is something that our society values more than our own lives — and more than the survival of civilization itself. That something may be described as the kind of moral superiority that comes from a good wallow in Abu Ghraib, Haditha, CIA interrogations or Guantanamo Bay. Morally superior people — Western elites — never "humiliate" prisoners, never kill civilians, never torture or incarcerate jihadists. Indeed, they would like to kill, I mean, prosecute, or at least tie the hands of, anyone who does. This, of course, only enhances their own moral superiority. But it doesn't win wars. And it won't save civilization.

Why not? Because such smugness masks a massive moral paralysis. The morally superior (read: paralyzed) don't really take sides, don't really believe one culture is qualitatively better or worse than the other. They don't even believe one culture is just plain different from the other. Only in this atmosphere of politically correct and perpetually adolescent non-judgmentalism could anyone believe, for example, that compelling, forcing or torturing a jihadist terrorist to get information to save a city undermines our "values" in any way. It undermines nothing — except the jihad.

Our society has split into two competing world views and the winner of that battle is as important to victory as the battle against militant Islam. This article by Diana West describes what Thomas Sowell calls the "liberal Western elite" as effectively as anyone has done it. It is important that we understand this world view, and not just rant against "those liberals". It is important because you must understand your enemy if you want to win.

Too many conservatives and libertarians are queasy about the claimed "moral superiority" of the "liberal Western elite" but do not realize what a corrupt attitude it is. The problem is they do not really understand how ridiculous the liberal position is. The liberals with this superior attitude would not have destroyed the Nazi death camps but would have tried to understand them.

If we do not understand how evil the "morally superior" "liberal Western elite" are, we will lose the current war and Western Civilization is doomed.