The idea that putting Americans 'first' requires a withdrawal from the world is simply wrongheaded because a retreat would achieve exactly the opposite for our citizens.
Interpretation
Prioritizing national interests by isolating from global responsibilities is misguided and ultimately counterproductive.
Colin Powell highlights the fallacy in the notion that prioritizing Americans necessitates disengagement from international affairs. He argues that withdrawing from global engagement would not serve the interests of American citizens; instead, active participation in the world is essential for their well-being and security.
In practice
In a discussion about international relations at a conference.
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says 'we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best. 'Spare me the grim litany of the 'realist;' give me the unrealistic aspirations of the optimist any day.
One of the fondest expressions around is that we can't be the world's policeman. But guess who gets called when suddenly someone needs a cop.
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
If you get the dirty end of the stick, sharpen it and turn it into a useful tool.
High-quality early-childhood programs and health coverage have expanded, and the number of mentoring relationships for at-risk youth has risen dramatically. That progress is encouraging, but it's not evenly distributed.
As I've thought about gay marriage, I don't see any reason not to say that [couples] should be able to get married.
Consider no one a stranger. Learn to feel that everybody is akin to you.
What we call "normal" is a product of repression, denial, splitting, projection, introjection, and other forms of destructive actions on experience...It is radically estranged from the structure of being.
This 'double ethical bind' we frequently find ourselves in cannot be solved by any formula. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest. I hope that means being both.
In every truth, the opposite is equally true. For example, a truth can only be expressed and enveloped in words if it is onesided.
Without history we are the prisoners of the accident of where and when we were born.
The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.
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