During President Obama’s first two years in office, we have seen him do nothing but fumble on the world stage. He often seems to sit back and watch major changes occur – making no effort to be a part of the solution or reassert America’s position in the state of world affairs.
Bruce Thornton, a professor of classics and humanities, joins us to discuss his book, “The Wages of Appeasement: Ancient Athens, Munich, and Obama’s America.”
His ultimate advice for the President? Listen to what Islamists say, and believe they meant it. We cannot bribe them–with education, money or democracy–because they will never trade spiritual things for physical things. Ultimately, he argues that there will be no resolution outside of force.
Thornton also discusses the downfall of the democratic city-states of Ancient Greece, who, because of the “destructive pursuit of short term self-interest,” were unable to unify against a common threat. Thornton argues that for a democracy to survive it must maintain civic virtue – character that is worthy of freedom.
The topic of appeasement draws some disturbing parallels between Chamberlain and Hitler and many of our modern politicians. Pacifism and internationalism weren’t just popular movements in the 1930s and 1940s. Remember, internationalism is defined as the idea that it is possible to create harmony of interest and solve all problems through diplomacy. Sound familiar?
Watch the full episode here:
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