America’s Manifest Destiny II, A basis for a new Foreign Policy

This nation’s Declaration of Independence starts off with these words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness..”

The founders were men of faith, they believed in God their Creator, they identified God-given rights that they stood up for. They used the word ‘all’ meaning ‘every member or individual component of’, in this case ‘all men’, there is no limitation of where in time or place they may be. Therefore the Declaration of Independence is valid for us and for any human being on the face of this planet.

It is reasonable to expect other people of the world to look to this nation for support and championship of unalienable human rights.

Our current President has no understanding of rights as they come from the Creator, only rights that are established by Government to take from some and give to others. Contrast that to Pres. James Monroe who was very clear in his statement of foreign policy. On December 2, 1823 in his annual message to Congress, President James Monroe enunciated the cornerstone of U.S foreign policy. Declaring that the Old World and New World had different systems and must remain distinct spheres, Monroe made four basic points:

  1. The United States would not interfere in the internal affairs of or the wars between European powers;
  2. the United States recognized and would not interfere with existing colonies and dependencies in the Western Hemisphere;
  3. the Western Hemisphere was closed to future colonization;
  4. any attempt by a European power to oppress or control any nation in the Western Hemisphere would be viewed as a hostile act against the United States.

Of the many who have defended the Monroe Doctrine, I quote two:

J. Reuben Clark, Jr., whose scholarly work on the Monroe Doctrine, as Under Secretary of State, is well known, in tracing our destiny said this:

“Then came our GREAT Monroe Doctrine which placed us of the United States squarely behind efforts of Latin America to gain freedom and against those European states who would thwart it.

“God again moved us forward towards the destiny He has planned for us. He was preserving the blessings He had given to us.” (Memorandum on the Monroe Doctrine, Dept. of State Publication #37, December 17, 1928.)

The Monroe Doctrine, which should be and is an enduring cornerstone and living principle of national policy, stated further: “The political system of the allied powers is essentially different . . . from that of America….” Ezra Taft Benson. General Conference Talk - October 1962. Human Liberty is the Mainspring of Human Progress.

If you read the Monroe Doctrine looking for guidance, you will find that in our current political climate this is still valid, contrary to those whose ideas have brought us to our current situation. It outlines:

  1. What to avoid
    a. European ideas and ideals
    b. European entanglements
    c. Asian entanglements
  2. How to treat our American continent neighbors, specifically Canada, the American nations south of the border, islands of the hemisphere.
    3. a. Promote freedom and liberty, supporting those governments that do so, defending them against those that would destroy or not permit those freedoms.
    b. Teach governmental responsibility to the people. Provide teachers for fiscal responsibility; governmental functioning.
    c. Allow them to stand on their own and grow
  3. What to support
    a. efforts to establish freedom and liberty
    b. efforts to establish and maintain constitutions modeled on ours
    c. governments that promote liberty, property rights and pursuit of happiness
    d. God-given unalienable rights
  4. Results. As I look at how this doctrine was applied I can see the benefits when it was correctly applied and when it was primarily used as an excuse for military intervention.
    5. a. Correctly applied, there should be little, if any, need for military action.
    b. Correctly applied, there is a bond of friendship established, common goals and a solid front presented to the rest of the world.
    c. Correctly applied you would see the American nations with constitutions modeled after ours, free nations and happy people.
    d. Correctly applied you would have no Castro Cuba
    e. Correctly applied you would have no Chavez Venezuela.

    So here is the foundation for a new American Foreign Policy

  • This constitution and government is the best there is in the world. No question, no argument, the Constitution is a ‘light’ to the world. Any other governmental form is inferior in its protection of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
  • America has a Manifest Destiny to be the world’s champion of freedom and liberty for all men. This is not imperialism, it is stated in our Constitution!
  • The Monroe Doctrine is alive and well. America is the best neighbor you can have to champion the cause of liberty and freedom in your country. Those who are not with us in the cause of liberty are against us. We as a nation will do everything we can to help you establish a constitutional government and train your people to do so, we will not run your coutnry.
  • European notions of government (socialism, nationalism, etc.) are not welcome here, rather, we will teach you how to achieve a higher form of government. If you choose to work with us, your citizens will be exposed to our way of life. They may choose to adopt it.
  • As champions of Freedom and Liberty we support and encourage all who would enjoy these freedoms.

I want this to be a strong nation. I want this nation to be strong and an example to all. I hope you find this reasonable and worth telling others about.

by Richard Kern