Peter Wehner, a former Deputy Assistant and Director of Strategic Initiatives for President Bush, provides a most eloquent takedown of Mike Huckabee’s Foreign Affairs article, The Problem with Pastor Mike: Foreign-policy foolishness just won't suffice. His piece is essential reading!

I wrote the following essay a week ago as a comment on those who would use the term “despised” to describe how people in other countries look at the United States. While this is in no way as substantive and eloquent as Wehner's piece, it at least provides supportive evidence of an important point he makes. As I wrote, I thought I was referring only to people on the left, but yesterday I learned I must add the name of Mike Huckabee to the list of those who use such words in reference to the attitudes of people towards our great nation.

Cheers,

Mike B.

Today is Saturday, 8 December 2007 and this has been a fascinating and moving couple of days, fostered in a major way by Mitt’s incredible speech on Thursday, one that soared in its rhetoric regarding the great nation in which we are so very fortunate to live. I am writing this on a plane that just took off from Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., after arriving yesterday afternoon to make presentations this afternoon to two groups of individuals from around the world.

The presentations were part of a training program for young people, ranging in age from 21 to 29, who hail from 42 different countries and speak 29 different languages. They are being hosted during the current academic year by over 280 institutions in all 50 states to teach their native language to students all over the US, take classes, and act as cultural ambassadors.

This might well sound a bit silly, but as I began speaking to the first group this afternoon, I looked into their faces and had trouble getting my words out. I just stood there, puzzling at the lump in my throat and the slight mist in my eyes. I had just had lunch with a group from Iran, three young women and two young men, and I had marveled at our interaction. From our conversation around the table I quickly became aware of their excitement to be in the United States and meet the American people up close. The impression was unmistakable that they would wish nothing more than to stay here, do graduate study, and even pursue careers.

Upon reflection, however, there was much more than that on my mind. First, these were talented young people who had worked very hard to make their way to the United States from the four points of the compass. The fact that many of them, if not all, would make new lives here if they could, puts them into the category of incredible people who have come to this country over the years to help make it what it is today. I then also realized that their desire to come here and to remain was clear evidence of just how great this country really is.

It then hit me that these feelings mirrored those I had felt as I listened to Mitt quote Sam Adams, "And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.” The intensity of those feelings only increased as I watched him receive a loud, vigorous, and lengthy, standing ovation.

As Mitt stated, and as his audience confirmed by their enthusiasm, this IS a great nation, a fact totally recognized by all the wonderful young people I just met. And this recognition is in no way diminished by the rhetoric of those on the left who do more to harm our stature in the world than can be imagined. Contrary to what is said by those who seek political gain from the challenges we face, we are not despised in the world, at least not by those who really matter.

Reflecting on Mitt’s words spoken in College Station and based on my acquaintance with him that goes back over forty years, I have absolutely no doubt that he would connect incredibly well with people around the world, if we are lucky enough for him to have that chance.

My new friends helped me better understand that there are many already here and many more who would be very grateful to be in this great nation, the inspiring history of which Mitt so ably evoked.