Marco Rubio is promoting troubling ideas about ‘Western civilization’
In a recent visit to Greece, the secretary of state suggested that Europe must rediscover the values of conquest and expansion
TL;DR
- Marco Rubio delivered a speech in Athens advocating for the rediscovery of Western values of conquest and expansion to prevent decline.
- The speech is criticized for its nostalgic tone and selective historical references, which are argued to misrepresent the ideals of democracy and equality.
- The author points out historical contributions from non-Western cultures to Greece and Rome, challenging the notion of a purely Western origin for these civilizations.
- Rubio's speech is contrasted with the ideals of US founders like Jefferson and Lincoln, and later presidents like Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, who emphasized democratic principles and human rights.
- The article suggests that current US policies, such as cuts to scientific research, contradict the "insatiable curiosity" and pursuit of knowledge praised in Rubio's speech.
- Ultimately, the speech is characterized as a beautiful photo opportunity without substantive policy proposals or meaningful ideals beyond exploitation and domination.