By Katie Altobellis

It seems the United States loves meddling in others’ affairs.  Whatever the worldwide problem is, we just cannot help but butt in and try to be the hero of the story.  Must we always puff our chest out and try and prove to other countries that we are the biggest and baddest of them all?  We cannot be the conscious of the entire planet, nor can be always be its moral compass.

 I say, “Thank the Lord for the freedoms He gives us.”   However, we cannot always jump into others’ affairs and not expect negative repercussions.   We have been blessed exponentially and this country has a deep heart for those that have been persecuted and is a champion of human rights, but when things do not go our way, we cannot challenge the world to do things our way and say, “or else.”

We are a country governed by constitutional morality but our ideas and expectations cannot be thrust onto others; America cannot always save the day. I think the world desperately needs countries to be leaders regarding human rights issues but the United States does not always need to take a hard-wired approach and believe a first line of defense is to do battle with war mongering countries when atrocities happen.  Democracy and our way of doing things can be a hard pill to swallow by others.

Recently, John Kerry called the United State a “global policeman.”  But I wonder why every war should belong to us.  Our security is at stake when we get involved in others’ wars and I think that we should be definitely clear that our military action and presence in another country is warranted. 

What is at stake for this country if we take action against another with full understanding that other nations have vowed to “leave well enough alone?”  This country never tries to turn a blind eye to inhumanity but sometimes we have to understand that our presence in some situations can do us and others more harm than good.

“Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.