On The Side Of The Right

We get this in Entertainment Weekly's review of the latest Mad Men:

...Connie sighs about how hard and lonesome it can be on the side of right. ''It is my purpose in life to bring America to the world, whether they like it or not,'' he said. (My golly did American foreign policy take a beating this episode.) Connie is God-sponsored arrogance personified.

Connie is Conard Hilton, and he's talking about spreading his hotels around the world. It's a little facile to see this simply a slap at American foreign policy. Sure, plenty say today--as they said then--that Americans are too arrogant, and should be more humble in dealing with other cultures. But everyone believes they know what's best. Is that arrogance? In fact, the enemies we fight overseas are far more sure that they're right, and that it's a good idea to spread their philosophy through any means necessary. The question isn't merely about arrogance, it's about what do you do when you've got power--that's the real test.

There was a time not that long ago when the West, and especially America, believed in itself and its ideas. It was a time of muscular liberalism. It was a time when there was an evangelical zeal to see Western ideas spread. Now the West is more self-doubting. Maybe this is a good thing, but it's not like we've dropped our arrogance--we're just arrogant about different things. Now we're arrogant, for example, about our "wisdom" regarding multiculturalism, even though the others cultures we're talking don't necessarily believe in multiculturalism themselves.

Those who opposed sending troops overseas have no trouble trying to force their ideas on an unwilling public. But when they do it, it's not arrogance, it's just fighting for what's right. Look at Gavin Newsom's famous statement. 

   

He's using almost exactly the same words as Connie. It might have been bad strategy to be so open about it, but supporters of gay marriage believe they are the future, and have no trouble trying to spread that message. And note this willingness to force their morality on others isn't simply a domestic thing--there are plenty who favor universal jurisdiction and international criminal courts to protect and enfore their beliefs.

Oh, but war is different? Well, the comment about Mad Men was regarding a guy opening hotels. This is less intrusive than insisting other cultures drop their opposition to homosexuality, but somehow I can't see Entertainment Weekly stating "Conrad Hilton is arrogant, just like anyone who want to stop homosexuality from being illegal in other countries."