Democrats against freedom

Living in a democracy doesn’t necessarily mean that you value it enough to want it for others.

Because if you take the words of a number of leaders in the Democratic party, literally, what other conclusion can be understood from their message which condemns a war intended to annihilate the threat to all humanity?

Judge for yourself. In Micah Halpern’s recent JPost article, “Iranian expats face the same awakening Jews felt after October 7,” he outlines just some of the reactions of well-known American political figures, all of whom are affiliated with the Democratic party.

N.Y. Mayor Zohran Mamdani: “Today’s military strikes by the United States and Israel mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal act of war of aggression. Bombing cities, killing civilians, opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. Getting involved in Iran could replicate the devastating consequences of previous interventions.”

N.Y. Congressman Gregory Meeks: “The president has taken this country to the brink of a regional war without authorization from Congress.”

Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal: “We cannot allow the president to drag us into another endless war in the Middle East.”

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy: “This is how wars start – without debate, without strategy, without Congress.”

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine: “The American people deserve a say before we enter another war.”

And finally, aligning himself with all of the above was UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “I call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation.”

What is particularly noteworthy about all of these comments is that the sentiment also expresses shouts of recent protesters, crying “Hands off Iran,” outside of the White House.

It’s not that all of these individuals don’t know that Iranians have been forced to live under the harshest circumstances of their oppressive theocratic regime for the last 47 years. Nor are they ignorant that women, especially, have been brutally murdered for their hijab head covering when accidentally exposing a bit of hair. Also known to them is the inability to openly worship another faith other than Islam, and, most recently, the slaughter of tens of thousands of Iranian citizens which was widely reported.  

Knowing that the combined military power of the U.S. and Israel, two of the most formidable defense forces, on the face of the earth, could change those deplorable conditions, by taking out a barbaric regime and creating the opportunity for democracy, is immaterial. The vast majority of Democrats are simply indifferent to the plight of Iranian suffering.

Instead, their position reveals support for tyranny, abuse, subjugation, persecution and repression. Its preference is to maintain the domination of cruel tormentors, under whose rule they, too, would scream out for the merciful intervention of a deliverer. 

But then it’s the old story of not having walked a mile in someone else’s shoes. Lacking the empathy and compassion for those whose voices have been silenced and whose souls have been beaten down, they cannot imagine what it feels like to live in a society where you have no say over anything.

As long as their world isn’t shaken, they are free to ignore the pain of people they never met.  Why intervene for fellow humans, who can only dream of the blessings afforded to those who live in a democratic nation where everyone is free to make their own choices?

In a recent broadcast of Life, Liberty and Levin, it was said that Democratic politicians who don’t agree with these sentiments are too fearful to speak out, knowing that they will be ostracized and possibly even ousted from their positions of power, so they remain silent. 

Truthfully, it all comes down to having the courage, as well as the humanity, required to fight for the God-given rights of each person who is unable to speak for themselves or live life on their terms. Refusal to come to the rescue of the oppressed is to aid and abet the persecutors whose power will only end by those willing to confront their evil.

It is the reason that Nazism was defeated and the answer to why freedom is hailed as the greatest of all virtues, knowing that life without it is much too painful to endure.

Does anyone believe that Democrats don’t realize this? So why are they so indifferent to the cries of Iranians, whose greatest wish is to live under the same conditions of freedom?

There may be many answers, but here are the most obvious:

• In order to fight for freedom, one has to first have a great appreciation of all it offers;

• In order to fight for freedom, one has to recognize that it’s been taken away;

• In order to fight for freedom, one has to be willing to pay a price of possibly losing their own life to save others;

• In order to fight for freedom, one has to possess the moral clarity, selfless character and inner conviction that motivates them to participate in the battle;

• In order to fight for freedom, one has to be willing to go against the tide of criticism which will always exist;

• In order to fight for freedom, one has to know the intended destiny of all mankind – that we were created to live under the laws of God – first and foremost, after loving the Almighty, is to “Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.”

What becomes clear is that these attributes and principles are sorely missing from the Democratic party, which does not support the deeply held foundational tenets of how we are called to live and relate to our fellow man.

Instead, it has turned into a party of coldhearted indifference, where watching a massacre of innocent civilians does not move people to action or touch their conscience.  

Consequently, it’s no longer a matter of political ideology but, rather, an empty reservoir of compassion, tenderness, mercy and human kindness. Coupled with that is also a blindness which precludes them from sensing the imminent danger also headed in their direction.

Hatred for the West and its way of life does not stop at the door of Democrats. Yet, it’s how they are wrongly assessing the enemies of freedom.  To them, they will have an immunity to the threats which are intended for all.  

Only when confronted with their own demise, will they come to the realization that the emptiness within them only helped to strengthen the foes of freedom. It’s not a lesson that anyone should learn too late.