In a speech from Warsaw on Thursday, President Trump spoke not only on NATO and Russia, but also delivered a forceful exaltation of Western civilization that bridged the histories of Europe and America to unite that “community of nations” against external threats.
“The West became great not because of paperwork and regulations but because people were allowed to chase their dreams and pursue their destinies,” Trump contended. “Americans, Poles, and the nations of Europe value individual freedom and sovereignty.
We must work together to confront forces, whether they come from inside or out, from the South or the East, that threaten over time to undermine these values and to erase the bonds of culture, faith, and tradition that make us who we are.”
“If left unchecked,” Trump warned, “these forces will undermine our courage, sap our spirit, and weaken our will to defend ourselves and our societies.”
In the West, the president claimed, “it is the people, not the powerful, who have always formed the foundation of freedom and the cornerstone of our defense.”
But Trump, who’s been at odds with European leaders over issues such as climate change, refugees, and trade, was ultimately optimistic, arguing those same values that elevated it will protect the West from those who wish to destroy it too. “Our adversaries, however, are doomed because we will never forget who we are,” he said. “And if we don’t forget who are, we just can’t be beaten.”
“There is nothing like our community of nations,” Trump declared. “The world has never known anything like our community of nations.”
The president said the alliance between Europe and America was “strong,” and their power “unmatched.”
Perhaps the key portion of Trump’s remarks on Western society came as he sought to outline the characteristics that define it:
We write symphonies. We pursue innovation. We celebrate our ancient heroes, embrace our timeless traditions and customs, and always seek to explore and discover brand-new frontiers. We reward brilliance. We strive for excellence, and cherish inspiring works of art that honor God. We treasure the rule of law and protect the right to free speech and free expression. We empower women as pillars of our society and of our success. We put faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, at the center of our lives. And we debate everything. We challenge everything. We seek to know everything so that we can better know ourselves.
“And above all,” Trump said, “we value the dignity of every human life, protect the rights of every person, and share the hope of every soul to live in freedom.”
“That is who we are. Those are the priceless ties that bind us together as nations, as allies, and as a civilization,” the president asserted.
The stakes of ensuring the preservation of this community of nations, Trump emphasized, are high. “What we’ve inherited from our ancestors has never existed to this extent before. And if we fail to preserve it, it will never, ever exist again. So we cannot fail,” he pronounced.
Emily Jashinsky is a commentary writer for the Washington Examiner.
