American Identity

The US is wholly unique culture that has grown out of an enlightened liberal tradition.

Question: What do we stand for?
Tommy Thompson: I see the fact that 9/11 changed all of our way of thinking. It made us realize that we are no longer an island in the world. It made us realize that we are part of this whole universe, much more so than ever before; that people can harm us; that some people don't like us. Some people out there really despise America -- our way of life, our value systems. And what we have to do is we have to show the rest of the world that our value systems and our beliefs are good; and that people may not want to adopt them, but they should look at them and try and emulate some of the greatness of America. And I believe, you know, the way forward is to do what I'm talking about. Medical diplomacy, winning the peace in Iraq. And you know, you're never gonna solve this problem without really winning the peace in Iraq.
Recorded on: 7/6/07

Question: What do we stand for?
Tommy Thompson: I see the fact that 9/11 changed all of our way of thinking. It made us realize that we are no longer an island in the world. It made us realize that we are part of this whole universe, much more so than ever before; that people can harm us; that some people don't like us. Some people out there really despise America -- our way of life, our value systems. And what we have to do is we have to show the rest of the world that our value systems and our beliefs are good; and that people may not want to adopt them, but they should look at them and try and emulate some of the greatness of America. And I believe, you know, the way forward is to do what I'm talking about. Medical diplomacy, winning the peace in Iraq. And you know, you're never gonna solve this problem without really winning the peace in Iraq.
Recorded on: 7/6/07