The story of a generation

World events can define the story of a generation. My grand parents generation had their own story, and it was predominantly one of conflict. The Second World War and the recovery from it is the theme behind many of their memories.

The story of my generation is not so clear cut but if I had to take the plunge and I would say that the story was one of foreboding. Living through the cold war and under the shadow of the mushroom cloud.

There were other undercurrents like Irish terrorism and the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, in the same way that there were others in my grandparents generation, but I don’t think they were as defining as the cold war and that ever constant threat of total annihilation.

The story for this and a new generation may be the story of the Middle East and the president of the United States seems to think that it will be a story of freedom.

Many Middle Eastern governments now understand that military dictatorship and theocratic rule are a straight, smooth highway to nowhere.

Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe -- because in the long run, stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty. As long as the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation, resentment, and violence ready for export.

We believe that human fulfilment and excellence come in the responsible exercise of liberty. And we believe that freedom -- the freedom we prize -- is not for us alone, it is the right and the capacity of all mankind.

That middle paragraph is the money quote. Freedom in the middle east or the constant threat and realisation of exported violence.