My Head is Spinning

"Much is required from those to whom much has been given"
(Luke 12:48)

In a domestic policy discussion with a liberal colleague, she quoted the Bible verse above to make her point. The point? That the wealthy and powerful have an obligation to help the poor and weak. Her opinion? We're a selfish nation, because people no longer care about helping out the people who need help.

Her fallacy? Ten minutes later, in a discussion about Iraq, she stated that Iraq is not OUR problem and that we should help our OWN people first. Let the Iraqis solve their own problems.

I have heard this same argument in different flavors over the last few years. So tell me again, what is required of those to whom much has been given? What is the role and responsibility for the U.S. in world affairs, given that we are the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the planet? Do we or do we not have an obligation to use our power, influence (and yes, sometimes, military force) to change behaviors and promote the cause of freedom?

The same people who deride us for not stepping in during the Rwandan genocide are the ones who think we should stay out of Iraq. The same people who think we should passed John Kerry's 'global test' before invading Iraq think we should meet alone and unilaterally with North Korea. (Does this mean that China and Japan have no 'say' in the North Korean situation?)

The United States has been blessed with vast resources, incredible wealth and the power to help those who need it. Should we sit on our hands, or act? What are our guiding principals? How do we fulfill this obligation? What happens when diplomacy fails?

President Bush has put actions behind the words, "Much is required from those to whom much has been given". His opponents just wait to see what he does and then take the opposite view.