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President Obama used his final appearance at the UN Security Council to give a speech lauding globalism, saying that Americans should give up some freedom and submit to international governance.
Obama, making his eighth appearance at the UN, openly stated that in order to be more secure Americans need to give up some of their liberties.
Obama outlined his belief that security for nations ultimately lies in global government institutions like the UN.
“We can only realize the promise of this institution’s founding to replace the ravages of war with cooperation if powerful nations like my own accept constraints,” Obama said.
The president added that “powerful nations” like the United States must be prepared to give up autonomy in order to continue to prosper and realise security.
“I’m convinced in the long run giving up some freedom of action, not giving up our ability to protect ourselves or pursue our core interests but binding ourselves to international rules, over the long-term, enhances our security.” Obama declared.
His words provide a stark contrast to those of US founding father Benjamin Franklin who famously warned that “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
Obama admitted that their is massive resistance in the US and beyond to such globalism, but insisted that his belief in such a world order is the correct one.
“Sometimes I’m criticized in my own country for professing a belief in international norms and multilateral institutions, but I’m convinced in the long run…” Obama said
“We have to put our money where our mouths are.” he exclaimed.
Elsewhere during the speech Obama took blatant shots at the GOP nominee Donald Trump, saying that Trump stands against everything he believes in.
Obama denounced “aggressive nationalism” and warned that “crude populism” should not be allowed to prosper.
He also stated that physical barriers do not offer real security, saying “A nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself.”
Obama couched his advocation of all out globalism in a Utopian ideal of ‘integration’, intimating that advocating any other form of governance is backwards looking.
“I believe that at this moment we all face a choice,” Obama said. “We can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration or we can retreat into a world sharply divided and ultimately in conflict along age-old lines of nation and tribe and race and religion. I want to suggest to you today that we must go forward and not back.”