Douglas Murray is the author
of The Strange Death of Europe and The Madness of Crowds, which
focus on immigration, race, gender, and identity issues. He is a Brit with an
Oxford degree and is an articulate conversationalist who has been interviewed
numerous times on American television. I have listened to many of these interviews
and have also read one of his books. Murray has superb insights which also make
him very controversial in some circles and are worth noting here.
Murray believes that Western
Civilization offers the best opportunities for self-enhancement and advancement.
He also believes that the West is incredibly lucky in this regard and often
asks the question, “What will we do with this luck?” He recounts in a recent
interview that while in Norway he was approached by a prominent politician in
that country who stated that he had it wrong. She told Murray that luck had
nothing to do with the success of the West, rather it was the good decisions
made in the West. She went on to compare Norway and Venezuela, two countries
that possess about the same amount of oil reserves but are totally different because
of the good decisions made in Norway and the bad decisions made in Venezuela.
Murray felt that he had been
rightly corrected by this politician and now states that the West has benefited
from luck and good decisions. He further believes that individuals, not groups,
are responsible for these good decisions. Of course, Murray believes that the
West has problems, but these can be self-corrected. He has no use for the
radical critics of the West who proclaim that the West is the worst in ________________
(you choose the problem). In response, Murray will ask, “As compared with what?”
(So, if you were given the opportunity to move to Norway or Venezuela, which
one would you choose?)
Murray’s comments led me to
the Four Freedoms as articulated by President Franklin Roosevelt on the eve of
our entry into World War II. Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from
want, and freedom from a fear are some bedrock Western values, great answers if
approached by a fellow guest at party or by a reporter on the street. One could
also share the Declaration values of equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness, or rule of law, private property, due process, and reasonable
search and seizure. There are undoubtedly others that come to mind. My point is
that the great values of the West are the foundation on which our great
decisions can be made.
Murray’s insights also led me
to reflect upon the differences between opportunities and outcomes. I will use
a baseball analogy here. Most of us are at or around second base, some at or
around first base, and still others at or around third base. Our common goal is
move closer to home plate. The government can and should make a good faith
effort to create opportunities for us to do so by keeping “a level playing
field.” But the government cannot guarantee that all, or even most of us, will ever
reach home plate. And a massive effort to attempt to do so will leave a great
majority of us somewhere around first base with a very tiny minority of us
headed for home plate. Personal effort and discipline to make good decisions along
with opportunity assistance from the government will propel ourselves and our
future generations toward success.
Murray had two additional
jewels of wisdom- transcendence and participation. He believes that each of us has
a divinely crafted void that needs to be filled in order for us to see beyond
ourselves. While he feels one can live a life without filling this void, Murray
does believe that life will be rough for not doing so. Murray fills his void with
music while acknowledging others will use other “fillers” for this void.
To defend Western values is
not enough; one must also participate in Western culture to help make it better
or at least, not make it any worst. Murray’s participation is through writing
and social commentary. Likewise, he challenges everyone in the West to use
their gifts and talents for the betterment of others.
So, let’s celebrate our luck
in the West by continually making good decisions
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