Basic HTML Version
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JULY 6, 1984
PAGE 9
transition between coming into power militarily and moving toward
full-scale democracy" was a "slow process."
Even if you assume, as Jackson does, that independence was
achieved, not just declared, in 1776 (what does he think happened
at Yorktown in 1781?), it is peculiar to think, as he does, that
there was a military dictatorship until 1789.
Actually, the
Constitutional Convention of 1787 was called because there was
too little central authority over the 13 robust constitutional
democracies that were loosely linked under the Articles of
Confederation.
What is interesting about Jackson's argument is not that it is
stupid but that it is willfully, almost painstakingly, so.
Obviously he and his deepest thinkers sat down and asked: How can
we concoct an apology for Sandinista tyranny? So the problem is
not that Jackson is as inane as anyone whose supply of
convictions is disproportionate to his supply of information.
The problem is that he seems to relish the challenge of defending
the indefensible for the benefit of leftist dictators.
Jackson was asked if he told Castro that a quarter-century of
dictatorship should suffice and that it is time for an election.
His answer--no--came swaddled in philosophic babble: "I had to
respect the sovereignty of his nation, its territorial integrity
and the right of their government to operate as they see fit."
When you hear from Jackson such unwonted deference toward
authority, you can be sure that he is enjoying the hospitality of
a communist or Arab tyrant.
I'm sure Jackson will not be so verbally obliging to the South African
government, if he gets there. More details about Jackson's trip to Panama,
El Salvador, Cuba and Nicaragua were given in the July 9 issue of TIME
magazine. Even TIME took a decidedly negative stance on Jackson's "moral
offensive." Here are some key excerpts:
Once again the unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Party's
presidential nomination had turned a tour abroad into an ego trip
and a personal publicity bonanza, while displaying little regard
for the unfortunate consequences of attacking his� government
rn-unfriendly countries. Barging off into four foreign capitals,
the black minister assailed the U.S. role in the region [Central
America and the Caribbean].
He negotiated for the release of
prisoners. He even invited a head of state, Fidel Castro, to
visit the U.S•••• Critics accused Jackson of violating the Logan
Act of 1799, which makes it a crime for any private citizen to try
to influence a foreign government on issues involving a
controversy with the U.S.•..
There seemed to be no comparable case of a political figure's
embarking on foreign relations during a campaign. As New York
TIMES Columnist James Reston noted, "The Communists would do
almost anything to cooperate with Mr. Jackson in order to