Tales from a happy warrior

When I became an Indiana Daily Student columnist, a friend suggested "Fighting Words" as my nom de plume. And although I didn't take her advice, experience has proven my friend's judgment right. The ideas I've promoted most assiduously since joining the IDS -- manly self-confidence, a muscular and idealistic foreign policy, the march of globalization and moral absolutism -- have not exactly won me broad support on what is often a soft and relativist campus.\nIt didn't take long for my unfashionable world view to raise eyebrows. Hoisting the banner of "national greatness" and "real Americanism" drew a lot of fire from critics whom I usually found distinctly debatable. The sharp exchanges with readers are part of the job and the joy, of course. A tiny few justly accused me of subscribing to an "ideology of dominance." I was even labeled, again not without justification, "the apostle of security." But I should thank more reasonable detractors for eschewing the accusations -- "rank imperialist," "simple-minded patriot" or "honest danger to society" -- which, true as some of them might well be of me, have scant bearing on the debate. \nThe readers who expressed their disagreement in barnyard terms never seem to learn, but then, they likely never intended to. (Residing in Bloomington acquaints one intimately with this level of discourse.) For my many past and present uncouth references to them, I made -- and make -- no apology at all. To the contrary, the opposition to my editorial activity by corrupt pacifists, rank isolationists, base feminists and other unprincipled maniacs is the best endorsement that defenders of this column, of whom I pride myself one, could ask for.\nTo reinvigorate the spirit of "the patriots of '76" (as Lincoln called them) in such a hostile environment was, so to speak, the bread-and-butter of my offerings. I make no apology for that, either. As one who refused to take part in this argument on someone else's terms, I can testify that there is stiff resistance to the idea that the principles of America's Declaration of Independence are not the choice of a culture but are rather universal facts -- "certain old truths which will be true as long as this world endures," as Theodore Roosevelt once wrote. \nIt has always seemed to me to be of the very first importance to recognize that America's global role is not a burden to be grimly borne. It is a high undertaking worthy of citizens of a great nation. The passion stirred by this column reminds me that the creed of national greatness still has a lot of life left in it. Alas, it is the sleeping giant of American politics. But the moment is ripe for it to wake up.\nToward that end, this column has been a grand adventure. In the cause of that adventure, I have earned more than my fair share of critics, believe you me. Some of them might content themselves with the knowledge that there will be future opportunities aplenty to keep up the heat on Brian Stewart. I promise to return the favor -- and rest assured, dear reader, never without a wink and a grin.