National Security: A Doctrine for All
If every man, woman and child goes to bed at night without feeling hungry, we are secure.
If every family has a roof over their heads, then all of us are secure.
If every child goes to school and the sick and infirm are tended to, then we are secure.
If the energies of the youth are put to productive use, we are secure.
If men and women, high and low, rich and poor are treated with equal dignity, then we are secure.
If our air is clean, our waters pure, our forests plentiful and our snows eternal, then we are secure.
If scholarship and art and freedom of the mind flourish, then of course we are secure.
If we can remain at the forefront of the ever-expanding horizons of human knowledge and wisely harness these trends for advancing our progress, we shall doubtless be secure.
If our frontiers cannot be breached and we can go about our affairs free of pressures or blackmail of any kind from those who wish us ill, then we are secure.
If our own security does not make others feel less secure, then we are doubly secure.
But above all, if brothers and sisters do not set upon one another, then and only then are we truly secure!
The author served in the national security establishment.
This article went live on June fifth, two thousand twenty four, at forty-five minutes past twelve at noon.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
