"Time to Assert American Values" from The New York Times

Western countries value the individual above society; in Asia, he said, the good of society is deemed more important than individual liberties.

This comfortable bit of sophistry helps governments from China to Indonesia rationalize abuses and marginalize courageous people who campaign for causes like due process and freedom from torture.

Western nations, it is asserted, have no right to impose their values on countries that govern themselves successfully according to their own values.

So, the argument goes, when Americans express outrage over a punishment that causes permanent scarring--in this case, caning--they are committing an act of cultural arrogance, assuming that American values are intrinsically superior to those of another culture.

It assumes that dissidents, democrats and reformers in these countries are somehow less authentic representatives of their cultures than the members of the political elite who enforce oppressive punishments and suppress individual rights.

At times like this, Americans need to remember that this country was also founded by dissidents--by people who were misfits in their own society because they believed, among other things, that it was wrong to punish pilferage with hanging or crimes of any sort with torture.

Americans concerned with the propagation of traditional values at home should be equally energetic in asserting constitutional principles in the international contest of ideas.

There are millions of acts of brutality that cannot be exposed and combated.

While this country cannot dictate to the Government of Singapore, no one should fail to exhort it to behave mercifully.

Principled private citizens ought now to call for American companies doing business in Singapore to bring their influence to bear.