Today, we mark the 80th anniversary of the June 6, 1944, D-Day landings, when tens of thousands of soldiers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, in the first chapter of the liberation of Europe from Nazi Germany.
Along with other world leaders, President Joe Biden delivered remarks during a ceremony commemorating this hallowed day. Given our political climate and Biden’s incessant habit of taking advantage of every possible opportunity for political gain, it’s no surprise that his comments immediately sparked controversy.
However, the true danger at the heart of Biden’s words has nothing to do with his overall speech honoring those who made an unimaginable sacrifice in defense of the world we all take for granted today. It doesn’t even have anything to do with the inappropriate and not-so-subtle potshots taken at his political adversaries.
The true danger lies not in Biden’s words, but in his actions … or lack thereof.
Biden is the face of what liberal America has become: The weak and inept standing on the shoulders of the strong and courageous while trying to act like they belong.
“Isolationism was not the answer 80 years ago, and it is not the answer today,” Biden said. “To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable. Were we to do that, it means we would be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches. Make no mistake: We will not bow down. We will not forget.”
Of course, democracy and freedom are worth defending, and of course, we should honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in defense of such values during World War II. But an important line is crossed when the world of today is compared with the bloodiest period in human history, and the threats of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan are likened to that of modern-day dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We must remember that the fact that there were heroes here that day does not absolve us of what we have to do today,” Biden added. “Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it. That’s the test of the ages.”
But what does preserving, defending, and fighting for democracy mean for Biden?
For the greatest generation, those who defeated Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, it meant more than posting and writing checks.
Again, Biden compared the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the Nazi domination of Europe in World War II — an insane comparison for anyone with any sense of history, Russia’s military ineptitude, or the anti-democratic corruption in Ukraine itself. But if isolationism, by Biden’s definition, is part of the problem, why isn’t Biden doing what is necessary to defend so-called democracy?
Instead of writing endless checks without preconditions for peace, if Ukraine is like the Europe of the 1930s and 1940s, why aren’t American boots in Ukraine to liberate it from Nazi-like tyranny?
If Biden truly believes that the U.S. must continue to stand up to evil and tyranny, why did he abandon our allies (as well as American citizens) in Afghanistan, committing those who remained to lives of suffering and death?
Why are American citizens still being held hostage in Gaza by Islamic terrorists with no word of protest from Biden or his administration?
The answer is simple: Words are easy. Action is hard.
D-Day stands as a beacon of human sacrifice and bravery because it represents action in defense of our ideas and values. Those who fought and those who died on that day to defeat tyranny in World War II deserve our unending respect.
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People such as Biden, however, will happily stand on their shoulders and bask in their sacrifice while being utterly incapable of understanding the difference between words and action.
Had men such as Biden been in charge on June 6, 1944, the world would be an unrecognizable place, and his beloved democracy would be nowhere to be found.
Ian Haworth is a columnist, speaker, and podcast host. You can find him on Substack and follow him on X at @ighaworth.