I’ve gotten back on the job of getting out a bilingual (English and Arabic) edition of the American Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and should have the material back from the typesetter, copyedited and proofed, by Monday. I’ll be able to take it to Iraq for discussions of constitutionalism. (I’ll probably produce photocopied editions on 8.5×11″ paper and then a professionally printed version very similar to Cato’s bilingual Engish and Spanish edition.)
The point is not to promote imitation of the U.S. Constitution, but to provide an example of a reasonably good model. I’m also going to be moderating a conference at the end of the month on constitutionalism, so the readings (a lot and very heavy material it is) will be good preparation for the lectures I’ll be giving and the sessions I’ll be facilitating in Iraq.
I would suggest you also distribute copies of Bastiat’s “The Law” and perhaps Hayek’s “Road to Serfdom,” both of which have the potential to completely upend the reader’s understanding of the world…to good effect. I wonder whether they are available in Arabic.
Let me speak on behalf of the Rothbardians, the anarchos and LRC crowd:
The Declaration is statist and fascist. Shame on you Neocon!
I may be a bit slow, but I’m one step ahead of where Mr. Steele feared I would be. I will have copies of the new Arabic translation of Bastiat’s “The Law” and the translation of the Reader’s Digest condensed version of “The Road to Serfdom” will be out soon. (“The Law” will also be a basic text for a program on which I’m working for Iraqi women who are involved in politics, including elected officials, party leaders, civic activists, etc., etc.)
I’m hoping to help to get out a lot more Arabic work over the next year. It’s important for all our sakes that Iraqis and other Arabic-speakers know more about the principles and the promise of classical liberalism.
I’m very excited about this and am surprised someone hasn’t done this already.
Tom says: “It’s important for all our sakes that Iraqis and other Arabic-speakers know more about the principles and the promise of classical liberalism.”
By “more…” I assume Tom means more than American politicians and the teams they send over…
Ross is setting the bar pretty low.
Tom: Just to make sure it’s clear, I’m not the nut who posted the second note calling the Declaration of Independence “fascist.” I’d just as soon inundate the world with copies of it, so best of luck with your efforts.
It’s good to know that someone will be telling the Iraqi’s that, while imperfect, the American system of government doesn’t possess such uniqueness that it couldn’t be a model of everyone else. The US Dept. of State has lost so much faith in American constitutionalism that its general model for nation building, as evidenced by Iraqi, is by default a parliamentary model.
When the US advisor to Kazakhstan was asked why he was proposing a parliamentary government instead of a more American one that had a clearer separation of powers, he laughed at the notion.
You’re right. Mr Levatter did set the bar pretty damn low.
“I may be a bit slow, but I’m one step ahead of where Mr. Steele feared I would be. I will have copies of the new Arabic translation of Bastiat’s “The Law” and the translation of the Reader’s Digest condensed version of “The Road to Serfdom” will be out soon.”
Good job, Tom!
I regret the way that I wrote the comment quoted above, as it could easily be read to imply that the work is somehow mine. In fact, the Bastiat and Hayek translations have been supervised by two young friends in Baghdad, Lazar Antonic and Slavisa Tasic, both dedicated friends of liberty with whom I will be spending time in Iraq. (And both are also former Cato Institute interns!) They are heroes of freedom, in my book.
Well, Mr. Palmer, I salute you and the others who are responsible for this sort of translation. I can only hope that these documents will be available in as many languages as possible. It would truly be tragic if their reception by the Arab populace were colored by the fact that they are produced under an American military occupation, but I’m optimistic that they might not be (might be helpful that Bastiat is translated from French rather than English).
I gave a copy of the Constitution/DOI to a Pakistani immigrant who worked for my father. He was really excited to get it. Completely useless bit of info for you.
I see I have been accused–more than once–of setting the bar pretty low when it comes to an acceptable level of knowledge of classical liberalism…and yet I’ve found, over the years, that no matter how low I set this bar, politicians, bureaucrats, and their ilk never fail to disappoint…
I didn’t mean that as an accusation, Ross. Just an observation. My experience (with a few exceptions) pretty much tracks yours. (And the exceptions are most often people in transitional post-dictatorial countries.)
Let’s get this news out across the blogosphere. In my small way, I have posted this to my blog.
I have encouraged instapundit to do the same.
The Road to Serfdom is essential reading for any would be economist, politician, or informed voter.
I think a translation of the U.S. Commercial Code would be useful. Although a LOT of work.
Please email me copies when available! They should be made available in all languages as models to overcome the ignorance, lies, and propaganda of the anti-US. It is no wonder America’s enemies (foreign and domestic) do NOT want them made available.
Where are copies of the U.S. Constitution in Arabic available? Please advise.
what about No. 51 translation