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Question

Can someone please help interpret this quote made by an anonymous aide to Pres. Bush:

"Your judicious study of discernible reality...is not the way the world really works anymore. We're an empire now. And when we act, we create our own."

I have to do an assignment on it, but I just cannot get my mind fully around thw quote. I'm assuming the aide is talking about America as "we." Can someone explain it?

Thanks,
the Gibbler

Answer 1

From Wikipedia:
"The source of the term is a quotation in an October 17, 2004, New York Times Magazine article by writer Ron Suskind, quoting an unnamed aide to George W. Bush:

The aide said that guys like me were "in what we call the reality-based community," which he defined as people who "believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality." ... "That's not the way the world really works anymore," he continued. "We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."
Bloggers who use this term generally oppose President Bush's policies and by using this term imply that Bush's policies are out of touch with reality. Others use the term to draw a contrast with the perceived arrogance of the Bush Administration's unilateral policies, in accordance with the aide's quote."

I agree with the latter. The aide demonstrated a true arrogance that the Bush Administration has the answers and that the Press just picks up the crumbs. This is dangerous since the Press acts as a watchdog on our government. We rely on the Press to be an objective spectator and to make analytical judgment. Just as we elect our government officials to make decisions for us, we rely on the Press to give us another perspective of what is going on in Government without the Adminstration's "spin". We choose to support our Press by buying their publications and/or the products of their sponsors.

Bush would like to marginalize the Press, or control the press. Just look at Bush's lobby efforts today and how he spent more time with the Press talking about what he talked about than actually talking about it with our Legislature.

Answer 2

"Your judicious study of discernible reality...is not the way the world really works anymore. We're (the gov't of the U.S.) an empire now. And when we act, we create our own (reality)."

FYI - The world "works" the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow... They are saying that since they are the ones with power and that they call the shots now - they can, thereby, create their own reality...
This view, of course, is diametrically opposed to our being a democracy - by the people, for the people, blah, blah, blah...

Answer 3

The aide is suggesting that perception is more important than reality and suggesting that rather than wasting effort searching for the elusive facts that it is better to act and create the "facts" . This is a cynical enjoinder to use whatever power is at hand to shape the situation to his own liking (and presumably) the country's benefit. You could shorten this to "Might makes right". Arbitrary use of power is a quick path to ruin. The CIA, in 1953, took this view, toppled the elected leader of Iran, installed the Shah and now we have a deeply hostile government there.

Answer 4

What that quote means is that since America has all the power and money now, America creates its own reality and forces the world to go along with it.

Answer 5

It's about the American people as an empire.

Answer 6

When in doubt, check WIKIPEDIA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_based_community