[ Homer ] Hey, Emma. Here's our company.!
Well! Hello. How are you?
Welcome to Chang 'Dong. Thanks very much.
Hello, Oscar, Punjit. Fine, fine.
I was just bedding the kids down for a nap.
This is Ti-Ti. Oh, come now! None of that shy stuff.
Say hello, Ti-Ti. Hello, Ti-Ti.
Sawad-di.
That's all right. Sawad-di, Ti-Ti. Oh, isn't she heaven!
Why don't you girls go ahead and talk girl talk.
Mr. Ambassador, I'd like you to meet the village head man.
All right. Good idea. We'll see you later.
Certainly. Bye, Ti-Ti.
I'd just love to look around before they go to sleep. Go ahead.
You get accustomed to sights like that after a while.
What's wrong with him? Starvation.
They have a lot of it here.
Gee, I... really admire you.
What brought you way out here?
Oh, something Homer calls ''unfinished world business.''
I guess I feel that way too.
Once you've been a nurse, you can't keep your nose out.
You hear things, you see things.
One day, I was having a shampoo down by the river.
There was this woman watching me.
They bathe here all the time, but they can't afford soap.
Anyway, I knew she wanted to try.
I gave her the shampoo, and one thing led to another.
Midwives started coming around asking me how to bathe the new babies...
and how to cut the umbilicus with a decent knife instead of bamboo.
The tetanus here is simply terrible.
And, well, I don't know.
Looked around, and here it was,
and here I am.
Emma.
[ Head Man Speaking In Native Dialect ]
[ Punjit ] The head man is convinced of the fact...
and he says the people of Chang 'Dong feel that way.
Tell him we think that the accident that killed Johnny Sumpat...
was caused by people who do not want Freedom Road.
[ Native Dialect ]
He says they are afraid. People have come in the night to threaten them.
What people? [ Native Dialect ]
Tell him it would be very helpful if he could tell us who they are.
[ Native Dialect ]
All right. I want to see everything now.
We get on some elephants, go see some jungle felling. All right. Let's go.
When they bed down the equipment every evening,
they go right to work on the hospital.
They want a concrete ward. Punjit's figured a way to get electricity in there.
What is it, Poona? You show us where to build now?
Be right with you. [ Emma ] Don't be strangers now.
If you can't come, send your wife. She has a talent with children.
The kids can say my name already. Thanks so much, Emma.
Bye-bye, dear.
Emma, pleasure to meet you. Bye-bye.
See you soon. Punjit, nice to see you.
Sawad-di. Sawad-di.
It's been a very instructive day.
Thank you for being interested enough to come down to see us.
Oh, we're interested, Homer.
There was one more thing.
How far can you pave in a day?
We can pave a quarter of a mile a day.
But I'm afraid we're gonna get slowed down now with this Johnny Sumpat trouble.
We're not gonna get slowed down, Homer, byJohnny Sumpat...
or anybody else.
Yes, sir.
Be hearing from me. Thank you, sir.
[ Engine Starts ] So long, Oscar.
[ Oscar ] Bye, Homer. [ Marion ] Bye.
What's this all about?
Deong began a fast this morning.
He has sworn not to eat until Freedom Road is stopped.
I guess he knew you'd be here, Mr. Ambassador.
The palace announced you'd be coming to present credentials.
Your Majesty, I have been charged to convey to you...
the very best wishes of my president and my government.
It is their earnest hope that the friendship between our two countries...
shall continue in peace and security.
May God have Your Majesty in His wise keeping.
We have the pleasure to receive you as ambassador to our government,
and we welcome the harmonious relations...
we enjoy with the United States of America.
You're a young man to be an ambassador.
Perhaps, but then the United States is still a young country.
Sarkhan is an old country with a young government.
May I present our prime minister, His Excellency Kwen Sai.
Mr. Ambassador,
I am happy you could accept my invitation for lunch.
I look forward to a frank exchange of views.
So do I, Your Excellency, and I appreciate your seeing me so soon.
Your Majesty, may I present my staff.
My deputy Mr. Grainger.
I don't flatter myself...
that I'm an expert in human behavior, Mr. Ambassador.
But I must say...
that your appraisal of Deong doesn't seem to coincide with mine at all.
[ MacWhite ] I'm not frightened of Deong, Mr. Prime Minister.
As to his power, that's a fact. That's an odious fact.
I don't think it takes an expert on anything to realize...
that Deong won't stop at a riot, a hunger strike or anything else.
I think we must let the facts dictate future decisions.
Don't you agree? Patience and moderation, Mr. Ambassador.
To overreact is often less effective than not to react at all.
Have another brandy? No, thank you.
I don't mean to throw cold water on your fervor.
I'm quite sure you came here with some kind of a countermeasure,
and I'd be interested to hear you out.
I recommend this:
Face Deong down while you still have time.
Do everything possible to split his following...
and move the majority to support your government.
How?
By proving to the Sarkhanese people...
that Freedom Road is something for their benefit,
and by making it clear to the Communists...
that you are going to put the pressure on and you're going to keep it on.
I think that this can be accomplished very simply.
Instead of the road moving east here to Ping Mei,
it should strike straight north...
all the way to the Sarkhanese border.
That would produce two dynamic effects.
One: It would open up this timber area for development, which would benefit the economy;
and it would drive a harpoon right into the heart of the Communist concentration.
And point number three:
Provoke my enemies.
I'm afraid it would be too explosive.
My government feels that this is an extremely worthwhile plan.
Will your government stand by...
its military commitments to Sarkhan in the event of trouble?
The United States stands by its military commitments everywhere in the world.
There's no reason to regard this as a military situation. It's a political maneuver.
That's your opinion.
I must know if your commitments would apply.
Well, these commitments, Mr. Prime Minister, work two ways.
Quite frankly, my government is still waiting to see...
some evidence of democratic reforms in Sarkhan.
Mr. Ambassador, the ideal of democracy...
has been the fountain of my life.
But I've told your government time and again,
to give freedom to a politically immature people...
is to put a dagger in the hand of a lawless child.
The lack of democracy is often a sharper dagger, Mr. Prime Minister.
And, as it stands now, your brother is, uh,
commander in chief of the armed forces, your cousin is director of public works--
And I would make my mother-in-law chief of police if she were qualified,
and sometimes I think she is.
You see, Mr. Ambassador,
we're starved for people with administrative training here,
and I haven't the luxury to pick and choose as your president has.
I grant you that.
But you must make a start somewhere, and I'm convinced...
that dramatizing the road could be the beginning...
of democratic reforms in Sarkhan.
I'm convinced that you're convinced of everything you say.
But before you go on,
have I America's absolute commitment...
to stand behind us in the event of trouble?
You have. Under the SEATO Treaty.
The moment that foreign troops with a hostile intent cross your borders,
you will have the full support of American military power.
All right. We are agreed.
Now, how do you propose we dramatize the road?
Next week is the anniversary of Sarkhanese independence, is it not?
Wednesday, yes. I propose that the king cut the ribbon--
Sawad-di.
Thank you. Now, would you mind getting your rhinoceros nose...
out of my drink and stop the snorkeling, if you don't mind?
Want a sip? Mm-hmm.
No, no. Oh, you meanie.
Hmm?
Man, that's coffee. [ Laughs ]
Hey.! Who's that guy there in the monkey suit?
[ Chuckles ]
Hello. How are you, Homer? Fine, Mr. Ambassador.
Good to see you. Thank you.
Sit down.
Uh, where's, uh, Emma? Did you bring her down?
You can't get her away from that hospital.
She's got those kids, peerin' down their throats, makin' 'em all say ''ahh.''
Otra vez. How about another beer, Homer?
I'll skip this round. Thank you.
[ Coughs ] Wait a minute, Homer. I rode your elephant.
You're going to drink my beer. That's right, Homer.
Fair is fair.
Mr. Ambassador,
my assistant Punjit--
that young man I introduced you to yesterday--
Yeah? He was murdered last night.
That young man?
Yes, ma'am.
How did it happen, Homer?
Oh, I brought you some pictures, sir.
They must've got him out in the jungle.
Good Lord. That's awful.
I'll take you up on that beer now, Mrs. MacWhite.
Yeah.
That boy and I have been together for two years.
Forgive me if I don't know what to say.
It's all right, sir.
The reason I came here to see you today--
You remember the head man telling us about those warnings?
Yeah. This murder has topped the whole thing right off.
I ordered that security you requested, and I think that's going to help a lot.
No, it's not. Excuse me. It's not.
The people up there don't even trust their own neighbor anymore.
This road means a lot to me, and I know what it means to you,
but I think the thing for us to do is to stop work on this road.
Just ease off.Let everything settle down a little bit.
I don't think we can quit just because we have a couple of casualties.
We're not at war, sir.
We are at war, Homer.
And the more we back down, the more they'll attack.
Today I spoke with the prime minister, and we agreed that...
the best way to handle this is to drive Freedom Road straight up to the border.
- The border? - Mm-hmm.
Next Wednesday, the king is coming to Chang 'Dong to dedicate the road.
[ Sighs ] Mr. Ambassador,
with all due respect, sir,
that is the worst idea I ever heard.
I know these people.
They're not willing to die for Freedom Road. I'll be honest with you.
I don't know what's gonna happen when we pull a stunt like this, but it's gonna be bad.
Don't take my word for it.
Don't take Kwen Sai's either. Ask Deong.
He's neutral. He's honest.
If anyone can tell you what the people are thinking, he can.
[ Clears Throat ] Homer,
whether or not I talk with Deong, I think, is irrelevant at this point,
but I think it's a good idea, and maybe my bones have more information than yours.
Please, Mr. Ambassador. Please call this party off, sir.
Give me $50,000, a little chicken wire.
Let me build a decent hospital for these people somewhere down the road.
You saw for yourself how much they love what Emma's doing.
They'll build that road themselves, if it'll take them to their hospital.
It'll give things time to quiet down a little.
That's the whole point, Homer.
There isn't any time, none.
There's only one way to go, and that's the way we're going.
Okay, sir.
Good evening, ma'am. Bye, Homer.
We'll need a pavilion to keep the sun off the king...
and some exhibition stalls.
We'll send you the plans tomorrow.
All right, sir. It'll be done. Good night, sir.
Best to Emma.
[ Car Engine Starts ]
What's the matter, MacWhite?
It's all upside-down, isn't it?
It's not upside-down. It's just tedious.
But it is upside-down.
You say Deong's a Communist.
Homer, he seems to think he's something else.
Homer says to build a hospital.
You say-- [ Sighs ] I don't know.
I have the most awful feeling that nobody really knows...
what is going on or what we're up to--
Ever since I got here I've been receiving a lot of misinformation...
about the politics of this country from people who are not qualified to talk about it.
Now, if you don't mind, I would just as soon...
not have to face that when I come home.
And if it's not a great sacrifice, I would like to have a martini and dinner--
And we will call it a day. And, uh, call it a day.
Ah, Deong.
Welcome to our little summit conference.
Are you surprised?
Oh.
I admit curiosity, Ambassador Krupitzyn.
Why did you ask me to come here? Munsang did the inviting.
I'm only here to give moral support.
Gentlemen, this is Deong,
the great revolutionary hero.
And may I present Ambassador Wong of the People's Republic of China.
Comrade Reznikoff you know. [ Speaking Russian ]
Colonel Chee of the People's Republic of North Sarkhan. Colonel Chee and I have met.
Yes, at Bandung, 1 95 5.
My associates, Paklit, Sawad.
Some water, gentlemen?
I don't know how you can drink that water. I have to carry my own tea.
[ Chuckles ] The perfect Soviet diplomat, huh?
[ Both Chuckle ]
Colonel Chee. Nice to meet you again.
Well, Deong, it seems your friend Mr. MacWhite...
has decided to become... a man of destiny. Yes?
He and Kwen Sai have changed the course of Freedom Road.
They are going to build it right to my border.
I've heard nothing about such plans.
It will be announced tomorrow in the newspapers.
They begin construction next week, two miles above Chang 'Dong.
Why do you all come to tell me this, if I can read it in the newspapers?
Because, Deong,
we think we can help you.
Help me or... use me?
[ Reznikoff] What?
China, North Sarkhan, Russia, even Munsang.
Why?
Why do you all want to help me?
My friend, forget your cynicism for five minutes.
The local bickering of Sarkhanese politicians and American ambassadors...
is not important to us.
What is important, to us and to you, is peace.
To get rid of tension on the border, to get rid of reactionary governments.
To remove Western interference from Southeast Asia.
That's important.
That's important, yes.
What else?
Kwen Sai and MacWhite...
have given you the signal to lead your people...
in a crusade to real independence.
The country will never be more united against them than tomorrow...
when the news will become public.
Break your fast.
If you want help, we will help you.
If not, all right.
We'll drink some tea and...
forget it.
What kind of help are you offering? Colonel Chee.
Guns, food, medical supplies.
And no soldiers from North Sarkhan would cross our border.
No volunteers? None.
If there is a revolution,
only Sarkhanese should do it...
and with as little bloodshed as possible.
Munsang, would you put your cadres under my command?
I would.
There are many things to consider.
I will study the newspapers tomorrow.
Then I will decide.
[ Crowd Shouting, Cheering ]
[ Shouting, Cheering Continue ]
[ Sirens Wailing ]
Hey! Hey, you guys!
You better have plenty of film in that camera.
That's a real king we got comin' there.
??[ Band:Fanfare ]
Come on! Come on! Get the king shakin' hands.
Attaboy, Your Majesty. That was a nice smile.
[ Native Dialect ]
Hey! Get the king with the priests!
[ Cameras Clicking ]
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Priests Chanting ]
[ Chanting Continues ]
Bing. Sir.
Report to me as soon as you get back. You're all through.
[ Shouting, Cheering ] ??[ Band:Fanfare ]
In the name of our subjects, I dedicate this good work...
to the people of our land.
May they and their children prosper and find relief...
from life's suffering in this great highway, Freedom Road.
[ Cheering ] [ Explosion ]
[ Crowd Shouting, Screaming ] What happened?
[ Gunshots ]
[ Gunshots Continue ]
[ Sirens Wailing ]
[ Machine Gun Firing ]
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[ Shouting, Screaming Continue ]
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[ Explosion ]
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Explosion ]
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[ Gunshots ]
[ Gunfire, Explosions Stop ]
[ Dog Barks ]
[ Baby Crying ]
[ Emma Shouts ]
[ Shouting ]
Never mind her. She's dead!
[ Native Dialect ]
Mr. Ambassador, the prime minister is anxious to see you.
There you are, Ambassador.
I have very grave news.
My radio reports a major coordinated attack.
Villages are being looted, guerrilla units are operating near the capital--
Is there any evidence of foreign troops fighting with Deong's forces?
I have reports of that,
and if those reports are confirmed, I'll have to invoke our treaty.
All right. I'll be in touch with the Seventh Fleet and the State Department.
- Please let me know if it's confirmed. - [ Native Dialect ]
[ Truck Engine Starting ]
Homer. Marion.
We have to evacuate all American personnel.
As soon as the ambulances get here, I want you and Emma to come along.
This is war. It's all over the country. I'll get everybody out.
But for Emma it's not going to be that fast, with all there is to do here.
Well, all right. Take care.
We don't have any security on the way back. We don't have any choice.
[ Plane Flying Overhead ]
[ Tires Screeching ]
How long before we get to Haido?
Another hour maybe.
[ Baby Crying ]
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Gunshots ]
[ All Cheering, Shouting ]
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Shouts In Native Dialect ]
[ Shouting, Cheering ]
[ Tires Screech ]
[ Shouting ]
[ People Shouting, Chattering ]
Don't tell me it's impossible.
If we're not on the first plane outta here, there's gonna be hell to pay.
Mr. Ambassador. We didn't think you'd make it.
The road's been cut. Give me two minutes.
What's happened here? It looks like a plastic bomb.
[ Man ] I got a factory up north.
Was there anyone killed? Gunderson, sir, and there's a woman in the hospital.
[ Crowd Chattering ] Not now. Grainger.
I want to talk to Washington right away.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, one moment, please.
In a few minutes, one of my staff will listen to your problems and requests.
Each of you will receive individual attention and care.
Meantime, we would appreciate so much your being able to remain calm throughout this.
It would be a big help. Thank you very much.
[ Crowd Murmuring ]
[ Vehicle Approaching ]
[ Shouts In Native Dialect ]
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Indistinct Chatter] Tell him to wait five minutes.
What's the most recent report on Deong's position?
He was headed toward Government House under a white flag.
That's the last we've heard. We seem to have two separate wars going on.
This mob, destroying everything in its path,
and Deong's boys being welcomed with flowers.
The main stronghold in Haido is right here.
It's a radius of seven blocks around Deong's headquarters. Mr. Ambassador.
Call Kwen Sai, please. Tell him we're on our way.
Grainger.
[ Crowd Shouting ]
[ All Shouting ]
Deong will speak. Now let Deong speak.
[ Crowd Quiets ]
My friends,
this is a moment ofjoy.
But more than joy,
this is a most crucial moment...
in the history of our country.
I ask you...
to keep this in mind...
as we prepare for the future.
Kwen Sai, I'm addressing you.
In the name of the Sarkhanese people,
I call upon you...
to transfer the government to me by midnight,
or we will take it by force.
[ All Shouting ]
[ Shouting Continues ]
[ Native Dialect ]
Ah, MacWhite. Mr. Prime Minister.
Did you have trouble getting through? Uh, no. We, uh--
Good. Excuse me a moment.
[ Native Dialect ]
You know, in the last revolution, I was in that crowd,
shrieking the same demands.
It's rather like an overproduced version of Julius Caesar, isn't it?
I'm happy to see you're not intimidated by this little gathering.
Oh, I'm quite relaxed, actually.
When the worst part of a nightmare has been realized,
there's nothing very much to be afraid of, is there?
Besides, if my head ends up on a pike in the market square,
I want to be certain it's smiling.
Well, I admire your composure.
Now, I'll outline the situation for you.
Deong has given me until midnight...
to transfer my government to him, or he'll take it by force.
My troops refuse to fight against his people.
So it's a fait accompli...
unless your Seventh Fleet put men ashore in time.
We have here proof...
that hostile elements of a foreign power...
have invaded this country.
Now, take a look.
Pictures of paratroops landing. Grainger.
Communist weapons. They're all there.
You know, the whole situation's...
quite fantastic, really.
It's clear now Deong was never a Communist.
The poor, ignorant fellow was duped into leading this revolution.
- Duped? - Yes, duped.
He wasn't duped, Your Excellency. Oh,yes, he was.
If you remember, Mr. Ambassador,
I had reservations about your opinion of Deong's--
I am thoroughly aware of your reservations, Mr. Prime Minister,
and everyone else's reservations about this matter,
but I cannot in good conscience accept them as valid.
Deong has created this situation.
It is a clear-cut situation, and it must be dealt with in a clear-cut fashion.
Not that it's relevant, sir,
but you astound me, Mr. Ambassador.
I resisted you about Deong, but you were right.
I resisted changing the course of the road, but you were right.
And now my country explodes, and you still cling to your rightness.
It might upset you vaguely, sir, if I tell you that you are wrong!
Deong is not a Communist.
He has never been a Communist. And as Caesar was betrayed, so was he!
He knows nothing about his own situation,
nothing about the paratroops,
nothing about invasion.
And as soon as my government falls to him,
he is going to be assassinated!
And, Mr. Ambassador,
if you want a signed confession to that effect,
that gentleman with the lumps on his head will provide it.
Here is Colonel Chee of the North Sarkhanese invasion force.
If you want to prove to him how right you are, you're welcome to try.
[ Native Dialect ]
I now make the formal request...
that the Seventh Fleet land troops here immediately...
to guarantee the integrity of this government.
In order for the Seventh Fleet to land troops here by midnight,
I'll have to notify them within two hours.
I'll take those two hours to try to find Deong.
Grainger'll stand by here.
He'll be in constant touch with Washington.
If you haven't heard from me by then,
well, he has the authority to begin landing operations.
I'd like to know the name of Deong's assassin.
I can't tell you that. Nobody knows.
And while we're in the field of errors, I better correct one of mine.
Democratic reforms are essential now, I agree.
And if you can find Deong, please tell him that.
Perhaps a coalition between us...
can solve this situation without further bloodshed.
Thank you.
Ah, Grainger, would you--
would you inform Mrs. MacWhite?
I'll do that, Mr. Ambassador. Thank you.
[ Sirens Wailing ]
[ Sirens Continue ]
I must talk with Deong. It's very important.
Take the driver's keys.
You are the American ambassador? I am.
Come.
Deong, MacWhite is here to see you.
Please say why you have come. I haven't much time.
I'd like to speak with you alone, if I could.
Paklit will stay.
All right.
You've been betrayed. You're going to be killed.
That's interesting.
North Sarkhanese paratroopers have landed here.
Your revolution is now in Communist hands.
I see.
What else? Or have you finished?
No.
I could recite the, uh... catalog of mistakes that I've made,
things that I have done to you, myself.
But there just aren't enough years left in my life...
to tell you what I feel...
or how to make it up to you.
You tell Kwen Sai I don't believe these lies,
and I'm not going to make my people put down their arms.
I'm not tricked so easily.
Kwen Sai wants to talk to you about a coalition, Deong.
He's willing to make reforms.
Kwen Sai has nothing to say to me.
We've gained what we wanted.
You haven't gained anything, Deong.
I understand that you don't trust me,
but you can trust your own people.
Call your northern outposts. Ask about the paratroopers.
Call Kwen Sai and ask to speak to Colonel Chee.
How do you know about Colonel Chee?
I saw him. He's a prisoner there.
You see Communists in your dreams.
Maybe, but when the Red flag goes up tomorrow...
and you're dead, it won't matter much, will it?
I am sorry. I have no more time.
Deong, if you don't call on that radio,
you will not only be throwing away your own life,
but you'll be killing Sarkhan.
Believe me.
Suppose it's true. What would you want me to do?
It's not my country, Deong. It's yours.
You said that you're not my pupil anymore,
and you're right.
Paklit. [ Native Dialect ]
What happened to us, Deong?
We used to want the same things for each other--
freedom, peace.
What happened?
Maybe the headlines got to us.
Fear, suspicion.
Ten thousand miles, and what do ya got?
A couple of political cartoons,
shouting slogans at each other, hating, not even trying to understand.
There's no immunity against a disease like that, not if it can happen with us.
[ Paklit Continues Speaking On Radio ]
And you catch it while you're lookin' the other way.
[ Native Dialect ]
[ Deong Continues Speaking In Native Dialect ]
[ Native Dialect ]
Kop chai.
Dar mai, kop chai.
I'm thinking of the people who followed me.
Some of them died today.
What-- What have I done to them, Mac?
We can't save those who are already gone,
but we can keep others from dying.
You got little more than an hour to reach Kwen Sai.
Who's going to kill me?
I don't know, kid.
Please wait.
Don't react to what I say.
The revolution is betrayed. I'm to be killed.
Killed? How do you know?
Walk with me to the command car.
When I'm in, get those who have been with me longest.
I must get to Government House right away. Yes, Deong.
Deong?
[ Soldier Shouting ] [ Gunfire ]
I have to get to Kwen Sai. Help me, Mac.
Come on. You better lie down. Get the doctor.
Tamoa.! Tamoa.! [ Groaning ]
Come on. No.
Come on. [ Gasping ]
Paklit. Yes, Deong?
You must tell the people [ Gasps ] about this.
Yes, Deong.
Make the new constitution...
with Kwen Sai.
Insist...
on our rights.
[ Deong ] You understand? [ Paklit ] Yes, Deong.
Munsang is the enemy,
not--
not this man.
Easy, kid.
Please.
Sawad.
I-I can't believe it.
Good-bye, Mac.
Here's the ambassador. Get some pictures!
[ Reporters Shouting ]
Mr. Ambassador. Tyler, sir, NBC.
Would you give us a statement for a delayed telecast to the States, sir?
I'm sorry, Mr. Tyler. I have, uh, no statement to make at this time.
[ Shouting ]
The word is out that Deong has been killed. Is that true?
Yes, that's true.
We gonna lose this country, sir?
Well, we never had this country. [ Reporters Shouting ]
Mr. Ambassador, who killed Deong?
The, uh, Communists.
The Communists killed Deong...
and, uh, misunderstanding.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I've had a very difficult day, and I--
[ Shouting ] [ Tyler] Mr. Ambassador?
How 'bout one more picture?
A couple of hours ago, Senator Brenner called your tenure here a total failure.
Would you agree with that?
Yes, uh,
it certainly was a partial failure, Mr. Tyler.
[ Distant Gunfire ]
When I, uh--
When I said that, that misunderstanding...
helped kill Deong,
I meant my own misunderstanding.
See,
Deong had a kind of passion that, well, maybe all revolutionaries have.
It's kind of a feeling that it's easy for us to misinterpret.
We forget that the men who started our country...
had that same kind of passion that Deong had,
and that these other new leaders have,
and unless we recognize their fight for independence to be part of our own,
then we, we drive them to seek understanding in some other place.
Are you saying that America's losing the Cold War...
because we're pushing these countries into the hands of the Communists?
[ MacWhite ] I'm not saying that.
I'm saying we can't hope to win the Cold War...
unless we remember what we're for,
as well as what we're against.
[ MacWhite ] I've learned in a very personal way, Mr. Tyler,
that I can't preach the American heritage...
and expect to be believed if I act out of impatience...
or sacrifice my principles for expediency.
I've learned that the only time we're hated...
is when we stop trying to be what we started out to be 200 years ago.
Now, I'm-- I'm not blaming my country.
I'm blaming the indifference...
that some of us show to its promises.
If the Cold War disappeared right now,
the American people would still be in this fight...
against ignorance and hunger and disease,
because it's right.
It's right to be in it.
And if I had one appeal...
to make to every American,
it would be that--