New Year's resolution: unload that isolationist label

There's still time for libertarians to make a new year's resolution: unload the isolationist label.

Once again, this time from the mainstream rightwing hardcore neocon advertising-bloated online publication World Net Daily, a libertarian is accused of being an isolationist.
A "straight news" WND article featuring Republican/Libertarian Ron Paul editorially referred to his "isolationist perspective."

Calling libertarians "isolationist" in their foreign policy views is an attempt by the "mainstream" to call libertarians what they're not in an attempt to marginalize them as naive and unrealistic.

The charge comes from the left just as frequently as it does from the right, which is one reason why libertarians refer to the two former mainstream political parties as Republicrats or Demopublicans or similar mashups of their former selves.

But there is a very real and serious difference between isolationism and noninterventionism that even many libertarians, some of whom misguidedly define themselves as isonationist, don't seem to understand.

Since the former Big Two political parties like to identify themselves with animals (donkey, elephant) continuing the critter metaphor is an easy way to illustrate the difference.

The ostrich with its head cartoonishly buried in the sand represents the isolationist position. The big bird, like the three "wise" monkeys of Japanese lore who neither see, nor hear, nor speak any evil will be utterly unprepared when it comes their way.

Noninterventionism, on the other hand, can be represented by the sharp-eyed bald eagle, watching our shores and borders for even the slightest hint of attack, ready to respond with talon and beak.

But for some libertarians the eagle symbolism is a bit too militaristic, since the bird is a hunter that feasts on small living things. So they've adopted the porcupine, a peaceful creature that seeks to harm no one but is instantly ready to repel all aggressors with its spiny defenses.

This, Free Staters will proudly point out, is why they chose the tough little Family Erethizontidae as their mascot.

Isolationists and noninterventionists have one thing in common; they won't go running around the world egregiously attacking other people and their countries, making enemies hand over fist. The difference is that while isolationists refuse to deal with the world's realities beyond the borders of their own country, libertarian noninterventionists are intensely aware of reality and recognize that self-defense is absolutely fundamental in safeguarding freedom.

Think of the difference this way: when a sociopath with a weapon enters a restaurant, or a school, and starts shooting up the place, the isolationists dive for cover while the noninterventionists pull their open or concealed carry hardware and blast away in self defense.

Now translate that to a foreign policy and you've got the picture. America has no business strutting around the world kicking keister and creating new enemies, but we will defend ourselves from the power-addicted psychos.

So, libertarians, quit telling others that you're isolationist. And you others, quit calling libertarians isolationists.