I am always more philosophical on Sundays. Perhaps it is because it is a slower day, more relaxing and providing more time to think. Perhaps it is because I let my mind wander when I am lying in bed in the morning because I don't have to get up until late.

In any case, I have been thinking about America's role in the world. How should the US project its power? How should we shape our foreign policy? We can use the awesome power that we have in the world for good or for evil. I think that everyone agrees that it should be used for good, but what is the shape of that good? Those that supported the War in Iraq felt that the goal of the war was to promote good. That is, to bring freedom to Iraqis and to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Of course, there are also those who supported the war for reasons based more on greed and self interest. I will not name anyone because I do not know the personal motivations of anyone in the Bush Administration, though they can be guessed at by their statements and actions.

So what good should the US promote in the world? Should we even be promoting good, or just let the world be? Both a liberal and a conservative would agree that, to some extent, the US should promote good, but what good? Some would argue that we should promote democratic values, tolerance for other religions and ethnicities, freedom to pursue individual happiness or wealth, fair play, the dislike of inequality, and the rights of free speech and freedom of the press. It is an impulse that Americans have had since the founding of the American republic. There is an article in May's Atlantic Monthly about Walt Whitman's 1871 essay "Democratic Vistas" in which Whitman described the destiny of America as that of spreading democracy, freedom and progress throughout the world. From the beginning of the republic, American has viewed itself as the shining city on the hill, inspiring the world to freedom.

The question of what values a society should be based on are as ancient at least as Plato, who wrote about the creation of a just society in his Republic. The question is probably older than that. It is a prime question in the bible as well as any ancient code of laws promulgated by priest or ruler at the dawn of civilization. But this is not an academic historical exercise. It is a very relevant modern issue for reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as our relations with Israel and the Palestinians. Our support of freedom and capitalism in eastern Europe throughout the cold war colors our current relationship with the countries there as well as Russia. The issue of how we go about promoting good in the world also colors our relations with our allies in western Europe.

What makes a just society and what values should the US promote? The main values that (almost) all Americans share are summarized in the First Amendment to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. These are derived from English law and guaranteed by almost all the states. For the most part, they are not inconsistent with other value systems throughout the world, but their interpretation and implementation might lead to conflict.

In Iraq, where the US is in the process of nation building, we would like to see the country adopt American values. We also know that, if Iraq adopts those values, the US will have little to no say in how the country develops them. To what extent do American values conflict with Islamic law? Can the two coexist? I do not know enough about Sharia law to say that they can or they can't, but having read the Koran, I am sure that Islamic values and christian values are not incompatible.

America has structured its society to place the values enshrined in the Constitution above all other values. To be sure, many religious people would place religious values higher, but the Constitution attempts to provide for this. In America, religious values are personal values, whereas the Constitution embraces public values. The government will not allow for any religion to promote its public values above the Constitution except where they do not conflict. This is easier for America because we inherited our values from Europe, which spent hundreds of years fighting bloody wars to work out the differences between religion and the state. Islam has not resolved this conflict within its society. Like Europe in the middle ages, there has historically been no separation between church and state in Islam. In fact, there is no church as such. Islamic values pervade society. Jews and Christians have lived for centuries under Islamic rulers because they accepted the public values of Islam, but were not allowed to rule. It was only in the twentieth century that secular, western European governments were formed in the Middle East.

I think that the values that America promotes can be compatible with Islamic values. Islamic law allows for religious tolerance, but also (like in western Europe) requires the government to support religion. Islamic values include the values of fair play and freedom, tolerance of different ethnicities, and dislike of inequality. Free speech and freedom of the press might don't seem to have corresponding Islamic values, but there is no reason they should not be allowed. I can see conflicts with these values if people exercise their rights by criticizing important religious ideas or leaders, such as the prophet Muhammed. But people do the same in western democracies and are promptly marginalized. In the marketplace of ideas, the least popular ones get less of a voice. The same should be true in Islamic societies as well.

So should the US promote democracy in the world? If we believe that our values are the best that the world has to offer in producing a just society, then we not only have the right to promote those values, but we have the responsibility to do so. The next question becomes, what is the best method of promoting our values? That is the question that should be central in any political debate over American foreign policy. However, that is a discussion for another time.