The idea, in fact, was to be fully engaged with all nations in commerce without getting involved in the alliances and wars that plagued the rest of the world. The hope was that the United States would set an example as a free nation that did not get involved in wars unless attacked. With that policy in place, people of other nations would strongly desire the peace and prosperity of America and follow its example, thus creating a free, prosperous, and more peaceful world.

The idea of a strong defense was balanced with the belief that a large standing army was also a danger to the peace of any nation. General Washington was one of the biggest proponents of a strong defense, but he was also the one who spoke most often about the risks of having too large of a standing army.

The Founders wanted a strong militia, and the militia, they believed, consisted of all of the people. The Second Amendment was not just about the right to bear arms, it was also about having a citizenry that was armed, well trained, and organized to come to the defense of the nation if necessary.

"The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure, and negligent." -Benjamin Franklin

"There is a rank due to the United States among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war." -George Washington

The fundamental philosophy of the Founders toward other nations is just as valid today as it was 230 years ago. Its basic principle is the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It is a rule that applies as much to nations, which are made up of individuals, as it does to individuals. This is the fundamental policy that needs to be followed today.

Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths

Judaism: "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Leviticus 19:18

Native American Spirituality: "All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves. All is really One." The Great Law of Peace

Buddhism: "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another? Samyutta Nikaya v. 353

Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." T'ai-shang Kan-ying P'ien

Many argue that the world is more dangerous today because of advanced weapons technologies, terrorism, biological weapons, scarce resources, and so on. It is precisely because of all these factors that the United States, the most powerful nation on earth militarily, must set an example that creates less volatility in the world and less acrimony.

The words that best described the nation's original foreign policy and the policy that should be pursued now were spoken by Thomas Jefferson during his first Inaugural Address in 1801: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none."

Unfortunately, this is not the policy that has been followed in the last century.