The West needs leaders with the courage and the will to fight the

The statesman Pete Hoekstra, speaking in an age of uncertainty and division, once declared: “The West needs leaders with the courage and the will to fight the scourge of radical Islam.” These words, though born of a particular political moment, speak to an eternal truth about civilization itself—the need for courageous leadership in the face of darkness. They are not a cry for hatred, but a call to vigilance, to the strength of spirit that defends freedom from those who would destroy it. For every age faces its own form of extremism, every generation its own trial of conscience. And when danger rises, it is not weapons or wealth that preserve a people—it is courage, joined with wisdom, that stands as the guardian of peace.

In its origin, this quote emerges from the long struggle between fear and resolve that has defined the modern world. In the years following acts of terror that scarred nations and shook the conscience of humanity, Hoekstra’s words arose as a summons—to face the challenge not with despair or complacency, but with leadership that is unflinching and principled. Yet to understand his meaning, one must hear the ancient echo within it. For history itself is a cycle of confrontation between civilization and chaos, between reason and fanaticism. When one side grows timid, the other advances. The ancients would have said: the torch of liberty must always be guarded, lest the winds of extremity snuff it out.

But what does it mean to possess the courage and the will? It is more than a call to arms. It is a demand for moral fortitude—the inner steel to name evil as evil, and to stand firm in the defense of what is right. In every generation, there come those who confuse compassion with weakness, who shrink from conflict in the name of comfort. Yet, as the philosopher Cicero taught Rome, peace cannot be sustained by those who fear to defend it. Courage, in the truest sense, is not love of battle, but love of justice strong enough to resist its enemies.

History gives us many examples of this truth. When the tide of tyranny swept across Europe in the twentieth century, it was the resolve of Winston Churchill that stood between the free world and oblivion. He did not seek war, but when war came, he met it with words like iron: “We shall fight on the beaches; we shall never surrender.” In that hour, his courage and will were not mere virtues—they were the very pillars upon which civilization rested. His enemies mistook freedom for weakness. They learned, too late, that freedom defended by the brave is stronger than tyranny built on fear.

So too must we understand that the battle against radicalism—whether in religion, ideology, or politics—is not merely physical, but spiritual. It is a battle for the soul of mankind. The extremist, whatever his creed, seeks to erase reason, compassion, and liberty; he replaces them with blind obedience and hate. Against such darkness, the West—and all peoples who love freedom—must arm themselves not only with might, but with moral clarity. To fight evil, one must first recognize it, and then have the will to act, even when the cost is great.

But this struggle is not confined to governments or armies. It begins within each heart. For every person is a leader in their own sphere—of family, of community, of conscience. The courage Hoekstra calls for is not distant or abstract; it lives in those who speak the truth when silence is easy, who defend the innocent when it is dangerous, who choose integrity over convenience. Each act of moral courage, however small, strengthens the ramparts of civilization itself.

Therefore, my child, let this teaching take root: in times of peace, prepare your spirit; in times of conflict, steady your heart. The world will always contain forces that seek to destroy what is good. Do not meet them with hatred, but with strength, guided by wisdom and compassion. Be unafraid to name evil, and unashamed to defend the light. For it is the duty of every generation to preserve the flame of freedom that others have kindled with their sacrifice.

And so, remember the essence of Pete Hoekstra’s words: that civilizations fall not when enemies are strong, but when leaders are weak; not when threats arise, but when hearts grow indifferent. May you live, then, as a guardian of what is noble—bold in courage, steadfast in will, and faithful to the eternal task of defending truth against the darkness of fanaticism. For as long as such courage endures, the light of the West, and of all that is good in humankind, shall never be extinguished.