The United States is in a unique position in the world.
The United States has the healthiest economy, the most successful form of government, the most powerful military and the highest standard of living in the world. It is the city on the hill, the light of the world, the bright shining example of all that is good, pure, democratic and profitable.
Therefore, it is our duty to bring capitalism, democracy and Christian values to all the less fortunate countries of the world.
Now, think to your reaction to the above paragraphs. Were you horrified? Disgusted? Did it make you feel pride? Did you take it for granted as something you’d heard your entire life?
Sadly enough, most Americans would fully agree with all the sentiments of the first few paragraphs. That’s what we hear all the time in patriotic programs and grade school history textbooks. It’s what we’re supposed to cheer about during presidential speeches. It’s what Americans are raised to believe.
I’m wondering what that reminds me of. Oh yes. It was a certain poem by Rudyard Kipling called “The White Man’s Burden.” This little tidbit from the turn of the century and the height of imperialism described the duty of the western Europeans and Americans, though mostly British, to share white man’s values with the “untaught savages.”
Rudyard Kipling has been greatly criticized for his philosophy, which was really the prominent philosophy of the time. Americans would like to believe that we are past this view of the world. I mean, this is purporting that “civilized” people must teach and bring “uncivilized” people to the light.
This is supposed to be an antiquated belief.
And yet, at the newest turn of the century, we believe the same thing. We believe that America is the best and only country out there, that the president of the United States is the rightful leader of the world and that we have a “burden” to police other states for doing anything that doesn’t conform to our ideals of society.
If I wasn’t American, I would find this insulting. As an American, I find this embarrassing.
No wonder a lot of other countries have disgust for America. Our attitude about international relations almost negates the sovereignty of other countries.
I actually liked it when countries in the United Nations went against American policy during the conflict in Iraq. It made me realize that the United Nations and the United States weren’t one and the same.
It made me, for once, question my own country in a time when it wasn’t considered socially correct to do so. It was the first time I thought the French actually had a point.
Of course, since every country didn’t joyfully follow our president, we had to demonize and criticize each of the countries. After all, what’s good for America is good for everyone. We had everyone’s interests in mind, so why couldn’t they just go along with it? These were the thoughts that led to the Freedom Fries.
American policing hasn’t just occurred recently. America has been doing that since after World War II. Some of our most dramatic forms of interference have led to some of the biggest protests against the government, even producing the style for the entire decade of the 1960s.
However, these protests haven’t stopped anything. America still has troops in every part of the world.
This doesn’t seem to be that much of a problem until we think about if we would allow foreign troops or nuclear weapon searches in our country. Of course we wouldn’t. Everyone knows we have nuclear weapons. We’re allowed because we’re America.
What we need to realize is that America is one country among many, looking out for its own interests. Sure, the American government will lend aid to other countries and try to set up democracies and capitalism.
But what’s our major concern? Markets, which was the same concern of the 19th century imperialists. We want people to buy our stuff and give us money and we get upset when they don’t. We want to secure our own safety and security, so we have to do things for other countries. But don’t be fooled. America is interested in itself.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s how capitalism works, after all. But we need to give up this rhetoric that turns America into the beacon of light for the world and the president into Superman.
We need to get used to the idea that America is a country on the same level as every other country and that we are not above the rules.
Then, maybe we can truly move toward the clichd ideal of world peace.
Angela Adair is a junior English major. She can be reached at [email protected].