Jolomark
15-09-2004, 03:39
America is in a crisis. The outcome of this crisis will define this nation's history, and its legacy.This modern-day crisis is on the level of the Second World War, or the Cold War, except many people do not recognize the situation.
America was founded on principles. While that is debatable, one can argue that principles have shaped this country more than most others. I see America as standing for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity in the world. Many people around the planet see this country as an inspiration for them, and a model for their own countries.
Circumstances have allowed the USA to become the most powerful country in the world. This may appear to be good, but there is a dark side to global hegemony. Certain people will do anything to keep America on top. They hold no principle except the principle of might makes right.
While America may be admired by many, it is feared by most. Americans do not think of their government as something to be afraid of. Others, however, feel very uncomfortable with America exercising its power. They have some sense. What other country has the capacity to strike anywhere, at anytime, with destructive and overwhelming force? Americans do not see much of their military, but others do. The United States keeps 200,000 troops stationed overseas. Most of the people of the countries in which these troops are stationed do not want them there. How would you feel if the Japanese had a military base in Los Angeles? If we were at war with Mexico, it would be one thing. However, many of these bases are left over from the cold war, and the only countries in which American forces are in actual combat are Afghanistan and Iraq.
Our overseas presence is distressing enough for many people, but more are angered and frightened at the ways that the US uses force to get what it wants. The US has a long history of military interventionism. This problem only got worse after the First Gulf War. When the American people saw all the footage of smart bombs hitting their targets, they assumed that war had transformed into a surgical and precise matter, and by extension, that non-combatants would not be harmed in wars any longer. With their consciences clear, the American people supported wars that their leaders procured. This culminated in the invasion of Iraq.
Iraq had never attacked the United States. It had no WMDs. The UN was against military action. There was no justification for the attack. True, Saddam was a bad man, but how many of you would accept an invasion of your country by another country claiming their goal is to get rid of a leader that you do not particularly like? It is the responsibility of the Iraqi people to free themselves. We can support opposition groups, call for regime change, and form all kinds of sanctions, but the ultimate responsibility for revolution lies in the hands of the country's own citizens.
In the invasion of Iraq, the American government accepted to participate in the game of "let's-be-the-hegemon". ALL hegemons, all powerful states have a fall. They try to accomplish too much, and that leads to ruin. I am not ashamed to say that I love my country. I do not want it to share the same ignoble fate of the Roman empire, the Spanish empire, or the British empire. Americans need to stand up and say that America shall not be an empire! We need to base our diplomacy on respect and principle. One may say that states operate out of the lust for power. There are no states. There are only people in charge of others. People will respect principle. Most people are not amoral; they will respect sincerity. This is the way in which the American legacy will last. Liberal democratic values will be accepted when people admire the US. The US shall not fall if it does not exploit its powerful position. Our country and our ideals will endure once we do this. Freedom and democracy, however, will be rejected by the world if its main proponent, the US, abuses its power. America must exercise its power with great caution, since people are wary of it. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword. America must not live by the sword, in order to survive.
This is not a partisan issue. This is not an issue of petty politics. The future of America depends upon the actions we take abroad. If the US keeps on recklessly throwing its weight around, one country, one day, will rise up to challenge it. This challenge will lead to America's downfall. Conflict breeds conflict. Cooperation will lead to peace. Please, do not deceive yourself with other issues. This issue is the most important one facing us Americans. This year, do not vote for anybody who will abuse American power. We must not reelect the current leadership which has abused American power greatly in the past. We must recognize our mistakes as Americans, before some other nation makes us learn these lessons by force.
America was founded on principles. While that is debatable, one can argue that principles have shaped this country more than most others. I see America as standing for freedom, democracy, peace, and prosperity in the world. Many people around the planet see this country as an inspiration for them, and a model for their own countries.
Circumstances have allowed the USA to become the most powerful country in the world. This may appear to be good, but there is a dark side to global hegemony. Certain people will do anything to keep America on top. They hold no principle except the principle of might makes right.
While America may be admired by many, it is feared by most. Americans do not think of their government as something to be afraid of. Others, however, feel very uncomfortable with America exercising its power. They have some sense. What other country has the capacity to strike anywhere, at anytime, with destructive and overwhelming force? Americans do not see much of their military, but others do. The United States keeps 200,000 troops stationed overseas. Most of the people of the countries in which these troops are stationed do not want them there. How would you feel if the Japanese had a military base in Los Angeles? If we were at war with Mexico, it would be one thing. However, many of these bases are left over from the cold war, and the only countries in which American forces are in actual combat are Afghanistan and Iraq.
Our overseas presence is distressing enough for many people, but more are angered and frightened at the ways that the US uses force to get what it wants. The US has a long history of military interventionism. This problem only got worse after the First Gulf War. When the American people saw all the footage of smart bombs hitting their targets, they assumed that war had transformed into a surgical and precise matter, and by extension, that non-combatants would not be harmed in wars any longer. With their consciences clear, the American people supported wars that their leaders procured. This culminated in the invasion of Iraq.
Iraq had never attacked the United States. It had no WMDs. The UN was against military action. There was no justification for the attack. True, Saddam was a bad man, but how many of you would accept an invasion of your country by another country claiming their goal is to get rid of a leader that you do not particularly like? It is the responsibility of the Iraqi people to free themselves. We can support opposition groups, call for regime change, and form all kinds of sanctions, but the ultimate responsibility for revolution lies in the hands of the country's own citizens.
In the invasion of Iraq, the American government accepted to participate in the game of "let's-be-the-hegemon". ALL hegemons, all powerful states have a fall. They try to accomplish too much, and that leads to ruin. I am not ashamed to say that I love my country. I do not want it to share the same ignoble fate of the Roman empire, the Spanish empire, or the British empire. Americans need to stand up and say that America shall not be an empire! We need to base our diplomacy on respect and principle. One may say that states operate out of the lust for power. There are no states. There are only people in charge of others. People will respect principle. Most people are not amoral; they will respect sincerity. This is the way in which the American legacy will last. Liberal democratic values will be accepted when people admire the US. The US shall not fall if it does not exploit its powerful position. Our country and our ideals will endure once we do this. Freedom and democracy, however, will be rejected by the world if its main proponent, the US, abuses its power. America must exercise its power with great caution, since people are wary of it. Those who live by the sword, die by the sword. America must not live by the sword, in order to survive.
This is not a partisan issue. This is not an issue of petty politics. The future of America depends upon the actions we take abroad. If the US keeps on recklessly throwing its weight around, one country, one day, will rise up to challenge it. This challenge will lead to America's downfall. Conflict breeds conflict. Cooperation will lead to peace. Please, do not deceive yourself with other issues. This issue is the most important one facing us Americans. This year, do not vote for anybody who will abuse American power. We must not reelect the current leadership which has abused American power greatly in the past. We must recognize our mistakes as Americans, before some other nation makes us learn these lessons by force.