(And furthermore, writing about America from Abroad offers an outside perspective that is impossible to view from within our own country. I never said I was renouncing my citizenship or declaring war on the US. I'm traveling to experience the world and broaden my views. You know there are places worth experience outside your own country. Finally, the entire last post was based on an international CNN broadcast that I saw in Austria. It was one of the few times that I've watched the news and saw people talking about America from afar, and it offered a viewpoint that could simply be objective without trying to offer any solutions. It was very interesting, and I don't think my position is tarnished by being abroad. In fact, I think I can speak more objectively by removing myself from the norm.)
The vague, 'we are a stable democracy' argument is relying on our history as a stable and powerful country and not looking towards the future. Don't you think the Romans and the Greeks, and even the recent English Empire relied on their 'collective goodness' when the signs started pointing to their demise? History has a funny way of repeating itself, and humans have a funny way of ignoring it. Wake up people. "The tragedy is that unfortunately this administration will follow its agenda regardless." This is not the tragedy. The tragedy is that my generation does not have enough collective willpower to create change. Don't you think the communists thought they were going to 'follow [their] agenda regardless.' I don't care how powerful a government becomes, the will of the people will always be stronger.
Inevitably America will change. The status quo has never remained. Throughout our history, there have been waves of digust, followed by upheaval from the citizens, and significant change. This was my whole point about the MLK Jr. thing. And actually a praise of our country, since we have the power within our democracy to create change without violent revolution and radical orthodoxy.
To return to my first point, I still believe America is on the brink. It's been a long time since any significant change has taken place and our society has become stale and mired in historical solutions that no longer apply to the modern global circumstances of economy and war. My generation must be the next great generation to take responsibility and remove the negative taste in the worlds mouth with regards to the US.
People, please leave your name if you comment. This is supposed to be an open discussion, so stop hiding behind 'anonymous' and let yourself be heard. Debate is supposed to be fun.
2 comments:
Andy, I read most of your foreign policy comments and I am sure I know what the rest of the article is/was going to say. So, I decided to check out the posts. The first person who posted is a sad individual who cannot even put their name behind what they are saying or believe in. This is a sad state of affairs but nevertheless it is no surprise. Hold on...as a disclaimer, I will attempt to stay away from all of my "radical" beliefs and just address what they stated. "The US is the most diverse country in the world...and I challenge someone to show me another country." Seriously? Is this a joke? I hope this person was not serious. The US is indeed a diverse country, however has this person never been to Toronto. I believe Toronto is the most diverse place in the world. Also, the average person speaks ONE language. In Northern Europe, the average person probably speaks 3 languages. I am quite confident in the idea that Canada is just as diverse, if not more so than the US. Canada has an extremely high native population, on top of East Indians, etc...Whatever, this is stupid.
In regards to what you said Andy, I agree that Mitt Romney is a dumb name. I also find it amusing that he believes some dude actually "translated" gold plates. (Remember he did not actually make up the story...he translated it.) Sorry for offending anyone but so be it. The US did indeed invent the first affordable, functional electric car but for some odd reason (I wonder why?) GMC decided to pull the plug on the EV1 in 2003. Oh, by the way. Now the head of GMC admits it was a massive mistake and recognizes that had they gone through with the project their company would be terrorizing the car market.
In regards to pulling out troops, this will never happen. Since WWII, the US has been involved in the military-industrial complex and things are no longer based off of democracy but instead based off of the crumbling dollar. These things can change and the only way something like this will happen is if Ron Paul is elected. He is the only chance and in all reality I truly believe he would fix a lot of problems. The funny part is that no media outlet ever reports about Ron Paul...even when he was ripping apart the debates, no one mentioned him. He is still hanging in there with a few second place finishes but in reality he cannot win. Instead, the government has Manufactured Consent of the people and there are tons of little Eichmann's running around pretending there are no problems in the world.
P.S. If anyone challenges my "patriotism" or calls me anti-American or whatever other names you can come up with...grow the hell up. I do not need to sit here and defend my feelings for where I am from and who I am. Criticism is what this country was built on and if you cannot take some criticism then you are a pathetic individual who cannot think for yourself. I miss PA baby!!
Since "change" seems to be part of the theme of your most recent post, it is interesting that this is an election year which is all about "change" in a big way......the "changing of the guard"..... an interesting cliche from the English that begat us!
And since MLK, Jr. was part of your post as well, one would be remiss in not mentioning the part JFK, Jr. played in those passionate filled days of the 60's.
It is no coincidence that MLK, JR. & JFK lived .....& died during the same era. They both evoked passion for their respective missions, evoking the same passion in the crowds that were eager to hear their ideas for change. Who can forget the fervor JFK even evoked abroad in Germany during his "Ich bin ein Berliner!" speech.
I believe this is the kind of passion many of us here in the US are seeking as we peruse the menu of political candidates running for the presidential seat.
It is no coincident, then, that Barack Oboma is rekindling those fires of the 60's by running for "change" stirring-up similar passions which we remember in those by-gone days of JFK & MLK.
It is no surprise, then, or coincidence that the Kennedy family is endorsing Barack. They see in him, the same fervor & excitement that JFK brought to the political arena and like MLK, Jr. they see him as the candidate that will be able to "organize the contempt that everyone" feels for our present administration , and "mobilize it in a way to create real change."
While this commentary may seem like my own endorsement for Obama, I present it more as an objective viewpoint of a political observer rather than a political activist.
In the end, the US will get the president they deserve,,,,,which is not necessarily the one we vote for.
Post a Comment