Manifest Destiny

[Mensa]

I found this posted to a newsgroup and wondered how you felt about it's sentiment.

> The USA is the most powerful and richest nation
> that has ever been. It has no real peers, no one
> is strong enough to stand before the USA and stop
> it. The time, the mood, the momentum is right. The
> USA should take over the whole world and fashion it
> in its image. Those in opposition can feed the worms.

 

[Weevil]

Somehow, I think the entire world, combined, could beat the USA. Provided of course that no one used nukes because then, well, there'd be nothing much to take over.

 

[Silverlily]

Somehow, I think the entire world, combined, could beat the USA. Provided of course that no one used nukes because then, well, there'd be nothing much to take over.

And provided the rest of the world could cooperate long enough.

 

[Oliver Clozoff]

I disagree with the statement for several reasons. First, I don't believe the U.S. is the most powerful nation ever. The Roman Empire, Alexandrian Greece, and Ghengis Khan's mongol Empire all controlled and much greater proportions of the known world. Second, if the world for some reason ever decided to ally themselves against the US they'd absolutely kick our asses. We comprise less than 5% of the world population and while our economic and military strength are disproportionately strong for those relatively few people, the combined military and economic strength of the rest of the world easily dwarfs us.

We couldn't make the world over in our image without the cooperation of the rest of the world even if we wanted to.

 

[Mensa]

I think what surprised me was the idea that the U.S. needed to conquer the world militarily.

Look around, the whole world becomes more "Americanized" every day. Few are the places where the American uniform of sneakers, blue jeans, sweatshirt, and ball cap haven't penetrated. American culture, movies, television, books, and magazines etc. are everywhere. The same could be said for American cuisine (if you can call fast food cuisine). It can be bought from Red Square to Tianmen.

Why would America need to conquer the world to reshape it when she already is doing so?

 

[mig]

Let's make a deal.

Remove the Simpsons from our tv and we'll surrender.

 

[Lost Cause]

I believe it's not world domination by conquest, but more like a successful relative who wants to help his/her kin up too. America is a relative of every country/race on this planet. Our system works, freedom works, free enterprise works for the general whole of our population. Our financial system is such that we can give billions toward world assistance.
Our greatest critics are usually those who have not ventured out of their respective countries, have a communist agenda, want to control their subjects with an iron boot, or really love the EU!
The one thing I agree with however,.... you attack us and we obliterate your space, culture, children, and animals! If you can't go back to your crater for fifty thousand years...that's just fine. There is a price to pay attacking us, our friends, or siding with those who do harm through religion, or politics.

I'm sure someone has a whine to add to my stand.

 

[AusTess]

Us Aussies can whip any of you pussies arses.

Just cos our Prime Minister looks like a drunken midget,dont mean shit.

Dont fuck with us,we have Anthony Mundine.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Hail Caesar!

And all that implies.

 

[Mensa]

The one thing the American Founding Fathers feared was the "Imperial Presidency". That is, the office and it's occupant being treated and looking like an Emperor or King.

I noticed that as America's power and influence increased, the Imperial Presidency is starting to emerge. They play "Hail to the Chief" like a Royal Anthem, there is always an ostentatious Color Guard flanking his steps, and everyone exhibits deference.

There are times when it looks like ancient Rome reborn.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I found this posted to a newsgroup and wondered how you felt about it's sentiment.

> The USA is the most powerful and richest nation
> that has ever been. It has no real peers, no one
> is strong enough to stand before the USA and stop
> it. The time, the mood, the momentum is right. The
> USA should take over the whole world and fashion it
> in its image. Those in opposition can feed the worms.

I find it disturbing. Unfortunately, it seems to be the pervasive attitude lately.

I'm glad that I'm American, but I've never been anything else, so to assume that I'm somehow better than someone else is the height of egocentrism. Freedom is a wonderful, beautiful thing, but what too many people don't seem to understand is that freedom can't be forced on anyone, that there is almost always more than one truth, and that there is great responsibility to be taken on when one is given freedom.

We shouldn't attempt to force our Western, Capitalist ideals on the masses. Who's to say they're right? And yeah, they've worked for us for a few hundred years, but in the grand scheme of things, that's not very long.