I’m a Canadian in my late 20’s. Nirvana rocked my life as a teenager, 9/11 rocked my life as an adult.
I watched those planes hit and those towers fall, with a heavy heart and a troubled mind.
I’ve known about America’s flawed foreign policy for many years, as I’ve traveled around the world and was always told it was better to be a Canadian, abroad. I didn’t fully understand, but it was my seed of curiosity, leading me to consider foreign policy at a fairly young age.
I later learned that the United States was a country that felt it was the World Police, imposing their beliefs on cultures that have been in existence centuries longer than the US had been a mere idea on a map.
I watched as George W. Bush made the case for what would be called Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he claimed the right to strike as a defense of the United States itself. If it was a good enough reason to strike and to petition your people’s support, why give the false impression that it would enable freedom in Iraq? This operation continues to this very day.
When will the Iraqis be free? When will the United States be safe?
Oh, there was also this thing in Afghanistan – Operation Enduring Freedom. That one isn’t finished yet either…
…but it hasn’t been all bad, right?
The United States is a place for high hopes and big dreams. It has enabled Hollywood, big business and rock stars to gain incredible wealth and power, and to use that wealth and power to contribute back to the world, at a level that most cannot even comprehend.
In the same lifetime that some have experienced slavery and persecution, they’ve witnessed the election of a young, intelligent Black man to the position of President.
After enduring 8 years of the Bush Administration, I can’t imagine Obama doing a worse job in less than 4.
The United States is ‘the land of opportunity’. There have been so many people who’ve gained success in the USA, versus their home country, that I think it’s safe to say there is something special about it…at least that’s how it makes me feel.
Still, there isn’t a lot of high regard for the USA these days, both inside and outside its borders. Not a lot of faith in the government, not a lot of faith in each other, in ourselves even.
Many don’t have a lot of optimism left to support what the USA is doing overseas, regardless if it is helping to create a better world or not.
It’s been cool to hate the United States for a long time.
War-mongering, profiteering destroyers of the planet, some might say.
Please allow Michael Jackson to interject.
We are the world, we are the children.~ Michael Jackson
As crazy as MJ may have been, he was right.
We are one large family of humans and we inhabit the same planet called Earth.
That is all there is and all there ever was.
Right now, we’re gaining a world perspective unlike anyone in any other time period, ever. Given the incredible growth of knowledge-based technology and The Internet, it’s not surprising that this is the case.
We’re starting to see that it isn’t one country versus another; it is only us and our ability to sustain this planet we’re living on.
Does it make sense to want a country to fail more than you want your world to succeed?
We need a strong United States in the world family. One with people more enlightened than ever before, with a great leader making decisions that will benefit everyone on Earth.
The United States is a world superpower.
We need less POWER, more SUPER.
10 Comments
We don't hate Americans, we only hate their policies and actions. Americans are great people, full of life and recognizable in the crowd.
meh
we are the world, the US is us – we are both good and bad
Very well said! And quite true when put into this perspective! You have made me look at the United States in a whole new light! Thank You!!!
“The United States is a world superpower. We need less POWER, more SUPER.”
As an American, I could not agree with you more.
USA is a free country! Islamics and Talibans are not free and act like tyrans.
Themost violent people in the world are europeans, all the recent big wars in the world come from them.
They invaded all the planet and now they use to hate their old friends.
Who said this: ( Protect me from my friends… I'll take care of my ennemies.)
As an American living abroad , I have experienced much resentment and a hatred towards Americans in general . It seems that people cannot differentiate between the fact that I am just a person who happens to be a ” part ” of nation , and do not represent a governments politics and policies . I believe that the worst thing one can be at this time is in fact and American overseas . The great irony though is : despite their immense hatred , they still sport American made products [ clothing etc .] – although they hate America , they all want their Nike's , Calvin Kleins & Coca Cola . I say , if you're going to hate – then dont ” buy ” & support a country you claim to hate . These are the same people who harbor sympathies towards communism – yet you see them eating at McDonalds . I guess they have never stood in a line for an entire day to get a roll of toilet paper , a half a pound of sugar and a loaf of bread & 12 dollars by which to get by through the entire month ! . Hypocrites . & to quote M.J : ” Man in the Mirror ” – everyone should really stop and take a look in the Mirror & hopefully change their ways ( their narrow minded ways of thinking ) . I am proud to be an American and will defend my country ( regardless of the fact that I have not been born there – it is the country which raised me and I love her . )
Great article Joshua – I still say you run for office one day !
As an American living abroad , I have experienced much resentment and a hatred towards Americans in general . It seems that people cannot differentiate between the fact that I am just a person who happens to be a ” part ” of nation , and do not represent a governments politics and policies . I believe that the worst thing one can be at this time is in fact and American overseas . The great irony though is : despite their immense hatred , they still sport American made products [ clothing etc .] – although they hate America , they all want their Nike's , Calvin Kleins & Coca Cola . I say , if you're going to hate – then dont ” buy ” & support a country you claim to hate . These are the same people who harbor sympathies towards communism – yet you see them eating at McDonalds . I guess they have never stood in a line for an entire day to get a roll of toilet paper , a half a pound of sugar and a loaf of bread & 12 dollars by which to get by through the entire month ! . Hypocrites . & to quote M.J : ” Man in the Mirror ” – everyone should really stop and take a look in the Mirror & hopefully change their ways ( their narrow minded ways of thinking ) . I am proud to be an American and will defend my country ( regardless of the fact that I have not been born there – it is the country which raised me and I love her . )
Great article Joshua – I still say you run for office one day !
The true government works from behind the shadows and is planning a one world global enterprise, or in other words the New World Order, many prez. have spoken in the open about this, thats why the policies with big government are so corrupt, it is about taking over and controlling the money of the population to control them as closely to a slave as you could be. Research it, other countries have used the same tyranny in the past to try and take their countries over( aka the new Health care takeover) Free Yourselves, Free your self from propaganda.
Great article! US is indeed a place for high hopes and dreams. Thanks for sharing.