Which Way Is America Heading?
At this historic moment, as climate-change-induced resource wars appear imminent and spontaneous revolutionary fervor is erupting around the world, it would be good for the people of America, and those who want to be America, to do a bit of soul searching. It would be wise to take this opportunity to ask some fundamental questions about US foreign policy which are continually ignored. Why do we maintain an all-but-irreversible worldwide system of over 1,000 military bases, stations and outposts? Why do our troops serve on the soil of 175 of the 192 member states of the United Nations? And why, at a time when our national debt is spiraling ominously out of control, are we spending more on our military than all the rest of the nations of the world combined?
Of course, the deeper psychological question at the heart of all this is: What are we so afraid of? Why are we trying so hard to control everything? Why can’t we relax and be less fearful of the other? And then, finally, there is this inspiring and uplifting question to ponder: Can we rediscover our ideals as a nation and learn once again how to cast that magical soft-power spell which so enthralled most of humanity in the decades after World War II?
Or is it too late now?
72 comments on the article “Which Way Is America Heading?”
Displaying 71 - 72 of 72
Page 8 of 8
Anonymous
It isn't _at all_ clear, looking at post WW2 US history at the beginning and throughout the cold war, what the author means by "that magical soft-power spell which so enthralled most of humanity" throughout those decades.
Even a casual reading of recent history suggests that the US quite consciously projected a different sort of power throughout the sphere of its influence--hard-edged and forceful power.
Not without note is the fact that most of those 175 military outposts were built throughout the post-WW2 era.
Some can praise the USA for that. I am not one of those.
Anonymous
It isn't _at all_ clear, looking at post WW2 US history at the beginning and throughout the cold war, what the author means by "that magical soft-power spell which so enthralled most of humanity" throughout those decades.
Even a casual reading of recent history suggests that the US quite consciously projected a different sort of power throughout the sphere of its influence--hard-edged and forceful power.
Not without note is the fact that most of those 175 military outposts were built throughout the post-WW2 era.
Some can praise the USA for that. I am not one of those.
Pages
Add a new comment