Is it Unamerican to think 'American'?
The clash of idealism and the ideal
I write this today as a response to a "yourmail" letter submitted in today's Town Talk. The letter written by Walter J. Scallan Jr., a Vietnam veteran decries the cruel nature of waterboarding as an interrogation technique and expresses his dismay over agents of the US government supporting its use. I believe Mr. Scallan's letter brings us a very valid point that deserves more discussion...
The reign of George Bush has seen quite a bit of doctrinal change regarding official views on everything from economics, development, and separation of church and state to the role of America abroad and such controversial issues as spying, government surveillance of US citizens, and of course torture.
Critics the world over agree that these changes have been far from ideal and not at all in keeping with the spirit of American democracy nor with the traditional roles of the United States. In fact despite the purported benefits of these changes, the accepted wisdom is that it will take Americans 2-3 more presidencies to undo the damage done to our country's reputation by this one. However, the blame for eight years of self-blundering, failed warfare, and an abandonment of civil liberty protections for citizens and non-citizens does not lie squarely on the ever-slouched shoulders of Mr. Bush. More than anything else, the blame, the root of the problem, and lack of a solution falls on us, the grand American populace.
In a world that in the 21st Century has not turned out to be the niceguy land which seemed to terminate the previous century, Americans have voluntarily given the world an Orwellian tinge that would have in previous generations soured the stomachs of even our most extremist politicos.
This move toward a big brother, blame the other guy mentality which has been artfully dramatized in such films as V for Vendetta and 1984 except that in our reality we have created a situation more akin to the reeducation camps of the Soviet Union and people being disappeared ala Dirty War fashion. The fact is, that in our "War Against Terror" -- an artfully disguised name that has allowed us to package all sorts of actions into a blanket term for anything that could possibly (possibly being the key word here) prevent a repeat of September 11th, we have sanctioned, supported, and come to accept many things that in themselves are rather unamerican. Of these, the primary one is of course torture -- in this case, state-sanctioned and government-operated torture at the hands of the US government.
So, this leaves me to ask, what do we do when our ideal option doesn't coincide with our traditional idealism? Basically, is it unamerican to think 'American'. Afterall, thinking 'American' has often meant doing what it takes, when it takes, to get the job done -- to protect freedom, to spread democracy, and to ensure 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'
Speak softly and carry a big stick. It's been our core for diplomacy and international affairs for over a century. And, for the most part it's served us well. in all likelihood it's served the entire globe quite well. But we've moved away from Teddy Roosevelt's motto. A more objective view of history of course shows that he himself did not always have the most noble motives in wishing to spread liberty and democracy either. We're still cleaning up the mess created by the economic colonization of Latin America brought on by his role in the region. But today, we seem to be quite content to speak loudly, carry a big stick, carry small sticks, shove them under the fingernails of anyone we may see fit to 'encourage' and to say it's all for the greater good -- even though no one has ever quite defined what that greater good is.
Now, this doing what it takes; this coming out swinging when hit from behind; this meeting a bullet with an army is very very American. It's what we do, it's how we operate. We do what it takes, when it's needed, and we do everything twice as big, bad, and better than anyone else. It's how we went from being a strip of coastal farmers, religious nuts, debtors to being the one true superpower. But, as I read this and many letters and articles calling for an end to torture techniques and the many other 'innovations' of the Bush era, I can't help but ask whether doing the 'American' thing (whatever it takes, whenever it's needed to get the job done) is in itself unamerican. And if it is, which do we choose, and are we ready to live with the consequences of that decision?
The clash of idealism and the ideal
I write this today as a response to a "yourmail" letter submitted in today's Town Talk. The letter written by Walter J. Scallan Jr., a Vietnam veteran decries the cruel nature of waterboarding as an interrogation technique and expresses his dismay over agents of the US government supporting its use. I believe Mr. Scallan's letter brings us a very valid point that deserves more discussion...
The reign of George Bush has seen quite a bit of doctrinal change regarding official views on everything from economics, development, and separation of church and state to the role of America abroad and such controversial issues as spying, government surveillance of US citizens, and of course torture.
Critics the world over agree that these changes have been far from ideal and not at all in keeping with the spirit of American democracy nor with the traditional roles of the United States. In fact despite the purported benefits of these changes, the accepted wisdom is that it will take Americans 2-3 more presidencies to undo the damage done to our country's reputation by this one. However, the blame for eight years of self-blundering, failed warfare, and an abandonment of civil liberty protections for citizens and non-citizens does not lie squarely on the ever-slouched shoulders of Mr. Bush. More than anything else, the blame, the root of the problem, and lack of a solution falls on us, the grand American populace.
In a world that in the 21st Century has not turned out to be the niceguy land which seemed to terminate the previous century, Americans have voluntarily given the world an Orwellian tinge that would have in previous generations soured the stomachs of even our most extremist politicos.
This move toward a big brother, blame the other guy mentality which has been artfully dramatized in such films as V for Vendetta and 1984 except that in our reality we have created a situation more akin to the reeducation camps of the Soviet Union and people being disappeared ala Dirty War fashion. The fact is, that in our "War Against Terror" -- an artfully disguised name that has allowed us to package all sorts of actions into a blanket term for anything that could possibly (possibly being the key word here) prevent a repeat of September 11th, we have sanctioned, supported, and come to accept many things that in themselves are rather unamerican. Of these, the primary one is of course torture -- in this case, state-sanctioned and government-operated torture at the hands of the US government.
So, this leaves me to ask, what do we do when our ideal option doesn't coincide with our traditional idealism? Basically, is it unamerican to think 'American'. Afterall, thinking 'American' has often meant doing what it takes, when it takes, to get the job done -- to protect freedom, to spread democracy, and to ensure 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.'
Speak softly and carry a big stick. It's been our core for diplomacy and international affairs for over a century. And, for the most part it's served us well. in all likelihood it's served the entire globe quite well. But we've moved away from Teddy Roosevelt's motto. A more objective view of history of course shows that he himself did not always have the most noble motives in wishing to spread liberty and democracy either. We're still cleaning up the mess created by the economic colonization of Latin America brought on by his role in the region. But today, we seem to be quite content to speak loudly, carry a big stick, carry small sticks, shove them under the fingernails of anyone we may see fit to 'encourage' and to say it's all for the greater good -- even though no one has ever quite defined what that greater good is.
Now, this doing what it takes; this coming out swinging when hit from behind; this meeting a bullet with an army is very very American. It's what we do, it's how we operate. We do what it takes, when it's needed, and we do everything twice as big, bad, and better than anyone else. It's how we went from being a strip of coastal farmers, religious nuts, debtors to being the one true superpower. But, as I read this and many letters and articles calling for an end to torture techniques and the many other 'innovations' of the Bush era, I can't help but ask whether doing the 'American' thing (whatever it takes, whenever it's needed to get the job done) is in itself unamerican. And if it is, which do we choose, and are we ready to live with the consequences of that decision?
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