A left-winger's ranting on America, religion, capitalism and pie.

I’m tired of this myth that America is and has always been a paragon of freedom, a beacon of light, purely innocent and purely good in the world. Americans naturally object to the idea that their nation has historically been imperialist and continues to be so in the modern day.

Imperialism, in case you aren’t aware, is “he policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence”. [1] And yes, that makes pretty much any nation that has ever existed, imperialist. And that’s part of my point.

From the beginnings of U.S. history, settlers had their eyes on Indian territory, doing all they could to take it. [2] Once the nation was solidified, this became a slow march westward, which is now infamous. Yet we don’t ever really hear about the rest of America’s expansion, which happened to the north and south. This included the Mexican War, in which almost half of what was then Mexican territory became the American southwest. [3][4] And during the Spanish-American War, America began overseas territory acquisition.

Then we come to the myth of American isolationism during early global conflicts. While American people did not generally want to get involved, and our government avoided military conflict, we nevertheless extended our power and influence by covertly supporting our allies. Indeed, during the Russian Revolution we got involved as well, to save our own interests. [5] And of course, the Cold War. The very height of imperialism, in which we attempted to keep our control of the world against a just as imperialist enemy. America kept its control using aid, one of its favorite tactics, and military support and intervention. [6] And, of course, the threat of nuclear war. To name a few, several famous American wars were purely imperialist: the Korean War, the Lebanon Crisis, and the Vietnam War. [7]

Even today, America continues to be imperialist, using either direct military intervention or support to gain control. [8][9][13][14] It has quietly and covertly attempted to control the governments of other countries. [10][11] During the “War On Terror” even our country’s own people have been aware that its government has attempted to push pro-Western, pro-US ideals on other nations—and they’ve supported these actions.

Finally, the government itself admits it is imperialist, by definition, even if it doesn’t cal itself that. [12] The goal of American foreign policy is stated as working on "export controls, including nonproliferation of nuclear technology and nuclear hardware; measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business abroad; International commodity agreements; international education; and protection of American citizens abroad and expatriation". Remember, imperialism is "the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas; broadly : the extension or imposition of power, authority, or influence".

America has long made territory acquisitions and attempted to control other nations and areas. So please, conservatives. Accept the reality of your country. This or that act of imperialism might be justified, but denying the reality of your nation does no one any good.

Sources

1. http://goo.gl…
2. http://goo.gl…
3. http://goo.gl…
4. http://goo.gl…
5. http://goo.gl…
6. http://goo.gl…
7. http://goo.gl…
8. http://goo.gl…
9. http://goo.gl…
10.http://goo.gl…
11. http://goo.gl…
12. http://goo.gl…
13. http://goo.gl…
14. http://goo.gl…