True. I can think of several examples:
Ancient Rome
British Empire
Spanish Empire
Nazi Germany
Imperial Japan
But, you see, we're not really an Imperial power. We don't really take a "colonial" approach to the world.
Here, we value freedom, not subjugation. I don't want to subjugate anyone -- I just want to be free from the thought that they want to pick a fight with us.
“But, you see, we’re not really an Imperial power. We don’t really take a “colonial” approach to the world.
Here, we value freedom, not subjugation. I don’t want to subjugate anyone — I just want to be free from the thought that they want to pick a fight with us.”
Your point is VERY well-taken.
It would be great if we could continue to live by your precepts. Unfortunately, there is at loose a power in the world which will not and will never agree to such a philosophy.
There is a famous quote, though I’m not sure to whom it can be attributed:
“You may not be interested in war, but war may be interested in you.”
Here is a revised version, directly attributable to ME:
“You may not be interested in Islam, but Islam is interested in you.”
There is only one way to terminate such interest.
And, right now, the West doesn’t seem to understand....
Unfortunately, if we in fact wish to stop Islam, we had better become more like that list of nations you posted above...