Posted on 10/28/2001 10:45:12 AM PST by clee1
Time for America to DOMINATE the world!
I know this post will probably provoke some heated reactions, but I am going to say what is really on my mind. I think it is time for America, or rather "the Ideals of America" to dominate the planet Earth.
This Nation was founded by immigrants/colonists that wanted to prosper and worship as they chose to, without interference from hereditary monarches in Europe. They tired of living a life where foreign Kings decided how they would worship God, major portions of their productivity were "taxed" by the landed Nobility, and their station in life was set by birth. All wanted to live in freedom and enjoy the fruit of their own labors.
The Founding Fathers stated this American theory of government in the following passage from the Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, - That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Then, after winning our independence on the battlefield (take THAT, ya peaceniks!) some stumbles and false starts (Articles of Confederation), the Constitution was established. It created the framework of a representative (republican) form of government, in which the People would elect their representatives to do governmental business. The reasons for and definition of governmental business are stated in the preable to the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The government's Powers were restricted and further defined in the Articles of the Constitution, and the first ten Amendments to the Constitution enumerated the specific rights of the People. The US Constitution established the means for a free people to live and worship as they saw fit. When asked what kind of government had been established, Ben Franklin replied, "A Republic, Sir, if you can keep it."
For 214 years, the People of the United States have kept it: by living, working, prospering, and yes, by sometimes fighting and dying for it.
OK. I can already hear the flamers - what about slavery, what about a women's right to vote, what about low wages, high crime, support for totalitarian regimes, etc, etc, ad nauseam. Hey! I'll be the first to say it: We are not perfect. We learn from our past and or sucesses and failures, correct our mistakes, and move on in life as we choose to. This has often caused desent, and has cost blood. We apologise for our errors and try to make amends. That is the American Way. Part of what urks our enemies the most is that we are so prosperous while adopting an open and tolerant attitude at peace and ferocious tenacity at war. You can do what you want until it affects me, then we have a problem. Attack us - you have made a serious mistake.
The ideals of America triumph over all others that have come against it. Western civilization IS better than Middle Ages fudalism. People the world over seek to come to America to live in freedom and prosperity, to be safe from constant threats, and to raise their children in peace. This is a fact and as an American Citizen, I for one am tired of apologising for it!
Sept. 11th, {my birthday 8^( } 2001, has made profound changes to American thinking and attitude. We are no longer talking about "lock boxes" and "prescription drugs" and "SocSecurity". We are now discussing freedom, safety, and the defeat of terrorism.
IMHO, I think Americans will be under constant attack from forces of evil unless we get with the program and eradicate these forces from the face of the earth. Terrorists, Leftists, non-constitutional monarchies, dictatorships, theocracies and oligarchies are all enemies to the American Way and should be eliminated by all the force we can muster. Diplomatic, economic, military and covert means should be used to destroy thes groups so that the world can finally live in peace and prosperity.
I say it is high time that we as Americans stop buddying up to tyrants and totalitarian regimes, and we toss them bodily into the dustheap of history. Countries like China and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are not our "friends", they are merely "trading partners" or in some cases just politically convenient to have around or leave alone. We should immediately revoke all support and trade with governments that are not democracies or free market economies, and deport their citizens living here. We will never again be safe until all the people of the world enjoy the benefits of democracy and a free market economy, and our duty as Americans is to help bring it to them any way we can while protecting ourselves from internal attack. I don't want to occupy the world - Imperialism and colonialism don't work either (Just ask the ancient Romans, and 15th to 19th century England, France, and Spain) - I just want it all to be made free; by force if necessary. Pax Americana should be the order of the day.
You are either with us, or you are against us. That should apply to our ideals as well.
C. Lee
Georgia
I kind of like the outcome of this dream of yours. It would be nice but aren't you talking about America taking on the entire non-Western world all at once? We got our plate pretty full with our war on terrorism which will take years to complete. But it seems to me that America over the decades has been very successful in influencing many countries to get rid of their ruling monarchies and replacing it with democracy. As long as America prospers, America will be the model other countries will want to follow.
If so, that would make the feeling mutual. And we are on course for a lot more dead people, in any case. It's just a matter of who's going to do the dying.
We have the advantages of economic power and military strength. Our biggest disadvantage is our moral code which is keeping us from returning the declaration of total war made on Sept 11.
If I understand the purpose of JimRob's vision for FreeRepublic, it is our desire and intention to turn back all of the liberal, un-American crap of, not only the last administration, but ideally, all of the Socialist influence since this Republic was formed.
Quite frankly, in spite of what others may think or debate ... I believe in the ideals of America and would like to realize what may have been given to us as myth, ie., the honesty of Washington and his cherry tree confession, etc.
In defense of this position, I offer a couple of the comments often used here to describe others ...
A 12th century people,
SocialistDemocrats .. (official title, mind you),
etc.
You are making a very common mistake, confusing two meanings of the term "democratic."
Technically, in a true democracy 51% of the people can legally vote to have the other 49% tortured to death.
We lose the same term loosely to what could better be called a "free society," one with the minimum of governmental controls. Such a society could theoretically exist under another form of government, such as an aristocracy or monarchy (as long as those in power were content not to expand their power into the personal lives of their subjects. Fat chance.)
Democracy (the governmental system) has just been proven to be the best way to sustain democracy (the free society). Either can exist without the other. Democratically elected governments will not necessarily provide a free society.
No, sorry to disappoint but I would prefer an inward looking republic of small farmers. I would also enjoy an electronic culture that one could turn on without seeing people murdered. I would enjoy a culture where our young women to give up their unwanted children to adoption rather than destroying them. I basically feel we are living in a technological videodrome where people don't think for themselves and the result isn't worth exporting. So far as the islamic reference of yours, I have no particular like of islam. My favorite foreign culture is Japan.
I'm sure you don't mean this precisely. The Roman Republic was already long dead when the Caesars saved the Roman State by turning it into the Empire.
Corruption and intrigue among the ruling elites had destroyed any true republicanism at least a century earlier. Anyway, even at their best the Romans had a "Master Race" attitude which made the Nazis look self-effacing. We inherited their governmental mechanisms, not their ideals. Our ideals are descended much more from Christian principles than Roman ones. Roman and Christian principles were inherently antagonistic, as can be seen from the centuries-long attempt of the Empire to stamp out this subversive religion.
Arrogance is supporting a totalitarian regime whilst screeching about freedom.
We ARE better. If you don't think so, don't let the door hit you..
Ever thought of joining the Amish?
Otherwise, you're doomed to wishing for the return of the 18th century.
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