ST : America's Declaration of Mutual Dependence
its been 2 days since July 4th, the American Independence Day. browsing through the papers today, i came across the above mentioned article and very unusually it caused my depleted brain juices to start flowing again after a long day of school....
228 years ago, in 1776, on this exact same day, the Continental Congress released the unanimous Declaration of Independence of the thirteen united States of America written by the future 3rd President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson. Since the victory of the Continental Army at Yorktown in 1783, America has grown into the world's greatest benevolent superpower to date. America was built on the philosophy of the 18th century Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke. In the modern 21st century, they remain as important to us today as they were to the founding fathers.
In the article from the Straits times, it draws parrallels between the Continentals victory over the British colonialists and the Cold War victory over the 'evil empire' of the Soviet Union as the late Ronald Reagan would have put it.In both instances, America appealed to the values and ideals of all freedom loving people around the world to stand up against the aggression and tyranny of both despotic regimes. Franklin and Jefferson engaged in a War of Ideas which brought the French into the war. Cold War warrior Ronald Reagan did the same. Not mentioned, but also pertinent was America's involvement in World War II. President Roosevelt ensured that America would bring freedom and liberty back to the oppressed peoples of Europe & Asia.
However what the article also brought up was President Bush's lack of respect for the international community and his administration's flawed, unilaterally based foreign policy in contrast. Speaking from my own knowledge, i have to admit that Bush's policies remind me of President Lyndon B. Johnson in Vietnam. In 1965, the first Marines landed at Da Nang, marking the beginning of an American build up which would reach 500,000 at the height of her commitment. In this conflict, America believed her superior weapons would win the war against the nationalistic Communist forces of North Vietnam. Propping up the corrupt Saigon regime of Diem ensured their defeat in the battle of ideas, the most important battle of all. The superior firepower and technology won battlefield victories but never won the war. The Vietnamese people resented them, later Americans at home came to resent the war, ensuring a rapid withdrawal following the election victory of President Richard Nixon.
Now in 2004, America finds herself similarly embroiled in conflict in Iraq and to a lesser extent Afghanistan. The military lessons of Vietnam have been well learned, but what about the ideological lessons? President Bush's unilateral approach to both problems has alienated traditional allies like France and has drawn the ire of the international community. Their imposition of order through force and blatant use of awesome firepower cannot last forever as the Vietnam debacle of the 60s and 70s has shown. With the number of American boys returning State-side in body bags increasing with each passing day, and a lack of serious international support and cooperation their ability to impose the change they want in these countries is questionable. What Bush needs to understand is that sticking to America's founding principles and ideals have been her greatest strength in all the conflicts she has won. Ideas have proven to be the strongest weapon in the foreign policy arsenal, not the threat borne by a force of arms which is often the first choice of the very tyrants America has vehemently opposed over the cause of her history. The cause of freedom, liberty and justice when coupled with respect for the international community has the ability to enlist legions to aid in this noble cause, that is an infalliable quality of the founding fathers & Bush's failure to grasp it might probably prove the end of his presidency sooner or later, as demonstrated by Lyndon B Johnson.
If Bush continues to fail in grasping the above lesson and embracing the principles and ideals which have guided America for so long, it will mean the end of his presidency, not the ultimate ruin of America.The ideological foundations of the nation are strong and preserve the rights of every individual through the gurantee of freedom & liberty; military and civil service are considered privileges by the people, there are no flaws with America as a country, only flaws of the leader.
I was brought up with media influences and a mother who extolls the ways of the Western world, epitomized by the United States of America. I had a friend in elementary school who would vehemently oppose me on all occasions, proclaiming China as the next superpower. Even though I am of Chinese ethinicity, I daresay then and now, that I would not want to live in the hegemony of an oppressive and dictatorial state which has no qualms about shooting and killing thousands of her own citizens who only protested for their God-given right to have a say in how their country is run. Now in my teenages, i continue to believe in it. I still believe in the ideals which are the pillars of the United States; in the fair and equal opportunities of a nation built by immigrants despite the supposed prejudices which arguably exist; in an American dream.
disclaimer: that's my opinion, if you don't subscribe to it, suit yourself, buzz off. everyone is entitled to their own opinion. its called FREEDOM OF SPEECH. and now i have to go and start a long over due maths tutorial...
228 years ago, in 1776, on this exact same day, the Continental Congress released the unanimous Declaration of Independence of the thirteen united States of America written by the future 3rd President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson. Since the victory of the Continental Army at Yorktown in 1783, America has grown into the world's greatest benevolent superpower to date. America was built on the philosophy of the 18th century Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke. In the modern 21st century, they remain as important to us today as they were to the founding fathers.
In the article from the Straits times, it draws parrallels between the Continentals victory over the British colonialists and the Cold War victory over the 'evil empire' of the Soviet Union as the late Ronald Reagan would have put it.In both instances, America appealed to the values and ideals of all freedom loving people around the world to stand up against the aggression and tyranny of both despotic regimes. Franklin and Jefferson engaged in a War of Ideas which brought the French into the war. Cold War warrior Ronald Reagan did the same. Not mentioned, but also pertinent was America's involvement in World War II. President Roosevelt ensured that America would bring freedom and liberty back to the oppressed peoples of Europe & Asia.
However what the article also brought up was President Bush's lack of respect for the international community and his administration's flawed, unilaterally based foreign policy in contrast. Speaking from my own knowledge, i have to admit that Bush's policies remind me of President Lyndon B. Johnson in Vietnam. In 1965, the first Marines landed at Da Nang, marking the beginning of an American build up which would reach 500,000 at the height of her commitment. In this conflict, America believed her superior weapons would win the war against the nationalistic Communist forces of North Vietnam. Propping up the corrupt Saigon regime of Diem ensured their defeat in the battle of ideas, the most important battle of all. The superior firepower and technology won battlefield victories but never won the war. The Vietnamese people resented them, later Americans at home came to resent the war, ensuring a rapid withdrawal following the election victory of President Richard Nixon.
Now in 2004, America finds herself similarly embroiled in conflict in Iraq and to a lesser extent Afghanistan. The military lessons of Vietnam have been well learned, but what about the ideological lessons? President Bush's unilateral approach to both problems has alienated traditional allies like France and has drawn the ire of the international community. Their imposition of order through force and blatant use of awesome firepower cannot last forever as the Vietnam debacle of the 60s and 70s has shown. With the number of American boys returning State-side in body bags increasing with each passing day, and a lack of serious international support and cooperation their ability to impose the change they want in these countries is questionable. What Bush needs to understand is that sticking to America's founding principles and ideals have been her greatest strength in all the conflicts she has won. Ideas have proven to be the strongest weapon in the foreign policy arsenal, not the threat borne by a force of arms which is often the first choice of the very tyrants America has vehemently opposed over the cause of her history. The cause of freedom, liberty and justice when coupled with respect for the international community has the ability to enlist legions to aid in this noble cause, that is an infalliable quality of the founding fathers & Bush's failure to grasp it might probably prove the end of his presidency sooner or later, as demonstrated by Lyndon B Johnson.
If Bush continues to fail in grasping the above lesson and embracing the principles and ideals which have guided America for so long, it will mean the end of his presidency, not the ultimate ruin of America.The ideological foundations of the nation are strong and preserve the rights of every individual through the gurantee of freedom & liberty; military and civil service are considered privileges by the people, there are no flaws with America as a country, only flaws of the leader.
I was brought up with media influences and a mother who extolls the ways of the Western world, epitomized by the United States of America. I had a friend in elementary school who would vehemently oppose me on all occasions, proclaiming China as the next superpower. Even though I am of Chinese ethinicity, I daresay then and now, that I would not want to live in the hegemony of an oppressive and dictatorial state which has no qualms about shooting and killing thousands of her own citizens who only protested for their God-given right to have a say in how their country is run. Now in my teenages, i continue to believe in it. I still believe in the ideals which are the pillars of the United States; in the fair and equal opportunities of a nation built by immigrants despite the supposed prejudices which arguably exist; in an American dream.
disclaimer: that's my opinion, if you don't subscribe to it, suit yourself, buzz off. everyone is entitled to their own opinion. its called FREEDOM OF SPEECH. and now i have to go and start a long over due maths tutorial...
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