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Originally posted by Dom Pedro II
Just some statistics:
America has fought over 200 armed conflicts. 5 have been declared wars.
Now... this:
We are in the Pax Americana. But there has also been a Pax Britannia and a Pax Romana. There have been eras of maintained "peace" like this one before held together by other powers. Britain did her own share of assisting struggling countries in the world. She, like us, also did her share of conquest (only Britain made it more blatant).
Just some statistics:
America has fought over 200 armed conflicts. 5 have been declared wars.
Now... this:
We are in the Pax Americana. But there has also been a Pax Britannia and a Pax Romana. There have been eras of maintained "peace" like this one before held together by other powers. Britain did her own share of assisting struggling countries in the world. She, like us, also did her share of conquest (only Britain made it more blatant).
If one looks back on history without passion or interest, one can say the following:
Pax Romana was good for the world. True, a lot of people died resisiting Roman power, but it brought the West a commonwealth and the rule of law that enabled civilization to reach a new height on this planet. The Romans themselves were long confident of the superiority of their governmental system, and sought to extend its power to bring order to the world.
If you talk, however, to the Jews, you will find they have nothing good to say about the Romans. They were one of the Empire's chief victims. Ditto the Catholic Church to the extent that the Romans persecuted the Christians.
I have no doubt as well that Pax Britannia was similarly good for the world. It spread British civilization across the planet and no doubt is the greatest single cause of the modern world we live in. But talk to an American, to an Irishman or to an Indian, and you will get a picture of British arrogance and oppression. But what really happened is that these were offspring who had grown up and now wanted to handle their own affairs.
During WWII, Roosevelt formed the outlines of American foreign policy that we still follow today. Gone were the days of isolationism that existed prior to war. Roosevelt and his people had a vision: We would decolonize the world, form a United Nations that would attend to world order under American leadership, and lead the world to an new era of peace, prosperity and respect for human rights.
Perhaps Roosevelt's vision was somewhat naive, but it is inspiring to Americans. Unfortunately, we were never able to successfully carry out Roosevelt's vision due the advance of communism, and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. But Bush Sr. turn that all around in Desert Storm when he united the world in a common cause for justice. Clinton continued to lead the international community during his presidency in that great cause. And now it is Bush Jr.'s turn.
But there is no doubt that America is hardly a passive participant in the new world order. America is clearly aggressive. This aggressiveness frightens both people who are our friends and those who are our enemies. Our friends because of potential disruptions and accidents of war. Our enemies because they know their freedom to kill and oppress are limited by American power.
Almost no one is neutral on America, but for good reason.
Unlike some who haven't even existed for half a millenia and seek to impose a new age of imperialism... *cough*
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