Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

The place to share your thought provocations
bentech
MPG Ambassador
Karma Hippie
Karma Hippie
Custom Title: eye the witch Melancholy
Location: socal
Has bestowed Karma : 33 times
Received Karma : 28 times
Posts: 17529
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 1:38 pm

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by bentech »

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

By Kim Petersen


“Make America Great Again” was Donald Trump’s campaign slogan. It appeals to the people whose hearts beat with patriotic fervor. But what does such a slogan explicitly point out?

Syntactically, Trump is telling Americans that the United States of America is not great. A country can only become something again when it is currently not that something it seeks to recapture – in this case, that something is greatness. So currently the US is not great according to the mantra of Trump.

Two questions are raised by this?

1. When was America great?

2. How will Trump make America great again?

When was America great?

Obviously, to be become great again, America must have at one time been great. When was that?

Was America great at its inception? In an era when it was killing Indigenous peoples, violating treaties, and stealing their land? Can you be great when the early colonists, many professedly Christians, broke sacred commandments like “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal”?

Was going to war with Mexico from 1846 to 1848 to aggrandize the US landmass great?

Was it great when the US allowed slave labor for the profit of slave owners? The Emancipation Proclamation was not issued until 1863, so unless a person believes that a country in which slavery can be practiced is great, then greatness must not have been possible until the later half of the 19th century. There are, however, some niggling complications to be discussed below.

In 1893, US corporate interests engineered an overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and annexed the islands. Was this great? Yes, the US Congress apologized, but how great of an apology is that? If someone steals your car and says sorry, but that person does not return your car and instead continues driving it around town, would you be content with the apology? Can such an apology even be construed as sincere?

USS Maine entering Havana harbor HD-SN-99-01929.JPEG

“The Maine entering Havana harbor. January 1898.” HD-SN-99-01929. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Defense / Wikimedia Commons)

Near the close of the 19th century, the US went to war with Spain. While docked in Havana Harbor, an onboard explosion occurred sinking the USS Maine with huge loss of life. The cause of the sinking remains mysterious; some point to a spontaneous combustion fire. Nevertheless, despite unclear etiology, the US government, urged on by the yellow journalism of newspaper magnates, blamed Spain and went to war.

Spanish colonies fought with the US against Spain. At the war’s end, the US subsumed administration of the former Spanish colonies. Aspirations for self-determination by Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines were crushed. After bloody wars against the US, the Philippines finally gained independence in 1946. Cuba liberated itself in 1959 (although Guantanamo Bay remains occupied by the US). Guam and Puerto Rico remain de facto colonies of the US.

The 20th century also does not look great on the moral front for the US. The US entered WWI and WWII in the later stages of each war, and it helped to defeat imperialist warmongers in Europe and East Asia. It came up with the Marshall Plan to help Europe back on its feet again and provide markets for US capitalism. [1] Then in 1969, the US accomplished a spectacular feat by placing the first men on the moon. However, at the same time back on planet Earth, the US was waging war against an already war-ravaged Viet Nam that wound up killing millions of Vietnamese, and this came on the heels of waging war against North Korea also killing millions of Koreans. Neither of these countries posed a military threat to the US, and both wars imposed military defeats on the US. As soon as China entered the war in Korea, it pushed the US back from the Yalu River all the way to the 38th parallel. The US war on Viet Nam was a resounding defeat for the US, one that witnessed US troops scampering, at war’s end, from a Saigon rooftop to be transported to safety by helicopters.

Elsewhere, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, lies the Chagos archipelago, the site of more questionable American greatness. There the British government conspired with the US to remove all Chagossians from the British colony (which Britain had severed from Mauritius) to serve as an unfettered American military installation. It remains an ethnically cleansed strategic platform for American imperialism and militarism, as well as a site for extraordinary renditions.

Slavery was long ago outlawed, but racism and discrimination were still rife in 20th century America. It wasn’t until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 that the legal sanctions of racist Jim Crow laws were repealed.

Aside from the violence against Blacks on the homefront, the US was involved in several violent incidents in the 20th century such as the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the invasion of Grenada, Panama, Chile, etc. Is greatness conferred by waging violence? Especially violence against smaller, less militarily armed countries?

Has America ever been a noble beacon on the hill? Has it been an exemplar for democracy, freedom, human rights, and equal opportunity – values that would indicate greatness?

Image result for Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide (Source: Notable Biographies)

Has the 21st century seen a move toward American greatness? In 2003, the Persian Gulf Slaughter, led by the US, saw a genocide committed against Iraq based on a contrived casus belli.

In 2004, the US, abetted by Canada and France, orchestrated a military coup against the elected president of Haiti that forced Jean-Bertrand Aristide into exile overseas.

Then there is the ongoing war against Afghanistan; the war against Libya; the warring against Syria; a US-backed coup in Honduras; US-backed coup plots against the government in Venezuela; and unabated, continued support for the occupation and oppression of Indigenous Palestinians by the Jewish state. The litany of moral depredations that America wreaks upon peoples or that it is fully complicit with demand legal redress.

Given the above, this writer regards with extreme skepticism the notion of America ever having been great in any meaningful sense. Granted, great deeds have been accomplished in America, including developing a leading university system; technological breakthroughs in astronomy, aviation, transportation, communication, armaments; entertainment; sports; etc. However, the deeds do not add up to a great nation.

How will Trump make America great again?

Or, more correctly posed: how will Trump make America great?

Because it seems that America was never truly great. As per the foregoing arguments, I will dismiss the “again” part of Trump’s slogan. Sans the “again,” the slogan is not quite appealing. After all, a reformulated slogan like “Let’s finally make America great” probably wouldn’t be great for attracting votes. Better to appeal to the capricious American dream. But Trump’s slogan alone will not reify American greatness. So how is Trump going to make America great?

By building a wall to keep Mexicans out?

Trump is also pushing for a ban on travel from, originally seven now, six predominantly Muslim countries. Is this selective isolationism — identifying certain, purportedly undesirable nationalities and keeping them out — a nascent sign of greatness?

Is eliminating health insurance for millions of people while cutting taxes for the wealthy a great idea?

Is Trump chumming with Saud clan fat cats — the kleptocratic, misogynistic moneybags for ISIS — a great choice of allies?

Is shooting down a Syrian plane in Syrian airspace, unilaterally setting up US military bases in sovereign Syria, and bombing the country legal, ethical, or a sign of greatness?

Was the lethal US raid on Yemen and its ongoing involvement is a siege creating a cholera epidemic that is killing thousands of children a sign of America becoming great?

Is it great that Donald Trump is repeating the folly of the inarticulate former US president George W Bush who back-tracked on a deal to keep North Korea nuclear free? The result is that North Korea became a nuclear-armed nation. Despite having certified that Iran is compliant with the terms of a 2015 nuclear deal, Trump is determined to undermine the deal by violating the terms. Did Trump learn nothing from the US breaking its deal with North Korea? [2]

Is championing fossil fuels, disregarding the precautionary principle, and jettisoning participation in the Paris climate accord a sign of greatness?

One wonders, just how is it that Trump will make America great, regardless of whether it is again or for the first time?

The Chinese way to Greatness

Greatness is not conferred by having the most billionaires and neither by having the biggest corporations. When at the same time there are millions of working poor and unemployed what is indicated? When there are millions who are homeless and nourished by dumpster diving what does this tell one about the greatness of a country? Clearly, there is a wide chasm between the haves and have-nots. This is not greatness. The number of skyscrapers, the number of overseas military bases, the number of nuclear weapons, Silicon Valley, and the glitz of Hollywood do not mask the stench of a having a huge underclass that refutes any claim to greatness.

Greatness is a transcendent quality that sets itself above all else. Greatness is anathema to moral turpitude. The destruction of Indigenous peoples, the subjugation of others to slavery, the constant resort to lethal violence to impose one’s will, and the deteriorating quality of life for millions of people on the domestic front point toward a quality that rebuts any claim to greatness.

Instead of his bellicose rhetoric against China, Trump would be better advised to consider how the Chinese are pursuing a peaceful path to greatness. Unlike the US, China has pledged no first use of nukes. Although China has strengthened itself militarily (and who can blame it given that China is ringed by US military bases, and given the way an unfriendly US conducts itself in the South China Sea and elsewhere in the world), Chinese Communist Party chairman Xi Jinping affirms that peace is the way to settle disputes. China has an extraordinary goal: it is on target to eliminate poverty by the year 2020. Imagine that! No manned moon landing can compare since the elimination of poverty is not based on a vicarious pride; rather, it is a social development that affects every citizen directly. Moreover, the rising dragon is also poised to place humans on lunar soil. Instead of imposing the scourge of war on small countries, China is a country that aspires to greatness through peaceful dialogue and by ridding itself of the scourges of hunger, homelessness, and other attributes of poverty. China partners with other nations develop their economies; as such it funds and engages in multilateral economic development with a host of nations. Africa is not just a source for resource exploitation; China invests heavily in African infrastructure development. Across Asia and into Europe China invests in the mega Belt and Road Initiative that is spurring economic activity across Eurasia.

Is China great? In terms of the nation state, some kind of agreed upon definition is required. Assuredly, any meaningful definition of greatness would preclude wreaking violence on others. And how great are you if you can not properly care for and provide the basic necessities for your own citizens? I am not ready to pronounce China to be great, [3] but the policy directives and the steps China has embarked on appear promising.

In the case of America, to become genuinely great a first step is demanded. Since America exists as a nation state through its denationalization of Indigenous nations, it must first address and atone for this longstanding injustice. Second, America must sincerely address the historial wrongs committed against African-Americans. And should that day arrive — and hopefully soon — when America has ridden itself of racism, poverty as well as resolutely disavowing violence, then it may be considered to have genuinely attained greatness.

Kim Petersen is a former co-editor of the Dissident Voice newsletter. He can be reached at: kimohp@gmail.com. Twitter: @kimpetersen.

Notes

1. In Understanding Power (New York: The New Press, 2002) anarchist professor Noam Chomsky says, “… the Marshall Plan was designed largely as an export-promotion operation for American business, not as the noblest effort in history …” p 39.

2. It must be noted that the US National Intelligence Estimate of 2007, endorsed by senior officials in 2011, concluded that Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program.

3. At this stage of development, which chairman Xi notes is in the primary stage of socialism, China is still plagued by serious income inequality, albeit this inequality is tapering.

The original source of this article is Global Research
Copyright © Kim Petersen, Global Research, 2017


http://www.globalresearch.ca/making-ame ... in/5600651" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"we must strive to become good ancestors" nader
https://www.myplanetganja.com/viewforum.php?f=48
FUCK jimmydorecomedy.com

User avatar
Lrus007
Advanced Grower
Karma Bhudda
Karma Bhudda
Custom Title: hash and oil maker
Has bestowed Karma : 1085 times
Received Karma : 1701 times
Posts: 2895
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:21 pm

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Lrus007 »

please let me in on where great was, anytime in history.
USA has it's fault's but has done great things.
let's all try to make it better. :smoke:
thanks
Lrus007
My therapist says I am a habitual liar and an attention seeker, therefore nothing I say/write is true and under no circumstances should I be believed nor held accountable for anything I say. all photo's are paintings

People are born with the instinct to fight against their own death, to struggle with their last breath against even the most unavoidable and uncompromising ends.

User avatar
Intrinsic
Advanced Grower
Karma Hippie
Karma Hippie
Has bestowed Karma : 1751 times
Received Karma : 1537 times
Posts: 7656
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 10:51 am

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Intrinsic »

^^yeah

Whata great country. anybody can be president, even a complete asshole jerkoff.

... unless yer a woman apparently.

User avatar
Butcher Bob
Karma God
Karma God
Has bestowed Karma : 1317 times
Received Karma : 921 times
Posts: 3895
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 10:18 am

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Butcher Bob »

Hillary didn't lose because she's a woman...she lost because she's a cunt.
She doesn't give a shit aboot her party or the constituents they serve.
Instead of backing a candidate that all polls showed would soundly beat Trump, she played the political rules game, and colluded with other party members, to make herself the party's nomination, even though many polls showed she would lose to Trump.
Then in a game she's been active in her entire life, she loses to a n00b who's never played....go figure.

If you want a woman who's worthy of the job, then you want Elizabeth Warren.

As long as we have two idiots to choose from, then an idiot is what we will get.

User avatar
Jesús Malverde
Site Moderator
Karma Bhudda
Karma Bhudda
Custom Title: Munchy Sock since OG lol
Has bestowed Karma : 70 times
Received Karma : 131 times
Posts: 2469
Joined: Fri May 27, 2011 6:59 pm

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Jesús Malverde »

Fucking tell 'em BB,
One for the rook

One for the crow

One to rot

and one to grow

User avatar
Sconeofark
Stackin' Karma Yo
Stackin' Karma Yo
Custom Title: Burning Sensation
Received Karma : 1 time
Posts: 276
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:59 pm

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Sconeofark »

You have no idea how lucky we have been so far.

We have never had a believable charismatic leader from the far right. McCarthy was insane, Nixon was too corrupt and Trump is just an asshole. If you don't believe me, there is something like 744 hours of television footage he made of himself that makes the case pretty clear.

We are so lucky they have never been able to come up with their own slick willy.
Is it dry yet?

User avatar
Sconeofark
Stackin' Karma Yo
Stackin' Karma Yo
Custom Title: Burning Sensation
Received Karma : 1 time
Posts: 276
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:59 pm

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Sconeofark »

and by the way if your holding a poll.

our Next president will be Oprah Winfrey.
Is it dry yet?

User avatar
Intrinsic
Advanced Grower
Karma Hippie
Karma Hippie
Has bestowed Karma : 1751 times
Received Karma : 1537 times
Posts: 7656
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 10:51 am

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Intrinsic »

Butcher Bob wrote:Hillary didn't lose because she's a woman...she lost because she's a cunt.
She doesn't give a shit aboot her party or the constituents they serve.
Instead of backing a candidate that all polls showed would soundly beat Trump, she played the political rules game, and colluded with other party members, to make herself the party's nomination, even though many polls showed she would lose to Trump.
Then in a game she's been active in her entire life, she loses to a n00b who's never played....go figure.

If you want a woman who's worthy of the job, then you want Elizabeth Warren.

As long as we have two idiots to choose from, then an idiot is what we will get.

sure she is a cunt, sure there are a lot of good, really good reasons to keep Hillary out of any elected office.
And i would like to believe the voters are savvy enough to reject her on any of those reasons.

But the majority are not ... she lost cause she a women. NOT because she is evil. After all Donald is a dickwad and he won.

User avatar
Butcher Bob
Karma God
Karma God
Has bestowed Karma : 1317 times
Received Karma : 921 times
Posts: 3895
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 10:18 am

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by Butcher Bob »

He's not a DC insider...she is.
People wanted to shake things up....they did.
Simple as that.

When Warren runs, and I believe she will, she will soundly defeat any opponent put up against her.

User avatar
MadMoonMan
Karma Hippie
Karma Hippie
Custom Title: nOT-a-BoT
Location: A Quantum Universe
Has bestowed Karma : 15 times
Received Karma : 231 times
Posts: 8028
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:35 pm

Making America Great, Again? Racism, Poverty, Violence…

Post by MadMoonMan »

I didn't see any reviews on Reagan?
Just because I can't spell misanthrope doesn't mean I'm completely stupid.

Post Reply