The Great American Problem

OK, so two of my classes were cancelled today, and as a result I'm done with class way early. I thought I'd take the time to set down what I think the problem with America is today.

First off, I want to reiterate that I love the country where I was born (USA). I think it's one of humanities greatest achievements. That said, it is a human achievement and is by nature flawed. The United States of America is not the world, yet most Americans would disagree. Sure, the average man or woman on the street knows there are other nations. This average person no doubt (due to a combination of nationalism and ingnorance) thinks America is superior while most other nations inferior. This being the case in all instances, even in regards to nations very similar to ours (such as Canada and the United Kingdom). This is all well and good, I understand people are fond of/love their homeland so much they can be a little overly enthusiastic. However, enthusiasm turns to blind arrogance when citizenry refuse to acknowledge that not everyone who is different is inferior. The American system of government, public religious doctrine (Judeo-Christian), and Imperialistic self-interest are not the only way to run things.

The biggest problem America has is that it is in love with itself too much. We think we've hit the right notes and want everyone else in the world to play out same tune. I think that we have hit the right notes, but it's the combination of the composition that needs to be changed to achieve perfection. Rather than spend a majority of our tax dollars fighting other outside groups to spread our type of government, the United States should shift it's focus to it's interior. I'm not arguing that we should become isolationism again, those days are over. The global community, thanks to modern transportation and communication technology has eliminated the self contained nation. Rather, I suggest the United States try harder to become a part of the global community instead of being the global community.

The lessons learned from 9/11 shouldn't be forgotten--the world is filled with people who hate and wish great harm to the Western world. As member of that Western world, the United States should pro-actively search out and destroy these people. Not because they are different, or dislike us--but because left to their own devices they would kill and maim our people. Our government (and by this I also mean average citizens) need to learn as much as they can about the varying cultures of the world. Only with pluralism can we overcome the obstacles set before us by all aggressive orthodoxy which threatens to kill this thing we hold so dear called, democracy. I say this not in the context of "no thine enemy" but of "love thine enemy." To know someone is to love them (or so the philosophers say).

Right now, in the news, some in the Muslim world are going crazy because of a cartoon. As simple and benign as a cartoon is to us in the West, this particular cartoon is causing much trouble. The cartoon I speak of was printed in Denmark and depicts the Prophet Muhammad as a suicide bomber. This type of thing would be considered in bad taste in the West, in the Middle East some Muslims want (and are getting) blood. Five people in Afghanistan have been killed as a result. There are riots throughout the Muslim world. Denmark is suffering greatly, but why? Because of a difference in cultures. Many Americans might not understand why Muslims are so upset because they don't understand that all images of Muhammad are considered holy. To draw such a cartoon is blasphemous. These types of misunderstands only help create a rift between the West and Middle East. We must educate ourselves before judging the actions of others.

Now, on this issue, I think both parties are wrong. It was wrong to depict Muhammad as a terrorist. It was/is also wrong for those who were offended by this type of hate speech to become violent. I think the best way for the Muslims to attack this sort of hatred is not with bullets but with bucks. I've read that Demark is suffering greatly economically because of this incident. By refusing to purchase Danish goods, the Muslims are making their feelings known. This will no doubt, cause the government of Denmark to more closesly examine it's media and that institutions responsibility.


Overall, the world is becoming smaller and America is becoming bigger. At some point, the world will one of these two entities will end, leaving only one. Were America a utopian paradise of wealth and understanding I'd say "goodbye and good riddence" to the rest of the world. But America is far from perfect. I think America needs the rest of the world just as much as the rest of the world needs America. There has to be a balance between existing in concert with the world and seeking to dominate it. The solutions to our problems (as well as the world's) may not lie within the hallowed halls of America, but in some other nation. Why erradicate the worlds multitude of perspectives in favor of a vanilla coated, American dominated sphere? Different systems yeild different results. By removing all but one from the planet we are severly limiting the possiblities of our species.