American Birth Pains

American Birth Pains

The United States stands alone at a critical crossroad in the evolutionary and revolutionary journey of the nation-state system. As the sole surviving superpower, at the close of the most war-ravaged century in the history of mankind, we possess the opportunity to decide which path we will pursue into the next millennium. Our choices are basic: lead, follow, or get out of the way. Superficially, all of these choices appear as realistic philosophies of statecraft; however, a deeper analysis reveals that assuming the leadership role is fundamentally idealistic. Considering the savage history of the nation-state system, the United States has an obligation to pursue a philosophy of statecraft that promotes our humanistic values if we are to survive and progress as a race of people in the global community.

American's changing Values

Traditional American values are difficult to describe. As a nation of immigrants, our values can best be characterized by the indomitable spirit of the frontier pioneers who tamed our vast continent. We perceive ourselves to be honest, God-fearing, freedom-loving, and law-abiding; we willingly take risks and accept new challenges; we feel compelled to help a neighbor in need; and above all, we strive to live in peace but will fight for our liberty. This persona has shaped the way, we as a nation, conduct our affairs with neighbors in the global community. As stated in our National Security Strategy, America promotes the core values of:

Representative governance, free market economics and respect for fundamental human rights and the rule of law, creating new opportunities to promote peace, prosperity and greater cooperation among nations.

Although we proclaim these as traditional American values, in reality, they are becoming the values of most people in the global community. Unfortunately, there exists a growing strain of Americans who selfishly desire to retreat from our traditional idealistic value of helping neighbors. Several national figures are attempting to dissuade the American people from fulfilling our responsibilities as leaders of the global community. These political voices are promoting a more realistic philosophy of statecraft that is far less risky than the course of international engagement we are currently pursuing. They propose sharing the responsibilities of global leadership in a multi-polar world where the United States can compete, from an advantageous position, without risk to our domestic luxuries. These--self-anointed--prophets are warning that of the evils of our current national strategy of engagement will evolve into entanglement and choke precious life from the United States. In the following paragraphs we will examine why the United States, as the current world leader, has an obligation to pursue a philosophy of statecraft that promotes our humanistic values. We will also explore how the United States shall maintain its idealistic role as the world leader to support security and prosperity in the global community.

America's Problems with Race/ Gender/ Class equality

Conceptualizations of race based on biological differences rather than social constructions are embedded in the American formation of nation throughout history. These conceptualizations, known as scientific racism, along with the ...