It's hard to be an AmericanbroncochickJuly 21 2008, 01:42:40 UTC
The reason why I posted the cartoon, among the many I've seen from that period, is to express the same conclusion that you state: violence is and has always been part of our culture.
Although it is an integral part of our history and it is an aspect of our humanity, violence is something that Americans--ideally speaking--don't want to revert to in order to resolve our conflicts. That's why we have a badass constitution and why we strive to live by the rule of law. Even in situations where we blow it-- violence against Native Americans, the enslavement of Africans, the internment of Japanese Americans, Guantanamo...--we end up reflecting upon our actions and express our collective contrition to the whole world. I trust in US.
I think we CAN become the worst. That is, I think that we can be worst THAN what WE have been or are. In order to prevent that we need to believe in our potential, commit to our ideals, and act like an enlightened nation state. That requires an investment in the nation and its people--something we've neglected to do since the mid '70's.
Are we the worst in history? Maybe yes, maybe no; depends on who you talk to. We don't boil human beings as part of state policy and we don't draw and quarter anymore. However, using atomic bombs on two relatively pristine cities in order to gauge the weapons' true destructive potential can be considered grossly cruel and inhumane.
Although it is an integral part of our history and it is an aspect of our humanity, violence is something that Americans--ideally speaking--don't want to revert to in order to resolve our conflicts. That's why we have a badass constitution and why we strive to live by the rule of law. Even in situations where we blow it-- violence against Native Americans, the enslavement of Africans, the internment of Japanese Americans, Guantanamo...--we end up reflecting upon our actions and express our collective contrition to the whole world. I trust in US.
I think we CAN become the worst. That is, I think that we can be worst THAN what WE have been or are. In order to prevent that we need to believe in our potential, commit to our ideals, and act like an enlightened nation state. That requires an investment in the nation and its people--something we've neglected to do since the mid '70's.
Are we the worst in history? Maybe yes, maybe no; depends on who you talk to. We don't boil human beings as part of state policy and we don't draw and quarter anymore. However, using atomic bombs on two relatively pristine cities in order to gauge the weapons' true destructive potential can be considered grossly cruel and inhumane.
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