Tuesday, November 29, 2016

How America became a superpower, in case you ever wondered.

Courtesy of Vox:

The United States is the world's most powerful country by far, with a globe-spanning network of alliances and military bases. It's practically unrecognizable from the way the country began — and, indeed, what many early Americans thought it would be. The above video tells the story of how America changed from an insular former colony to a globe-spanning superpower. 

Expansionism was always in America's DNA, as a country founded by the expulsion and slaughter of American Indians. But after America reached the Pacific coast, there was a real debate as to whether it should go further — whether the US should continue its growth as an imperial power beyond North America's shores.

Of course we know who won that argument.

Personally I really enjoy this kind of video which attempts to educate Americans about who and what we are, and how we may evolve in the future.

However I have to say that I felt some of this was a little whitewashed and did not accurately present some of the reasons for our interventionist attitude.

Still it was a little mind numbing to be reminded that many of our past decisions, including the creation of NATO, were directed solely by a desire to contain and deal with the Soviet Union, and that a product of the USSR, a former KGB agent, has now chosen America's next president for us.

At any minute I expect Rod Serling to step out of the shadows to say "Imagine if you will, a nation which spent decades attempting to control the actions of a foreign government, now led by a man chosen for them by that self same foreign government. An event which surely could only happen in.....the Twilight Zone."

10 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:27 AM

    After watching the documentary on scientology cult, this would explain things. Cult, hackers, Russia, trump. Oh and morning boar.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous2:52 AM

    lIARS, RAPIST, cults, clans, communist, and dictators. The con way artist buy America.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2:53 AM

    Fox nation and morning ho had an election.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous3:49 AM

    That last paragraph is right on. It feels like the Twilight Zone.

    And so does this. Trump's latest tweet says there should be punishment for burning the flag...loss of citizenship or a year in jail.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:14 AM

      The Twilight Zone analogy is how I perceive the travesty of this president elect. Huff Post had a title Twitter Tyranny that resonated also.

      Delete
  5. Hah! I posted the wrong video and did not notice until this morning.

    I think this post will make much more sense now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous6:18 AM

    The Twilight Zone...yeah you wish. We were warned!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyBNmecVtdU

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous8:01 AM

    We are living as very bad episode of the Twilight Zone. No Rod Serling in sight to end the horrible scenes.

    We might call it the reign of cheeto jeebus. Though the majority of Americans would prefer to turn the channel.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous9:22 AM

    BRAVO! Now THAT is a write off and the RIGHT thing to do!
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/patagonia-black-friday-record-sale_us_583ca8dbe4b0860d61162813

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous5:23 PM

    America is NOT a super power anymore. Ask any college History Professor. America has worse problems than most 3rd world countries. We are behind in technology and education. We have the most ignorant population and we can see that fact with the election of Trump. China is THE SUPER POWER, and Russia is quickly rising up. Less and less people are actually immigrating to the U.S. and more and more Americans are literally fleeing to other countries. We haven't been a super power in over 22 years.

    ReplyDelete

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