America's Global Imperative....MIA

Thoughts on Reclaiming American Greatness

Published on July 4, 2007 By jdkeepsmiling In Life

America has lost it's global imperative. It is not hiding around the corner, or on vacation, it is completely MIA. It went on permanent leave when the Communist bloc fell, and suddenly we were the sole superpower in a world accustomed to two ideologies going toe to toe all over the world. The problem with this is that America likes to have the moral high ground, and this we did when were leading the world to freedom and democracy against those dirty commies. But afterwards all we had was our economy, which sounds great, but it is not something that you always feel proud about.

The current political leadership has tried it's darnedest to regain America's global imperative by substituting terrorism for communism. The problem is that it is not working. I agree terrorism is a threat, but it does not rank up with communism. We cannot look on a map and point to a big old huge mass that is the "enemy." Our kids cannot shake in fear of a mass nuclear attack. While terrorism is a threat, it is not the threat that communism is. For much of us in the "Flyover" part of the country, terrorism is a remote distant thing that only happens to those people on the coasts. I am in no way saying that terrorism should be ignored, but we cannot use it as the national rallying cry, it's just not going to work.

My suggestion is that we focus our national efforts on something that is positive, and will help American reclaim the high moral authority we used to have. Instead of being the proverbial big bully, lets pick an issue and lead globally on this issue. For example, we could embrace facing global warming head on, China be damned. We could invest trillions in new technologies and lead the world in deploying these HOMEGROWN technologies. Not only could we brag to the rest of the world while they scramble to catch up, but American companies would be able to export this knowledge and technology across the globe, thus helping our economy as well. I know some out there don't give a crap about global warming, but the rest of the world does. If we are going to gain back our moral and global imperative, it would be a great issue to lead on. If not global warming, pick something...global hunger, water access or literacy. This would restore us to a place of leadership in the world, and give the average American something to believe in again.

Just a thought...JD

Comments

ThinkAloud

on Jul 04, 2007

Very insightful article. it raises many questions worth asking and debating the answers to them on the highest level of the official and intellectual levels in the Nation.

As an ordinary citizen, let me try to propose some of the questions and the possible answers.

America likes to have the moral high ground, and this we did when were leading the world to freedom and democracy against those dirty commies. But afterwards all we had was our economy

All of a sudden "the moral high ground" principle disappeared? where did "the morals go"?

could it be that they were never there in the first place? could it be that "the morals" were used only as a battle cry and not as a real conviction? could it be that once we won and the battle was over, "the morals" had no place in our policies? Or, may be we got drunk with the victory and let the "the morals" slip out?

If we are going to gain back our moral and global imperative, it would be a great issue to lead on

This would restore us to a place of leadership in the world, and give the average American something to believe in again

Morals are not issues. Morals are a way of conduct and principles to live by.

If we are to reclaim our Global Imperative we must live up to the ideals we say we believe in. Our policies must conform to those ideals not contradict them as currently the case.

jdkeepsmiling

on Jul 05, 2007

I understand what you are saying about morals and issues. But, as it is in the modern context, the two often are confused. I am not speaking to a utopian ideal where we have real morals and follow them, but rather to the reality of 21st century America. The current administrations uses the terms democracy and freedom as if they were morals, and some may say they are, as guiding principals of this country. My point was that by taking the lead on an issue that the whole world is struggling with, we can regain the moral high ground, and be respected again by the world.

ThinkAloud

on Jul 05, 2007

The current administrations uses the terms democracy and freedom as if they were morals

They are. The problem is our foreign policies are far from both. Just look at the regimes we support and protect against their people's will.They are numerous to count or list. However, they use these two principles as issues when they want to attack certain regimes they consider hostile to the US. That is what i meant by differentiating between "issues" and principles. If you treat the latter as the former,it is no longer a "moral" it is just an issue you can raise or ignore according to the situation.

My point was that by taking the lead on an issue that the whole world is struggling with, we can regain the moral high ground, and be respected again by the world.

That is very true. But we have to do it not as an issue but as a principle that we believe in and apply it consistently. at home and abroad.

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