OpEdNews » When Did America Become an Ethnocentric, Arrogant Greedy Pig of a Country?

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Tag(s): American Facism; American Foreign Policy
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April 7, 2008 at 12:39:40

Headlined on 4/7/08:
When Did America Become an Ethnocentric, Arrogant Greedy Pig of a Country?

by Kris Lazaro Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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The United States government needs to stop meddling in foreign affair matters, especially in matters of governance. As a country, we citizens feel that we are the supreme rulers of the world, and as such, we feel the need to spread our version of 'democracy' to others around the world. Sadly, the rest of the world does not see us as the benchmark and 'hero' of the world; in fact, the majority of the world views the United States and its citizens as greedy 'pigs' who look out only for our interests. Thus, the question begs, "What has led the rest of the world to think this way?" in fact, "why have America and her ideals been the ridicule and the butt of jokes in the international community?" The answer is simple: our foreign policy regarding the spread of democracy.

Since our revolution from England in 1776, we as a people have viewed democracy as the pinnacle of human civilization. According to the principles of democracy, the people have the ultimate say in what government should provide, and this magnificent promise has led us to force our way of life on others around the world. We feel that we must spread this ephemeral type of governance, lest the world fall into the hands of 'oppressors.' It is this mentality that has hurt our credibility in the world. Polls are clear about this. Yet we continually try to spread democracy to countries that already have established governments, and while in our opinion democracy may be the best form of governance, we refute all others and try to instill our form. This is the crux of the dilemma.

Other countries feel that we are impinging on their liberties, which ironically we are trying to preserve. For example, in the current state of Iraq, we are trying to instill the philosophies of democracy in a country where democracy will be difficult to defend. Iraq is a country consisting of different tribes who have historically detested one another. In this author's opinion, our form of democracy will be difficult to install in such a political atmosphere, let alone an environment where people are not used to our version of governance. Let them decide what government they want, and let us step back and watch.

The United States needs to realize that there are other countries in the world and each has its own culture. Before this country was ever established, there were already free markets and countries that thrived without the blessings of democracy. As a people, we need to stop being ethnocentric and realize that we are not alone in this world-there are other cultures and other types of governments besides democracy. We need to stop imprinting our version of democracy and become pragmatic in the ways we go about spreading the values of such a government.

America needs to take leadership in world affairs on issues such as global warming.

Graduated with a BS from UC Irvine and pursuing a career in medicine.

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9 comments

I'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.
RogerI'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.

Get a Grip!

Jesus Christ on a crutch, read some history! This country is founded on misery and death. There were 500 nations already here and we systematically killed them off. We've caused the death of millions of people through the actions of organisations like the CIA. We've ALWAYS been an arrogant and greedy people. It is just more obvious now than ever, mainly because the internet helps bring out some truth.

by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 359 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 5:42:15 PM

August Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.
August AdamsAugust Adams is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree in Psychology. He is an activist striving to create a fair and just world for all.

All Empire's are Greedy Pigs

Two must reads:

Howard Zinn - "The People's History of the United States"

and Paul Kennedy's - "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers"

Excellent reads - all Empires fall, usually their greed spreads them thin and they fall from within...

by August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 442 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 6:25:09 PM

My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.
ardee D.My name it means nothing, my age it means less. My deeds of activism are mine to enjoy and share as I feel necesary, not as some clown in a small forum's administration thinks I must..This place gets worse each and every visit.
Member banned on June 3, 2008 for repeated abuse of editors.

Two excellent responses to a somewhat suspect article

We interfere in the affairs of other nations simply to ensure profitability and a higher GNP. All the flowery talk of instilling democracies is little more than garbage. Ask the peopel of Guatemala about instilling a dmeocracy. The democratic government there was replaced by a savage military dictatorship that has tortured and murdered for over five decades now, all for the betterment of United Fruit.

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 6:54:52 PM

I am a 47 years old,married and have a 17 year old daughter.My hobbies are bicyling, weight training and off road motorcycling.I have lived in a midwestern red state my entire 46 years.Now that I have reached middle age I have become interested in politics and its related fields of study.I dont often think of things being either liberal or conservative,I like to veiw political events in an objective manner and find the agenda or reason that a bill or policy is brought to bear.Simply put seeking ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Gary DensonI am a 47 years old,married and have a 17 year old daughter.My hobbies are bicyling, weight training and off road motorcycling.I have lived in a midwestern red state my entire 46 years.Now that I have reached middle age I have become interested in politics and its related fields of study.I dont often think of things being either liberal or conservative,I like to veiw political events in an objective manner and find the agenda or reason that a bill or policy is brought to bear.Simply put seeking ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Greedy Pigs

America is not trying to spread Democracy abroad because it Cant. It has no Democracy at home so spreading it to the rest of the world would be impossible.

What America has is a Plutocracy were government responds only to the demands of the extremely wealthy elite. Corporate heads of greedy multinationals are the ones barking out commands to even the very president of the United States. This is the real reason the world is laughing at us. The realize what an utter joke our so called Democracy has become. They find it amusing to watch a country promote things that pose a very serious risk to our future both financially and with regards to security. They are laughing because they cant believe we as a country allow the wants of greedy multinationals to be top priority thus effectively destroying Americas middle class and the economy with it.

America needs to learn how to" just say no to big business "and look after its own citizens. Restore the rule of law on illegal immigration and bring back the protectionist economic policies that this country was built on. Free trade is a proven loser for everyone but the corporate head. The only reason the corporate head benefits is because after he bankrupts his company with free trade economics he can walk away with millions in compensation and bonuses funded with taxpayer money and the sweat of slave labor.

by Gary Denson (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 214 comments) on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 8:18:17 PM

Stanimal is ???

I hear cries for freedom elsewhere, while the US becomes less so. I hear support for free markets, then demanding a bailout due to incompetence.
I roll my eyes at those that accuse others being oppressed while the US has and still continues to the same and much worse. Laughing at pinheads who purchase and profit from those they curse.

Every time I return to visit I see a country I no longer recognize. A shredded Constitution, a spineless Congress ...

to see more of bio, click on member name
StanimalStanimal is ???

I hear cries for freedom elsewhere, while the US becomes less so. I hear support for free markets, then demanding a bailout due to incompetence.
I roll my eyes at those that accuse others being oppressed while the US has and still continues to the same and much worse. Laughing at pinheads who purchase and profit from those they curse.

Every time I return to visit I see a country I no longer recognize. A shredded Constitution, a spineless Congress ...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Ever since the first Europeans set

foot here is when the arrogance began.

The Monroe Doctrine is the name of this official policy.

The U.S. has never spread any "Democracy" anywhere in the world! What we have done in invaded, and replaced governments with a group who is willing to "Terrorize" their citizens at the bidding of the people who control the wealth.

European parliaments and Palestinian Hamas have been elected through more democracy than has ever been attempted in U.S. votes.

by Stanimal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 17 diaries, 474 comments) on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 12:31:36 AM

.
TomK .

Since day one

Kris - While your intention is good you are young and nieve. There is much to learn about the world and from history. But first, you need to learn a great deal about the real history of USA, and history before the USA was born. You will soon come to understand that just about everything you know and dear to your heart about the USA is wrong. Because you belong to the generation cultured-washed from day one. The following is a tidbit to wet your appitite as you make discoveries about the real world:

The actual source of practising democracy was from the 5 confederate Indian tribes in the Great Lakes regions centering around today's Ohio, upstate NY and southern Ontario. George Washington was sent to command an army to defeat these people as an English general and learned of their system. Years later, he would proposed the same system to resolve intractable in-fighting among the 13 colonies. And you thought a bunch of hard core European aristocrats in a new land fighting amount themselves for money, power and land would suddenly come up with the concept of democracy?

The US has been a force for the greater good during certain short bursts of its history, a history that's as sordid as some of the worst in human history. It managed to wrap itself up in all kinds of godly-good brands since victory in WW2. Call it winner's gloat. Rest assured that US soft power as leader of anything is finished - a profound accomplishment of GW Bush. A lot of folks in the US still can't comprehend this, but the rest of the world understood it in total clarity and has since moved on. In short, they don't care and it's up to America to sort out the meaning.

by TomK (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 217 comments) on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 11:20:49 AM

speaking of naive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forbes_%28general%29

I believe you speak of the Forbes expedition, one in which Washington was not a general but a high ranking officer. There were several Indian confederations before white folks ruined, errr came to this continent. The tribes along the East Coast had treaties, exchanged ambassadors and even had mail service.

History is fascinating, isnt it. But it is there to learn from after all...

by ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments) on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 6:23:28 PM

Former Lawyer, current Business Consultant,history buff, Christian, father of 2 sons and a supporter of democratic government.
ArchieFormer Lawyer, current Business Consultant,history buff, Christian, father of 2 sons and a supporter of democratic government.

When

Democracy was the Athenian way of governing their city thousands of years ago. Representative Democracy was evident in old England before the War of Independence. If the revolutionaries had waited a few years until old George III passed on you would have had your independence without losing one soul. His madness was a factor in the governing of the colonies and should never have been left to fester and attempt to destroy representative government. After that royalty in England had little real power (except persuasion) in governance.

by Archie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1087 comments) on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 11:52:45 PM

I have a degree in theology and a Masters in Holocaust History.
RabbiI have a degree in theology and a Masters in Holocaust History.

Democracy and America???

Ah, a contradiction in terms. A complete study of factual US history shows a completely different view than the sanitized version we have been spoon fed throughout our lives.

We have spread capitalism but not democracy - with too many people living under the yoke of capitalism (sweat shops in other countries to bring us, America, the best of goods).

From slavery on these shores, to the genocide of the Native American - we are not who we want to believe we are. We have installed horrible governments (i.e. the Shaw of Iran, for one). But, we do reserve the right to point the accusatory finger, though at those who do not want to mimic us.

by Rabbi (9 articles, 0 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 103 comments) on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 8:51:18 AM