I can't help but think George W. Bush (and his Theological Diplomacy) has got his mind set on a modern-day Manifest Destiny for the Middle East, instigated by the Project for a New American Century. I wondered if anyone else saw this analogy, so I googled up some great articles on it.
First, a little background on where the term originated: Manifest Destiny
Now let's see Bush's New Manifest Destiny, and his Psychology of Superiority. I don't think it's hard to draw a comparison here, especially when there's so many great articles out there about this. One could read for an entire weekend on this subject! Here's another great essay, this one concerning the barons and tycoons of the 21st C., so bent on profit that they bend their philosophy to justify their occupations of sovereign nations. Yes indeed, it seems Manifest Destiny Rides Again!
Maybe some Americans are still in that kind of mindset, but I seriously doubt it is a notion that many will find acceptable.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
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2 comments:
there is an interesting symbolic portrayal of Manifest Destiny that shows "Columbia," the great american angel or woman, floating over the plains. ahead of her, in the west, is a great darkness populated by wild animals. There are bears and wolves and Indian people, who are fleeing her light. in her wake come farms, villages and homesteads and in the back are cities and railroads. as the figure progresses across the land, the light of civilization dispels the darkness of ignorance and barbarity. the native americans are pictured WITH the animals and the darkness - they have to be gotten rid of before Columbia can bring prosperity to the US...
it's amazing how the more things change, the more they stay the same, isn't it? great articles and topical as ever, iz!
-s
wow that symbolism is kinda scary! 'course the whole notion that one race somehow guides the world to prosperity is super-creepy in itself. i'm always afraid of people who think they know they are right, no matter what, just because they are "american" or whatever. there's no justifying outrageous atrocities, whether they are committed in the name of "god" or "freedom" or "good triumphing over evil" or whatever excuse is given. i'm sure we're on the same page here.
Manifest Destiny shoulda been buried with our slave-owning forefathers, not brought to the forefront with this Apocalyptic Agenda campaign to scare the world into submission! I'm pissed about this!! Sick of the self-righteous rhetoric from the rabid right, defending traitors and threatening to kill free speech with a bullet to the head. It's time we let them know we see through the agenda, don't ya think?
I really appreciate your comments, Sonja...thanks for givin me a peep. Sometimes I wonder if there's anyone out there reading it!
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