Objurgate

\OB-juhr-gayt\, transitive verb:
To express strong disapproval of; to criticize severely.

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American Empire Part II

Which raises another concern. Living here, I completely disagree with our country’s national policy. I am afraid that action in the Middle East is shades of at the very least military expansion, and at most a growing Empire (where here, the Empire is a burgeoning money tree). I abhor the national politics of encouraging fear among our own people in order to spur action against “terrorists”, who are must less dangerous, and much less terrifying, than our country and its policies have come to be. Many of the things I love about this country have dwindled—the media buckles, at times, under political presence, the Senate bows to the President, the people’s discontent ignored, free speech readily available, unhindered, and seemingly entirely ineffective. These are only my concerns—there is still plenty I love about my country.

But if it were to be fought—if my country were to be retaliated against for further invasions, for instituting corporate and superpower terrorism, for disobeying the UN and being an aggressor to financial ends—if my country were to be fought against, whether in a political, or even an aggressive sense, I don’t know what I would do.

Shall I take up arms, fight for the homeland, though I foresaw such retaliation from those fearing the beast? I’m not talking about terrorists coming to American and blowing things up—not cowardice; I’m talking about sensible countries that after years and years of attempting treaties, reasonable dialogue, peaceful intervening, have no other choice but to put a stop to American politics (this is, of course, if America continues along this current path—which I have my doubts and hopes it will). But if such a thing occurred, I don’t know if I’d agree with American foreign policy enough to fight for it.

In fact, it is my inclination at this point that I would feel a moral obligation not to fight for it. If I were to fight, it would be for those I love—my family, community, the parts of America I respect. The idea of American democracy. But if that institution has been de-established, and I am asked to fight for an aggressive, cruel foreign policy, I could not defend such notions. If America became an Empire, I might even agree with its being toppled.

And such a thing would break my heart—to not only watch all the things I love about my country blown away on the wings of financial prominence, but to thereafter be obliged, and think it sensible, to wish its suppression. I mire such things when talking about the Iraq war and American foreign policy constantly, and thus do I say I fear an American Empire.

It would be America in name alone, aggressive, ignorant of its people’s desires, and ritualistically concerned with monetary gain and little else. Would you defend such a future?

Let’s hope it never comes to that end. I hope for change above all else in 2008.