Friday, July 04, 2003

RED, WHITE AND BLUE

old glory

Warm greetings to any American readers out there. Happy 4th of July.

Why should I join in the celebrations? Me, accused of being anti-American for my opposition to the invasion of Iraq.

The birth of the United States was one of the momentous events in history. Throwing off the yoke of an oppressive ruler and the concept of self-determination is an event that we should all celebrate.

In the west and elsewhere in the world, most of us aspire to the American dream. We want a decent job not dependant on patronage, the freedom to express ourselves, the freedom to move, the freedom to consume and the freedom to protest against what we see as injustice. We listen to American music, watch "Friends", "The West Wing" and "24", go to see American movies and even wear American sports teams' colours. And, we cried when we witnessed the horror of September 11.

America is, for all intents and purposes, the greatest nation on earth. Us Brits may think that the patriotic fervour of many Americans - the devotion to the flag, the singing (badly) of the national anthem at every occasion - as gauche. But, why shouldn't Americans be proud of the fundamental basis of their country.

Americans have a lot to be proud of. Their country is still the richest, the most powerful and (probably) the most free. Opportunity beckons and, as they say, anybody can become President.

But, there is a lot in America and in America's foreign policy that grates against those on the outside. The US has still not solved its race issue (and, yes, we haven't solved ours either) as seen by the recent, fudged Supreme Court decision on affirmative action. America's exploits abroad frighten many of us and smack of arrogance. This new world order - a new balance of power if you will - is a deliberate threat to internationalism.

I still have American friends from my time there. I recall some using the phrase the "great experiment", referring to American nationhood and democracy. That's rather a quaint notion. It's also a rather Hegelian concept too. But, it if true, then that means that the United States will make mistakes along its logical path to (some sort of) perfection.

I'll miss the fireworks tonight and the parties around DC. But, happy birthday USA. Long may you prosper.

Put another vegetable brochette on the barbie for me.

:: Posted by pete @ 13:11