Lucy from Japan
Dear America,
America…it is hard to think of what to say to you as I see the world is in a constant debate to try to define you and find your proper role. To me, strangely enough, America has become my home and a very strong part of my identity that I cannot refute. I have spent most of my life in the U.S. and obtained my permanent residency at a young age. Having had the freedom to choose to live in the united states, I should be in great awe at the vast opportunities America has to offer…and it has….I am one of the lucky immigrants that has been able to take advantage of what the American Dream has to offer…great education system, good wages, internationalization, vast mixing of cultures, etc. etc. Yet, I am still uncertain weather I can fully accept America for what it is. How can you embrace America as your home if America does not listen to us, us as the many multi-cultural residents in the U.S. that has often found that the world is screaming messages to America that she doesn’t seems to hear.
Do you know how it feels to be told by a relative, “Why are you doing this? Why are you sending troops into Iraq?” Apparently “you” (me) is equated with America, and I am lost as to how to explain to my cousin, that yes although I live in the states I and many others around me were not the ones who sent the troops marching. That democracy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are heard.
You think it is right to play the world’s police, and yet what is it telling the world if you decide not to listen even to the UN? We didn’t care, and we didn’t know, but we will get what we want…ignorance and arrogance as one of my friends put it. We need to learn to fully evaluate every situation by looking into more than the intent the government has. Every country has its history, politics, government, etc…and we need to know the other before deciding what to do. It is too late to find out the very complex history and sects of Iraq that could have warned us of the civil war that erupted. America is a powerful giant, there is no refuting that, but as such a powerful country, it must learn to take responsibility for its actions. It is no longer about what Americas wants, or even about saving Bush’s face, we must begin to re-evaluate our prior actions and begin to have a different mind set in evaluating such foreign policies.
About the author:
Name: Lucy
Age: 22
Country: Japan
Gender: Female
Experience with America: Currently Living in the US
5 Comments
Published on Tuesday, February 06, 2007 at 12:02 AM. America…it is hard to think of what to say to you as I see the world is in a constant debate to try to define you and find your proper role. To me, strangely enough, America has become my home and a very strong part of my identity that I cannot refute. I have spent most of my life in the U.S. and obtained my permanent residency at a young age. Having had the freedom to choose to live in the united states, I should be in great awe at the vast opportunities America has to offer…and it has….I am one of the lucky immigrants that has been able to take advantage of what the American Dream has to offer…great education system, good wages, internationalization, vast mixing of cultures, etc. etc. Yet, I am still uncertain weather I can fully accept America for what it is. How can you embrace America as your home if America does not listen to us, us as the many multi-cultural residents in the U.S. that has often found that the world is screaming messages to America that she doesn’t seems to hear.
Do you know how it feels to be told by a relative, “Why are you doing this? Why are you sending troops into Iraq?” Apparently “you” (me) is equated with America, and I am lost as to how to explain to my cousin, that yes although I live in the states I and many others around me were not the ones who sent the troops marching. That democracy doesn’t necessarily mean that you are heard.
You think it is right to play the world’s police, and yet what is it telling the world if you decide not to listen even to the UN? We didn’t care, and we didn’t know, but we will get what we want…ignorance and arrogance as one of my friends put it. We need to learn to fully evaluate every situation by looking into more than the intent the government has. Every country has its history, politics, government, etc…and we need to know the other before deciding what to do. It is too late to find out the very complex history and sects of Iraq that could have warned us of the civil war that erupted. America is a powerful giant, there is no refuting that, but as such a powerful country, it must learn to take responsibility for its actions. It is no longer about what Americas wants, or even about saving Bush’s face, we must begin to re-evaluate our prior actions and begin to have a different mind set in evaluating such foreign policies.
About the author:
Name: Lucy
Age: 22
Country: Japan
Gender: Female
Experience with America: Currently Living in the US
Labels: 20's, american dream, asia, culture, currently living in the US, female, foreign affairs, foreign policy, immigration, japan, military, war and conflict
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we must begin to re-evaluate our prior actions and begin to have a different mind set in evaluating such foreign policies.
Like the detached polite disdain regarding tyrants and miscreants who leave body counts in the MILLIONS in their wakes?
OK, we could try not giving a damn again. Lets forget the ROK, let the DPRK have the place, same with Taiwan and the PRC. That should make Japan feel comfy and secure right? Then when we pack up an retreat completely to Pearl, you should have just about everything the way you want it right?
It always works for a while...
...then those who favor the polite disdain approach always seem to come back asking us to help with the heavy lifting when the yoke get s a bit heavy.
Lucy, the UN ignored its own resolutions when Saddam defied them. When the police ignore criminals breaking the law, should onlookers do nothing? Saddam killed his own people by the hundreds of thousands, invaded most of his neighbors, and planned to do worse. Why does your criticism fall on the country that stopped that? Do you really think Iraq would be better off with Saddam busing whole villages out to the desert to gun them down and bury them in mass graves?
You say that democracy doesn't mean that you always get heard. Of course, that's not true. What is true, is that you don't always get your way. At some point, most adults learn that not getting your way doesn't mean you should go around pouting and whining.
And as far as your contention that American should just look the other way in the face of real evil, all that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing.
The UN cannot even do anything about the situation in Darfur for heaven's sake! Why should anyone rely on the constantly incompetent, corrupt, and feckless UN?
Number One: The UN is often ineffective in large part because the most powerful nation in the world doesn't respect it. When the U.S. shows it doesn't have to listen, throws its weight around, the whole thing loses credibility.
Number Two: Saddam did not "invade most of his neighbours," that's a plain lie. He invaded Kuwait which used to be a part of Iraq.
And yes Saddam had been responsible for deaths like most world leaders. Bush has him beat now by a long shot. Hell, Bush was execution happy when he was governor. But, I guess it was Texas.