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from http://www.japantoday.com/ __________ The Land of the Free? D Gordon Hilton Is the United States of America really the greatest nation on Earth? U.S. economic might is truly staggering, and its military capacity is almost unfathomable in scope and brutal effectiveness. Patriotism runs deep in the hearts of its citizens, and individual freedoms are vigorously protected inside its borders. But under closer scrutiny these and other stereotypes perpetuated by Washington, Wall Street and Hollywood don't always hold up. The recent scandals involving Enron, Arthur Andersen, and WorldCom have shown that many of the pillars of U.S. economic strength may not be as solid as once thought. The concern is not just that these companies chose to ignore laws intended to protect shareholders and employees. The real scandal is that the U.S. government has been curiously lax in its efforts to prevent it from happening again. However difficult this may be to accept, there are obvious parallels between this economic-political scandal and the once and future Japanese banking and currency crisis. In addition to the noisy shattering of economic illusions, the perception of the U.S. military is also undergoing a slight reality-adjustment. Neither U.S. military intelligence, the CIA or the FBI could prevent extremists armed with only box-cutters from accomplishing the most heinous act of peace-time terrorism ever witnessed. And more recently, U.S. President George W Bush has been scrambling to reassure voters that despite the mounting evidence, his government had no prior knowledge of the Sept 11 attacks. Whether dismissing radar sightings of the Japanese fleet en route to Pearl Harbour or vastly underestimating the strength of opponents in Indochina, gaps in U.S. defensive-intelligence are nothing new. But when systemically ineffective intelligence is combined with what appears to be increasingly trigger-happy military personnel, the results can be as tragic as they are worrisome. Tragedy is clearly understood by the families of four Canadian soldiers recently killed in Afghanistan when a U.S. pilot ignored his orders and attacked his allies with a 225 kilogram bomb. It is also understood by the survivors of the Afghan wedding that turned into a bloodbath when a U.S. bomb found its way to the festivities on Monday. Sadly these incidents are nothing new and are becoming increasingly common. With the U.S. appointing itself anti-terrorism GloboCop, realism and not cowboy idealism would be a well chosen ally. Post-Sept 11, patriotism in the United States has also changed, reaching new heights. Cars are draped with the Stars and Stripes and proudly display multiple "God Bless America" stickers. Billboards posted along interstate highways urge the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations, while the White House threatens to pull out of peacekeeping operations around the world. And in an effort to protect its war heroes from any possible war crime prosecutions, the U.S. is also boycotting the new International War Crimes Court. In this new era of U.S. isolationism, "United We Stand" is no longer a cry of strength, it is now a reminder of vulnerability. From interstate rest stops and cheap motels to swank cafes and downtown bars, this new vulnerability is clearly visible while the greatness of "America" seems harder to find. It is difficult to see "America the Beautiful" while standing in an impoverished Los Angeles neighbourhood, streets lined with urban flotsam and air dense with smog. It is also hard to understand "America the Free" while U.S. citizens only suspected of having terrorist links slowly decay in jail cells without due process or representation. And "America the Strong" does not seem manifest in the eyes of 19-year-old Marines, more interested in tattoos and football than the U.S. war on terrorism. The myth of "American Freedom" is also becoming much harder to believe. TV talk show host Bill Maher's "Politically Incorrect" program was recently cancelled after he questioned the courage of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. "We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away," said Maher. "Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly.". On the air since 1994, these comments were enough to prompt the cancellation of one of the few unscripted talk shows on U.S. television that epitomized the concept of free speech. It seems that even in the United States, freedom itself is becoming the most scarce commodity of all. Equally worrisome are the words of Bush in response to a recent Court of Appeals judgement. The court ruled that referring to "God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is an establishment of religion in violation of the First Amendment. Calling the ruling "out of step" with U.S. tradition and history, Bush vowed to appoint judges who agree with his assertion that the United States, much like Islamic extremists, "received our rights from God." Giving no reason, the judge has since stayed his ruling until other 9th Circuit judges decide whether to reconsider the case. This is the new face of a cold, determined, and increasingly isolationist United States. Rights, freedoms, and civil liberties can be put on hold if they get in your way. You are either with us or against us. Love us or hate us, just make sure you buy from us. Even still, the United States remains a triumph of democracy and capitalism in a global context. It is a nation that has made great contributions to the progress and welfare of the human race. But as much as it is a nation of heroes, millionaires, and happy immigrants, it is also a nation of ignorance, brutality, and lies. And the one lesson the U.S. seems wont to forget is a dangerous one. No nation, regardless of economic might, military capability, or blind patriotism can stand alone. At least not for long. July 5, 2002 ____________________ Click the link below to view this article and related discussions on Japan Today http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=comment&id=211 ____________________ ===== Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace. Weekly peace walks around Lake Merritt in Oakland. For directions & public transportation info go to http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP/where_when.htm Every Sunday at 3 P.M. Info: (510)763-8712, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or http://www.webwm.com/LMNOP __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! 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