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Bring back America's better half
01-Apr-2008
The U.S. is a global power, and it can remain powerful basically through fair mutual relationships with other nations. While we influence many events in the world, our economic prosperity is also partially rooted in other nations, and in the age of globalization American interests ultimately cannot be protected by militarization of foreign policy. In global relations, America has helped the people of some nations to achieve better lives, but at the same time it has also recognized and supported some of the most brutal regimes in the world. In recent years, because of abuses at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, the U.S. has lost much of its credibility as an advocate of human rights and democracy.
With the end of the cold war and the demise of the former Soviet Union, a great hope arose that America would move toward its “better half”—humanistic and democratic—at both the domestic and global levels. Yet, U.S. actions in the past few years have once again displayed the dark side of American foreign policy. In this presidential election, the world anxiously wishes to see America’s “better self.” The unprecedented popular excitement and participation during the current primary season shows that the American people are hoping for a deep and genuine change, and so it is important to ask which candidate most closely meets the fundamental needs of the time.
Republican Senator John McCain wants to continue the current foreign policy, which is characterized by militarization of world politics and economics. Like President Bush, his main issue for energizing the voters is creating fear and portraying himself as an iron fist and the only candidate who will use military muscle to stop foreign terrorists—as if President Bush hasn’t already tried that in vain. Uniting the nation based on foreign threat has already cost this country thousands of lives and billions of dollars with no result, and it has created more hostility against the U.S. and definitely less security for American interests around the world. Why should we continue on an obviously failed path? The era of military empire expired long ago, and economic empire has been replaced by a world of multi-polar and regional powers in the past two decades.
Either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama, if elected as the first female or African American president, will turn the page in the history of our nation and begin a new chapter. However, neither race nor gender is the main question of this election. The main issues are the related factors of the economy and the war in Iraq. Other concerns such as health care, immigration, and security are linked to these issues. Also, in this election America needs to elect a president who will drastically change the negative image of the country. Hillary Clinton, though a very articulate and knowledgeable candidate, cannot represent a genuine change because she supported the war and has not distanced herself from the Bush administration’s militarization policy. She also did not disassociate herself from Senator Joseph Lieberman, who shares more views with John McCain than with the Democratic Party.
Our nation desperately needs a president whose image and merits can heal the deep wounds created by the lies, secrecy, demagoguery, lobbyist scandals, and deceptions that pushed us into a costly war and created a disastrous economic situation while favoring particular interest groups and the ultra wealthy.
We need a leader whose image and policy can repair the damage done by the Abu Ghraib scandal in eyes of Muslims and Arabs; a president who can show consolidation with these nations to regain the lost trust in the international community. Such a crucial and humanistic gesture, which President Bush has failed to exercise, would make the withdrawal of our military forces from Iraq smoother, and the world would respond favorably to a leadership in the White House that reduces religious tension between Christians and Muslims , which is a major threat in our time. Other nations want to see an America that, when it acts as a policeman in the world, acts fairly.
The world does not want to see another leader in the White House whose goal is to show how tough we are by using military muscle against other nations. We have tried that and failed, and almost the entire world warned us ahead of time of our error by refusing to give a United Nations sanction to the invasion of Iraq. Our militaristic mentality has done serious damage to our interests in the world and definitely cannot resolve the serious, multi-dimensional global problems that we face. Instead of imposing democracy in other countries with military force, we need to show our authoritarian allies the advantages of democracy and help the people in hostile countries to establish the social and cultural fabrics of democratic society.
Barack Obama, with unique characteristics that intersect with these imperatives, meets the needs of our time better than anyone else. Obama in the White House would help the world to see the better half of America, a democratic and humanistic America.
Kazem Alamdari teaches in the Department of Sociology at California State University, Northridge. His latest book is Why the Middle East Lagged Behind (2006).
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The ideals set forth in 1776
by mehdi44 (not verified) on Fri Apr 04, 2008 05:48 PM PDTAmericans can show their true side by not so much electing Obama to be our President or even nominating him to be the Democratic nominee, but in how the battle for the ideas during this election process is waged.
2008 election will be America’s chance to show the world that the Constitution is not just a series of words written on a piece of paper – and Americans truly believe in the ideals that was set forth back in 1776 - that all men are created equal!
//essenceofwisdom.blogspot.com/2008/04/bullsh...
there was never a better side
by Alborzzi (not verified) on Thu Apr 03, 2008 01:08 PM PDTInterview with David Barsamian author of Targeting Iran.
Part 1
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPXVmLwZv8s&feature...
Part 2
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHsJm5yW43w&feature...
Frozen in time
by Anonymous347 (not verified) on Thu Apr 03, 2008 04:58 AM PDTDear Craig;
If you have not noticed this site is filled with people who are frozen in time and live in another century and time far far back altogehter.
Hardcore royalists who are still dwelling in pre-revolutionary era; Hardcore "defunct" Commies and leftists who are still dwelling in Khrushchev's and maybe Stalin's era; and a bunch of Islamist fanatics who are still dwelling in the 6th century and defend the ragheads ruling in Iran ... all irrelevant when it comes to modern times and the 21st century
Don't bother yourself with them!
Hillbama and other mischiefs...
by Antibullshit (not verified) on Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:18 PM PDTQuestion to professor Alamdary:
Are Obama-Clinton capable of running a Taco stand together?
Why should the strongest nation-economy in the world be run by these neophytes?
Why should American-Iranians support the Anti_Iranian policies of the Democratic Party?
Javid_Iran
Still nothing relevant
by programmer craig on Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:03 AM PDTYou did not address a single thing from an actual comment I made. I refuse to be baited into a discussion of things you want to talk about. If you want to have a discussion of these other matters, make your own blog post about it, and maybe I'll comment. Maybe I won't.
Programmer Craig, you are missing the Big Picture
by farokh2000 on Wed Apr 02, 2008 07:55 AM PDTThe real question is who made U.S. the Policeman of the World?
Unless it is to defend yourself against agression, invading, occupying and murdering other people is a CRIME.
Had anyone from Iraq or Afghanistan hurt one American before US Government invaded their country and destroyed their Culture, history and Nation?
You cannot, in any way or shape, justify the American Government's actions around the World. It is total madness and will backfire big time.
Unfortunate thing about it is the fact that the ordinary people in this counry have no say in it since they are being terrorised by the Government here as well. Don't tell me people have a say at the Ballot Boxes. They don't, as we can remember from 2000 and 2004 Elections here.
forkh2000 (and Alborzi)
by programmer craig on Tue Apr 01, 2008 05:49 PM PDTIt is you and people like you who are pushing the World towards disaster that it is headed now.
People like me? lol.
This is the 21st Century, if you did not know. You don't build Empires anymore. Those days are gone.
Who said anything about building empires? I discussed globalization and American foreign relations. Did you pkan on addressing my comment at all? Because if you just want to pontificate, I'd prefer you leave me out of it. Particularly since you don't seem to be able to address anything to me without stereotyping me at the same time.
Being civil and humanitarian would be much more effectice than raping,
turturing, robing and killing people and then asking "Why do they hate
us?"
Again, what does this have to do with my comment? You can express your opinions without bringing my name into it.
Alborzi,
the same rednecks will elect McCain, but Iran who survived Bush can deal with McCain.
You realize "redneck" is an ethnic slur, right? I don't know what you were trying to accomplish with your comment, but Obama has taken a big hit the last couple of weeks for being closely associated with a militant racist. You probably aren't going to get many people to vote for Obama when your comment endorsing him includes a racist statement of your own, eh? I'm just saying! Seriously, do you guys even think before you type? At all?
Iran will take care of herself
by Alborzi (not verified) on Tue Apr 01, 2008 02:34 PM PDTThe events of last weekend in Iraq showed to
the world what a mature government Iran is and Bush's
NATO policy and the anti-missile sites in Poland and .. . look more and more provocative. Iran has been doing its thing during a rabid presidency. However the choice of next president will cause major changes primarily in US. Back in 1973 when I arrived in the US, I was puzzled by election of Nixon during an unpopular war and inflation (for the first time), I think the forces that elected Nixon (McGovern was a PHD and a Koran war decorated pilot) the same rednecks will elect McCain, but Iran who survived Bush can deal with McCain.
Programmer Craig
by farokh2000 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 01:44 PM PDTIt is you and people like you who are pushing the World towards disaster that it is headed now.
This is the 21st Century, if you did not know. You don't build Empires anymore. Those days are gone.
Being civil and humanitarian would be much more effectice than raping, turturing, robing and killing people and then asking "Why do they hate us?"
Disagreement
by programmer craig on Tue Apr 01, 2008 01:21 PM PDTOur militaristic mentality has done serious damage to our interests in
the world and definitely cannot resolve the serious, multi-dimensional
global problems that we face.
I disagree. The decision to invade Iraq was a ba done, and the occupation has been disastrously incompetent, but I don't belive it has been a set-back to US interests. I don't even understand how you can realistically make that argument. The resurgance of Russia was inevitable - Russians are a proud and powerful people, and they weren't happy with the dire condition they were in at the end of the Cold War. Likewise, it was inevitable that Western Europe would find it's own way in the world, when the Cold War ended and they no longer needed to be in the shadow of America. China is China. I don't think the Chinese much care what goes on in the world, as long as they can get their own interests served. And as far as the middle east, (and south/central Asia) I could make a pretty good argument that the US is in a better position now then it was during the Clinton years. Clinton bascially turned his back on the ME and allowed hatreds to fester, and aggression to go unchallenged.
While we influence many events in the world, our economic prosperity is
also partially rooted in other nations, and in the age of globalization
American interests ultimately cannot be protected by militarization of
foreign policy.
Globalization has not been good for America. It hasn't been good for teh US economy, and it hasn't been good for the American people. The US had 32% of the global GDP 15 years ago. We have ~20% of it now. Our manufacturing sector has been devastated, and we are losing the domestic high tech industry. Globalization has only been good for American Corporation, who use exportation of manufacturing and service to increase their profits. This IS a benefit to those countries that American corporations invest in, but that's hardly an argument that Americans should find persuasive, is it?
I agrree with you but!
by Maryam Hojjat (not verified) on Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:59 PM PDTNice article. I agree with you regarding Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton. However, Mr. Obama's stand with IRI troubles me. He intends to negotiate with IRI unconditionally which is not a wise decision. I think Mr. Obama must stand firm supporting Iranian people in their struggle for freedon and liberty. Mr. Obama must try to rid Iranian & free world from danger that IRI imposes on them.
Makes a lot of sense
by farokh2000 on Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:49 PM PDTBut does it make sense to the brainwashed people of this country who have been ruled by fear for the last eight years?
I hope it does.
Thanks for the nice article.