Who are you? If asked, most Americans would respond, “We are the good guys.” That would be a popular self-image, but one that reality and facts call into question. Famed Harvard political scientist, Samuel Huntington, is most noted for his classic work, Clash of Civilizations addressing the post-Cold War realignment of power.[i] Lesser known is his prescient book, Who Are We? Published in 2004, immigration was the theme, but the bottom line was that we are no longer who we were and that the American dominance of white Anglo-Saxon influence was in jeopardy. Specifically, Huntington noted the effects of the influx of Hispanic cultures and language. That alone has struck fear in too many people.
The historic gateway into America from Europe is marked by the Statue of Liberty. Held in the welcoming sculpture’s arms is a famous poem that reads in part, "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"[ii] Not mentioned, but inferred by many Caucasian citizens is, “As long as they look like me.” What matters more, is that the poem’s sentiments have long passed, and many non-Americans are viewed with disdain and contempt. The melting-pot philosophy emulsified and what emerged has become a pattern of exclusion.
Many Americans believe our values include compassion, generosity, civility, accountability, loyalty, and truthfulness. Some even suggest that our national inception was divinely inspired. Though sometimes idealistically-tainted, America has served as an exemplary beacon of democracy; a bright shining light seen far and wide. However, as exemplified by our actions, the current reality is far more dark and sinister. Worse, the adulteration has been accomplished both wittingly and with the acquiescence of elected leaders. Those invertebrates too frequently have the support of their constituents; most of whom, while painfully ignorant of the facts, are vociferously opinionated on a myriad of issues.
Traditional “American values” have been replaced by fear, greed, and isolation. Facts and truth are readily ignored, even by those charged with the responsibilities of articulating and monitoring the national discourse. False, even patently illogical, narratives have become a norm. Festering, they undermine the validity of American institutions; ones held together solely by common confidence in their validity and efficacy. Former NSA and CIA director, Michael Hayden, was absolutely correct when he addressed the “thin veneer of civilization.”[iii] We both have seen how quickly well-organized institutions can dissolve into chaos. That already has happened both here and abroad.
No longer should America be seen as a trusted ally in any venture, be that NATO, NAFTA, or the Paris Climate Accords. Impetuous by nature, repeatedly President Trump has announced decisions that are arbitrary and capricious. Often, they occurred without either seeking expert advice, or warning those who are required to implement the policies. Abjectly failing to comprehend that like deeds, words have consequences, friend and foe alike have been blindsided by his careless, often vitriolic rhetoric and tweets.
What has emerged is a short-term focused, self-indulgent policy called America First. To the world that really translates into America Only and sometimes America Last. As recently quoted by an unnamed senior White House official, the Trump foreign policy can be articulated as “We’re America: Bitch.”[iv] There can be no doubt that in a multipolar, interconnected world, the consequences have been, and will continue to be, disastrous. As a people, once we saw bullying as an anathema and a trait to deem reprehensible. Now it is embraced at the highest levels of government. Lying is endemic, especially to the media. The impact of media degradation is not exclusively domestic. Strongmen and dictators around the world use American precedence as justification for repression.[v]
Fear is a centerpiece of many discussions. It is consciously employed to arouse emotions and allow imposition of restrictions that are antithetical to democracies. As an example, backing immigration from the crime-savaged countries of Central America, was depicted as support for the vicious gang, MS-13.[vi] While having as much validity as suggesting the United States is defined by the Ku Klux Klan, that outlandish statement came straight from the White House was widely repeated. Missing in the equation is the fact that the U.S. has directly contributed in exacerbating instability throughout that region through execution of the ill-advised and long-lost War on Drugs. Based on North American near-insatiable demand for illegal drugs, and success in interception of shipments transported via the Caribbean, sophisticated cartels created land routes. Driven by almost incalculable wealth, international gangs evolved that were, and remain, unimaginably vicious. Despite our culpability, we now criminalize people fleeing for their lives from the areas we helped infect.
European countries are burdened by relentless immigration issues. While the Middle East has long had stability problems, completely ignored by most Americans is that we too bear some responsibility for the current situation. It was the American-led unwarranted invasion of Iraq that exacerbated the regional conflicts and greatly increased the numbers of refugees fleeing turmoil. Yet, we have a stated policy of not assisting with the refugee problem.[vii]
Hypocritically, the most vociferous complainers are themselves related to, and/or direct descendants of immigrants, some of whom were themselves undocumented. It is estimated that just over five million people claim whole or part Native American status. That equates to 1.6 percent of the total population and means that 98.4 percent of us had relatives that immigrated at some point in the past. Not all of them were documented or educated, including the ancestors of White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly.[viii]
Compared to other countries, America is relatively stingy when it comes to foreign aid. That is quite contrary to what most of our citizens believe and comments about excessive spending on such assistance abound. While people generally think that over 20 percent of the national budget is thus allocated, the reality is we spend under one percent of the budget or 0.19 percent of American GDP.[ix] That is far lower than most European countries, especially those from Scandinavia. You’d probably be surprised to learn that the United Arab Emirates contributes foreign aid at a rate an order of magnitude higher than does the U.S.[x]
Yes, we are a nation of immigrants; most of whom seem bent on pulling the ladder up behind them. At an Annenberg School of Communications conference at the University of Southern California, I heard a U.S. State Department official state, “Nobody in Africa wakes up in the morning and thinks, I wish I were Chinese.” The image of Utopian America lives on, just like we still see light for stars long extinguished. That will continue for years to come and attract others, just as it did most of our forebearers. That reality could be rekindled, but given the extant political climate, that is unlikely and we are the poorer for it.
In the end, we can no longer claim to be the good guys. As a country we have lost our moral compass. Our national values have changed, and not for the better. Bullying and irrational/counterfactual fear tactics dominate both our discourse and policies. We, as citizens, are to blame for the current state of affairs. Unless we act immediately, this insidious path will lead us into the abyss.
[i] https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/1993-06-01/clash-civilizations
[ii] http://quotes.yourdictionary.com/articles/quote-on-statue-of-liberty.html
[iii] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/28/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-intelligence.html
[iv] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/06/a-senior-white-house-official-defines-the-trump-doctrine-were-america-bitch/562511/
[v] https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/28/asia/asia-fake-news-media-repression-intl/index.html
[vi] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/16/president-trump-accuses-democrats-protecting-ms-13-gang-members-want-them-to-be-left-alone.html
[vii] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44523541
[viii] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/11/how-john-kellys-family-history-compares-to-the-immigrants-he-wants-to-keep-from-entering/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.2f0721b6f402
[ix] https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/02/10/383875581/guess-how-much-of-uncle-sams-money-goes-to-foreign-aid-guess-again
[x] https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/sep/09/foreign-aid-which-countries-are-the-most-generous