GLOBALIZATION
The term "globalization" is a powerful, dreaded and revered word. In short, it has come to represent what is most resisted yet direly needed in our country; ie, change. Last year, our two domineering political powers were campaigning for the White House with one trumpeting experience, expertise and mostly staying the course as its reason for being chosen, and the other utilizing technology, youthful enthusiasm and professing a different venue for us to take. In a time of crisis, there is a place for experience to assist in prevailing in troubling moments using thought, foresight and good judgement. However, there is also a place for new ideals and a fresh or different approach to an age old problem. Our country voted, and "Change" emerged the winner. This is neither to say the defeated party possessed few or no noble principles worthy of consideration nor to imply that had it been elected the winner the platform on which it ran would have failed. It is only as my opinion that I say the losing party seemed to constantly shift with its message regarding what would be in the best interests of our country, and an honorable man most known for his character and preferring to operate above the fray, appeared to lower those standards in the pursuit of victory close to resembling "at any cost."
Change, being perpetual, is never easy. It requires courage, the ability in admitting to being wrong and a willingness to be corrected. It challenges us to remove ourselves from our "comfort zone" and to proceed down the road not traveled. Familiarity is replaced with the unknown and cock sureness displace with doubt. Nevertheless, here we are.
In the coming four years under this new administration, our nation, we as a people, and yes, possibly our world, possess an opportunity to unite, bond and work together in changing what may be the wrong attitude, perception and direction we were taking. No longer are we enabled to use the vastness of two separating oceans serving as a natural boundary to either isolate or protect us from harm. Where we may have failed to realize it before; 9-11 was the change all event for that. Our economy, foreign policy and by virtue of the Internet, our very lives have become inter-woven within the fabric of this world. Outside of death or devastation, there is no turning back for us, and "must" now play with the hand we've been dealt. What's your call?
Up until the mid-twentieth century, the United States had been in a long period of isolationism. The attitude of us not wanting anything to do with them or their problems (them referring to Europe) was widely spoken by the majority of Americans who wanted us to keep out of the business of other nations that didn't concern us. We were dragged into fighting in World War I because the Germans were trying to bring the war to our front door and we were attacked on a beautiful December morning in Hawaii back in 1941 by a powerful Japanese aggressor and for what? Up until then we only fought for the cause of liberty when and only when we were provoked and when we understood what was at stake if we did not fight. Since the end of the second world war we have fought many conflicts including the Cold War with the Soviet Union as well as the Vietnam war that cost this country the lives of over 50,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. Because of globalization we have become the world's most powerful nation-state and we have the world's largest economy. Unfortunately, there are those who would seek to destroy this nation we all love and to banish the ideals that we fight for so that they would never be spoken of again. History has taught us that no matter how large or powerful the empire, eventually, the empire falls. Many skeptics say these exact words about the United States of America. The only difference between the vast empires of world history is that the United States of America is not an empire. We do not seek to invade other lands to make them our own so that we may exploit their natural resources and their people for our own benefit. That may have been the agenda for the Bush administration, but surely is not the case for the Obama administration. 9/11 has taught us that in order for our nation to continue in peace and prosperity, we must be always on the defensive. President Bush re-coined the term "preemptive strike" as a reason for the invasion of Iraq in March of 2003. There is a reason why our defense budget is more than the whole rest of the world combined. That reason is because we need to be prepared to fight terror around the world as well as defend ourselves against nations who would seek to annihilate our way of life simply because it is much, much better than theirs. In the end I believe that history will teach our children and grandchildren that the United States of America will be the only nation on earth that will have prospered and continued to gain strength throughout the years remaining the world's beacon of hope for people who want to make a better life for themselves and their families, but have been given nothing but false hopes and dreams. To be an American is a dream, and I am living it.
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