Historical Roots of Our Global Footprint

" Nothing should ever be accepted which would require a navy to defend it."- Thomas Jefferson

" Such a scheme of empire if indulged in, will destroy our republican system of government."- Congress 1860's

It's crazy to me that such words of cautioning against an imperialistic nation have gone by the wayside. Many politicians and leaders would be quick to say that America is not an imperialist nation but taking one look at Mother Jones Magazine's interactive map of U.S. bases around the world, it sure looks like we are. We have a military presence in every continent in the world besides Antarctica. 

 

Reading about the history of our nation and how we got to where we are today, I think it would be good for politicians and policy makers to go back and re-read their U.S. and World history books. There have been many warnings from past presidents and leaders cautioning the buildup of an empire but it seems their warnings have been ignored. 

 

It was interesting to read about how the U.S. acquired Hawaii and that our relationship with the Island started out as a "commercial reciprocity treaty" that was only supposed to last for seven years. When the King of Hawaii granted the U.S. exclusive rights to enter the harbor of Pearl River in the island of Oahu and establish and maintain a coaling and repair station to U.S. vessels,  I don't think he ever believed that his nation would fall to and become a part of the  U.S.

It is interesting to read that the first public indication of the U.S.' intentions of using military bases for our interests and "world peace" was given by President Truman in 1945. Thus publicly starting our persona of "police of the world." The Sandars article says planning for American military bases throughout the world occurred in the post- war era. I wonder why it took those World Wars to make the U.S want to establish permanent bases around the world  when there have been many wars before WWI & II, and establishing essentially a world empire was not one of the outcomes of the aftermath.

"The Real Matrix"

I am stunned.

I cannot believe that literally almost every company I have known and lived my life using their products or services has contracts with the DoD. I enjoyed Turse's article, it was an entertaining and interesting way to take a glimpse into an average person's life, ( an average person who also thinks they are far away from supporting the war) and seeing how intertwined consumerism and the military are.

Its funny to me that I have never once thought about my consumerism in connection with the military. I wonder how many people actually critically think about the impact they have on the world by what they consume? I guess no one I know has, becuase I've never had a conversation about it before in my life.

It only fosters my thinking that this world is completly run and ruled by money. I despise that notion but I guess it is the truth. I'd like to think that there is so much more to life than making money. Its jarring to grow up with one mind set and then find out the world is not what you thought it was! Life is still good though : )

I was suprised by some of the companies that have contracts with the DoD. Actually I was suprised by all of the consumer based ones. Its not suprising to see that manufacturing and technology companies have stakes within the military because one would think that is obvious.
Kellogs? Charmin? Crest? NBC? ....it goes farther than the name brand, but who owns the company. I think that is why I was so suprised, becuase we as a society only know the brand name on the package and usually dont know the parent company and all of its business partners and transactions.

All I know is that I am going to go home today and take a critical eye to everything I own and use and try to think about this article! Kinda cool that one article can make me open up my eyes so much.