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The imperialistic trend in America today is one that is both ethically and historically questionable. Ethically because by becoming imperialistic, the United States is throwing the chains of imperialism onto other countries in the same manner as England did colonial times. This in of it self is both hypocritical and immoral. Imperialism is questionable historically because of a quote, which happens to lend itself to the situation; "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." It is in this light that I also feel that over-expansion and over-extension are the greatest downfalls of all great civilizations, and by not heeding this historical warning, as it were, we are heading down the same path to a possible decline or extinction of our way of life.

  
       Ethical reasons for calling American imperialism hypocritical are great in number as well as in depth. The United States of America was, before Independence in 1776, a small colony under the imperialistic, note the word choice, rule of England. It was through a revolution, only recognized after a war, that Americans collectively cast down the chains of imperialism to begin anew under ‘the great experiment in democracy.’ Now, just over a century since gaining independence, in a generation who has not known the life of a colonist and has no memory of imperial oppression, there are some Americans who are calling for American expansion and other imperialist actions. It is of my view that it would be a farce to call oneself a child of a great, just, free nation while also calling for the intervention and occupation of smaller nations. These actions by their basic definition and nature are in violation of every basic freedom outlined in the Constitution.  
       An old adage says something to the effect of ‘History is the ultimate teacher.’ A prime example of this is that of ancient Rome; arguably the greatest empire of modern history. Rome was militarily powerful, a center of trade and the arts, and was a republic. It’s only downfall and reason for vanishing into history was that it had acquired so much land area that it became too large and could not be effectively governed. The similarities between the description above and America today are astounding. It is then logically plausible to assume that the United States could be vulnerable to the same fate. It is in viewing these similarities that talk of American Imperialism makes me worry about the future of this country, for those who speak of imperialism are obviously not students of history or believers in the two quotes already stated in this position. History repeats itself if one is not careful, and it would be foolish to not take steps to prevent it from doing so.  
       It is in light of these two thoughts that I am adamantly against Imperialism in American. I cannot see how a justification can be made for imperialism that agrees with values that I hold dear, and would think to be basic values that are the basis of the country itself. It is also, however, in this light of basic founding values, that I must also state that in disagreeing with the imperialist view I am not challenging the right of a person of that frame of mind from expressing OR believing in imperialism. In the words of Thomas Paine from his wonderful book The Age of Reason, "He who denies to another [the right of free speech], makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it." It is the pure genius of the American experiment in democracy that allows this right, but it is also this genius that would give the judicial branch of government the power to prosecute anyone who actually does violate another’s given right. To restate this, I believe in the power of America and American justice to stop and punish those who impose imperialism upon any foreign citizen or country.  
         
 

 

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