Prompt: America as Empire?
Reading Norman Mailer's book "Why Are We at War?" was a hard book for me to read, due to some of my beliefs and values of our country. Although I did not fully agree with Mailer's ideas on the war and our President I tried to understand his point of view. Norman Mailer says "When you have a great country, its your duty to be critical of it so it can become even greater." This quote from Mailer encouraged me to try and see things from a different perspective.
Mailer says that President Bush pushed us into this war because he wishes to have a global empire. "Behind the whole push to go to Iraq is the desire to have a huge military presence int he Middle East as a stepping stone to taking over the world." Contrary to Mailer's idea I believe we are in this war because we must defend our country. Although I do not agree I tried to see how someone might think as Mailer does. Mailer states that we are in this war not only for emperialism but also for oil. This is an idea I do agree with. Oil is becoming increasingly expensive and I am sure President Bush must believe the Middle East might be more generous with their oil reserves if we liberated them.
Along with wanting oil Mailer also says the Middle Eastern Countries dislike America because of our commercial culture. Our country is very commercial and other countries see this and think all Americans live like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan. We all know this is not true but teenagers in other countries see those few people act obnoxious and they think the whole population is just like that. Teenagers in other countries look at our young generation and think that we have more freedom than they do, but honestly we do not, it seems this way though because our cultures are so different. Middle Eastern people do not like how our country is effecting their younger generation. The adults in the Middle East feel as if we are taking the religious and moral values out of their youth.
Although Mailer makes a good point of our country wanting the oil from the Middle East and our influences effecting the younger generation negatively, I still find it hard to believe we are not just trying to protect our country. Living in Central Georgia, I often pass the Warner Robins Air Force Base. As I see the many people driving into the base the thought has neve came to me that their job was to create an empire for President Bush. I believe that when they drive to work, they are doing what they signed up to do, and this job is to protect our country.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Global Empire: No... Protecting our Country
Why Are We at War Blog
Would you consider defending our country a quest for empire? In Norman Mailer's book "Why Are We at War?" Mailer states that he believes we are at war because our President wants a global empire. I believe we are at war because we have to defend our country and keep our civilians safe.
Mailer states in his book: "Behind the whole push to go to war with Iraq is the desire to have a huge military pressence in the Middle East as a stepping stone to taking over the rest of the world." Mailer believes that President Bush is trying to create a global Empire. "The underlying motive remains George W. Bush's underlying dream: Empire!" Norman Mailer's point throughtout the entire book is to show the President's desire for a global empire.
I would argue Mailer's idea on emperialism based on the fact that it is the President's job to keep our country safe. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness are freeedoms we are guaranteed in the United States, and after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 as a country we felt as if our rights were invaded by the terrorists. After the attacks it became the President's duty to ensure our freedoms were not taken away from our country.
As a country if we do not value our freedoms, they can easily be taken away by terrorist groups. If our President had chosen not to go to war, the terrorist would have known that we would back down from anything they ever did to us. Without defending our country we make ourselves and our freedom an easy target for terrorism.
President Bush told the country that the reason for going to war was because of the threat of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. I think protecting our country and our families is a good reason for war and the President made a good choice to protect his country and ensure our freedom.
I understand many people do not agree with war under any circumstance, and I respect their opinion. I also understand that if their life or the life of someone they loved, were directly affected by the terrorists, their views of war would definately change.
No one wants for innocent lifes to be lost, yet many innocent American lifes were taken in September 2001. We must do what is necessary to keep our country safe and preserve our freedoms that we value so much.
Would you consider defending our country a quest for empire? In Norman Mailer's book "Why Are We at War?" Mailer states that he believes we are at war because our President wants a global empire. I believe we are at war because we have to defend our country and keep our civilians safe.
Mailer states in his book: "Behind the whole push to go to war with Iraq is the desire to have a huge military pressence in the Middle East as a stepping stone to taking over the rest of the world." Mailer believes that President Bush is trying to create a global Empire. "The underlying motive remains George W. Bush's underlying dream: Empire!" Norman Mailer's point throughtout the entire book is to show the President's desire for a global empire.
I would argue Mailer's idea on emperialism based on the fact that it is the President's job to keep our country safe. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness are freeedoms we are guaranteed in the United States, and after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 as a country we felt as if our rights were invaded by the terrorists. After the attacks it became the President's duty to ensure our freedoms were not taken away from our country.
As a country if we do not value our freedoms, they can easily be taken away by terrorist groups. If our President had chosen not to go to war, the terrorist would have known that we would back down from anything they ever did to us. Without defending our country we make ourselves and our freedom an easy target for terrorism.
President Bush told the country that the reason for going to war was because of the threat of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. I think protecting our country and our families is a good reason for war and the President made a good choice to protect his country and ensure our freedom.
I understand many people do not agree with war under any circumstance, and I respect their opinion. I also understand that if their life or the life of someone they loved, were directly affected by the terrorists, their views of war would definately change.
No one wants for innocent lifes to be lost, yet many innocent American lifes were taken in September 2001. We must do what is necessary to keep our country safe and preserve our freedoms that we value so much.
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