Trying to see Mailer's Book Differently

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.