Remember after the terrorism attacks how the American flag was everywhere. It adorned the antennae of cars, the windows of stores, the chests of citizens across the country. It inspired pride in being an American and the will to know that no matter what happened, our morale would not be broken and our country would not be lost.
As we appear headed to war with Iraq, when I look up at the American flag, I again ponder much about the great country with which we live. I still don’t know where I stand on doing battle with Saddam, nor do I intend to settle it here. I do however know that I am, always have been, and will continue to be a proud American. For this reason, I was disgusted when I recently read an article about the rise of anti-Americanism throughout Western Europe, supposedly some of our strongest allies.
There have always been people who are anti-American that are not directly enemies to our country. Some are the less fortunate, who are jealous of all this country offers, and frankly who can blame them. I thank God for being born an American and all the rights and privileges that are entitled with citizenship. Others though, like many in those countries on the other side of the Atlantic, live a free life with many of the same luxuries that we have. Yet thinking and spewing anti-American gibberish has gone from the margins into mainstream political discussion.
Gerhard Schroeder, the Chancellor of Germany, helped himself win election by proliferating views against the United States. In France, a book titled “The Big Lie” has become a bestseller. The plot of the book? It details how the terrorism attacks of seventeen months ago were not perpetrated by radical followers of Osama Bin Laden, but rather by secret right wing group of our own government. It makes so much sense, doesn’t it?
France and Germany have made it perfectly clear that they don’t support a war in Iraq. Britons have even pressured Tony Blair about withdrawing his support from the Bush administration. The people of these countries have a right to their opinion. However, the fact that some have claimed that if America does find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that they were merely planted by the CIA, floors me, as it should all of us.
Other countries don’t have to support our actions, even if they are our allies. As friendly nations though, they should not question our integrity. A former member of the German government compared George W. Bush to Adolph Hitler. I’m not the biggest fan of our president for sure, but he surely shouldn’t be grouped together with the Fuhrer.
Complaints abound about America’s arrogance and our gluttonous, selfish way of life. Bear in mind that these are the very same people who spend exorbitant amounts of money on our movies, our music and our products. They feel totally fine insulting the very country and culture that allows them to enjoy life the way they see fit.
Over the past half-century, America has taken a proactive stance to being a power in the world, most times in pursuit of peace. This began as an opponent to the Soviet Union during the Cold War. People in France and Germany were sure glad back then to have the United States looking out for their protection. It was money from the allied world, much of it from the United States, that helped rebuild what was West Germany into a thriving nation, while East Germany floundered under Soviet rule.
In the 1910s and 30s, America held largely isolationist views, choosing to worry about its own problems rather than adding everyone else’s on top. In both instances, war across the continent of Europe and beyond broke out. With all this animosity, America could very well go back to fixing its own problems (Lord knows we have plenty), and leave the European Union and other nations outside our borders to deal with issues on their own. How long do you think it would be before they came crying back looking for protection and aid? My guess is it would take less than a decade, at the most.
One of the greatest American freedoms is of course our right to free speech and along with that open thought. I find it honorable that other nations choose to question our motives into going to war with Iraq. It forces the American government to at least give its actions a second thought. I find it detestable though that other people who live a life largely dependent on the way we live ours, modeled in many instances after our very own, would be classifying our nation with some of the worst regimes the world has ever known.
Every time I look up at the Stars and Stripes, I’ll still be filled with pride in our nation, regardless of what others say. I haven’t been shown any reason not to be happy that I live in the United States. There is still a dignity to be had living in the land of the free. Hopefully the ignorant masses across the ocean won’t tarnish that pride.
Information from The Washington Post was used in this column.
Regan McKendry is a Collegian Columnist.
