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We’ve arrived at a waypoint, we Americans on our historic voyage, where our horizons are obscured by a heavy fog. Worse still, the sea about our mighty ship is littered with more diplomatic and economic icebergs than ever before in history. And as we steam at full speed into the fog, the captain of our American legacy whistles down below: “Full speed ahead, we’re magnificent, indomitable, the dreadnaught of human seas, we’re Titanic among Earth’s peoples.”
Are we now?
The man who has quipped about killing people with drones, the president who jokes and chews gum at funerals and memorials, the most powerful leader on our planet, acts for the world like some dizzy dictator, more and more. As evidence of how ridiculous, and scary Barack Obama is seen on the world stage, consider his latest speeches. First, the American president addressed the cadets at the West Point military academy during commencement with: “What makes us exceptional is not flouting international norms and the rule of law; it’s our willingness to affirm them through our actions.” Then a few weeks later on CBS’s iconic "60 Minutes," the world got to witness a modern version of a Hitler-type interview. Excuse me, but there are no mincing words about how people outside America viewed this comment: “We have capacity no one else has. Our military is the best in the history of the world. And when trouble comes up anywhere in the world, they don't call Beijing. They don't call Moscow. They call us. That's the deal.”
"That’s how we roll,” he quipped. But the waking world drew a deep breath of astonishment. This is the most arrogant and mediocre presidency in the history of America. I know I’m being bombastic here, but does Obama really believe we Americans are that exceptional, that indispensable, a Titanic of a nation? In the same interview with CBS’s Steve Kroft, Obama was almost declaiming, which according to the notorious Nazi propaganda minister Dr Joseph Goebbels, was a key component of Hitler’s brilliance as a speaker.
I do not make this comparison lightly. The world is at a crossroads not everyone sees, a divisive point the busy family could never identify. And in the end we have only three district possibilities. America is led on course, unscathed, and with ideals in tact. America is steaming toward some imperialistic Utopia only the politicians see. Or, America is rudderless, a veritable Titanic carrying unwitting passengers. Which one of these charted or uncharted courses is reality? Well, Obama continually cautions us about being cynical. So you’d better not pout, you’d better not cry, Americans had better play along, or there’ll be no pie in the sky.
It’s high time we Americans turn introspective. Before Obama breaks out into his next TD dance over some dubious victory or other, can we just ask ourselves: “Are we this exceptional, this justified, that sacrosanct, and are our leaders this omnipotent?” Is America about pounding its chest, hooting and hollering “Yeehaw” at the rest of the world’s people? Is that really “how we roll” out as the champions of freedom? The answer is irrefutably, NO! This is not what Americans are about. I am reminded of what President Ulysses S Grant once said: "Our great modern Republic. May those who seek the blessing of its institutions and the protection of its flag remember the obligations they impose.”
Clearly, the American leadership has forgotten those obligations. As Americans we are compelled to lead by example, to be exemplary, whenever and wherever we can. To be sure, this is no easy task, not in the face of a complex and perplexed world. But isn’t this why we elect leaders? Aren’t our leaders supposed to lead with our values and best destiny in mind? Obama, and the industrialists behind him, would have the world see an arrogant and aggressive United States. We prod Europe and NATO to forge forward onto the steppes of Russia. We feed the ammo belt of an Israeli machine gun aimed at mostly unarmed civilians. We borrow trillions and trillions to rain dehumanized terror from the skies, sometimes onto households holding innocent mothers, fathers, and tiny children.
Tell me this, those of you who disagree. How can an irreplaceable America, chock full of unmistakably extraordinary human beings, allow such notions to even be uttered? My friends, we have an obligation to elect men and women to lead us whose actions and words convey who we are, who we want to be. Do we really cheer for every quarterback sack, each and every hurdle in life’s journey; are we so next to God almighty as to be perfected? Or are we real people, people of the world, longing for the collective embrace of peace, and for the ideals that made America great to unify us all? Is the spread of American ideals something to dispense beneath or tank treads, or is the American Dream not about setting free the ideas and dreams of the world?
Mr Obama, you are so wrong. Americans, whether they be titans of business, congressmen or women, carpenters or farm laborers, are no more exceptional than Russians or Chinese or Germans or their Argentinean counterparts. What’s exceptional about Americans is America. Americans are exceptional because of their brotherhood in the indubitable ideal. And if this is not so, then conquering or freeing the wide world will never imbue other world citizens. Russians living an American dream such as Obama preaches will simply never, ever be quite as good as us, never anywhere near as good as Barack Obama. Fine sir, it is not the passengers or the crew of the ship that is indomitable, it’s the hearty ship and its ultimate destination.
Now tell me, are we passengers on the Good Ship Lollipop? Or, has the ship beneath our feet become a Titanic problem? Who is steering, if anyone, and is it time for the right captain to enter the bridge? I leave you to ponder something from the great playwright and composer George M Cohan, whose music was featured in the Academy Award-winning film, "Yankee Doodle Dandy".
"Ev’ry heat beats true ‘neath the Red, White, and Blue."
© Japan Today
30 Comments
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nath
In the face of the modern day cossacks and mongols, it is clear who the democratic world continues to turn to.
Kagemusha
The rhetoric and nationalism is strong with this one. I honestly thought this was a spoof article. I still do think it's a spoof article. There is nothing special about America or the American Dream. Just another country in the world, following misguided politics to benefit those with money and power.
Pandabelle
Goofy article. Are we supposed to take this sort of bluster seriously?
1glenn
Right wing fanatics keep comparing the first Black President of the United States to Adolf Hitler. These clowns could hardly be more out of touch with reality.
commanteer
I can't agree or disagree with this one, as he's all over the place and never gets around to making one clear point. If he's an an editor and journalist by trade, what the heck happened here? It's as though someone vomited words onto a page in a fit of rage.
ReformedBasher
I thought Bush was the bad guy.Now it's Obama?
While you Americans work out just who the rest of us are supposed to like or dislike, how about keeping it to yourselves?
Thunderbird2
That made me chuckle... glad I'm not an American. So much agonising over their status as "Champions of Freedom" (copyright and TM) Seriously, never read such a piece of nonsense... well, I have, but not this month...
zorken
I think this might help explain things...
Frungy
... Ironic that this author lays the blame for all of the US's excesses on Obama when actually these excesses have been there for at least the last 30 years through both Republican and Democratic presidents.
And Obama is far from the worst of the bunch, although I liked Clinton better... at least he seemed human, although he had lousy taste in women.
Fadamor
Well he's certainly expressed his opinion... I guess. Now here's mine:
I find it laughable that this "travel writer" lays all the warmongering blame on Obama's doorstep, when the Republican political machine was so recently chastising Obama for dragging his feet on getting involved in another conflict. If you want to look for the REAL warmongers, take a gander at the Republican Party.
A contributor to the Huffington Post AND a "commonly cited author" on Russia Today? Now THERE'S some strange bedfellows!
Jeff Huffman
PandabelleOCT. 07, 2014 - 11:11AM JST Goofy article. Are we supposed to take this sort of bluster seriously?
Whose bluster - the authors apparent unfamiliarity with U.S. post- WWII history or what Obama said, which, like it or not, has been true for more than 70 years now?
Any time there is a perceived international military or humanitarian crisis, nothing happens unless the U.S. gets involved. Just about the only UN action that was resolved successfully in the last thirty was the Balkan war after the U.S. started bombing Belgrade. We hesitated to become involved, and that was a mistake as it cost tens of thousands of, mostly, Muslim lives. Korea was at least fought to a stalemate. I would say that most of S. Korea is thankful for this (can't hate us too much as some 500K have emigrated to the U.S over the last thirty years or so).
The U.S. has had the most powerful military in the world since 1945. Admittedly, we've too often used it for the wrong reasons - Vietnam, Grenada, Panama and the Iraq invasion. And now we find ourselves dragged back into the ME because our invasion of Iraq and the disposition of Saddam Hussein completely destabilized what was a made up nation to begin with (thanks Winston).
Under different circumstances, I'd prefer that we stay out of what is happening in Syria and Iraq. But since we started it all and because Iran, Turkey, Jordan and, until recently, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the authoritarian states in the region wouldn't or won't get involved, thousands of, Syrians, Iraqis, Kurds, etc. non-combatants will die if we don't at least weaken ISIS/ISIL as we can. However, they may be like the cockroaches of Afghanistan, the Taliban, and never be completely eliminated without the vast majority of people in the region deciding that (like all religion) Islam and tribalism are crap.
In this regard and perhaps in only this regard, the U.S. is exceptional and has been for nearly a century and that can't be quibbled with.
nath
@Jeff Huffman I salute you sir! I'm familiar enough with the US' misdeeds to know that we are far from perfect, but we do have lots of guns and uncensored porn and what else do you need, really? I'm not being sarcastic, either.
sfjp330
Jeff Huffman Oct. 08, 2014 - 03:49AM JST nothing happens unless the U.S. gets involved. In this regard and perhaps in only this regard, the U.S. is exceptional and has been for nearly a century and that can't be quibbled with.
For U.S. to spend close to $700 billion on the military is not sustainable. U.S. contributes two-third of the entire 28 nations NATO expenses. The European nations has already been asked to devote at least 2 percent of their GDP to the military. EU understands that they are surrounded by conflict, danger, disorder, autocratic regime and instability from the Middle East to North Africa and beyond, and Russia breaking international rules. The U.S., Britain, Greece and Estonia as the only NATO members out of the 28 nations who currently spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense. The U.S. spends about 4 percent, a bigger share than any other ally. Some European nations can and should do more. If all 28 members defense spending reached 2 percent of their GDPs, NATO would have an extra $90 billion, equivalent to the combined military budgets of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.
bass4funk
No one is comparing Obama to Hitler, more like Caesar. If they WERE out of touch with reality, then why is it, the Sainted anointed one in 6 years has NEVER ONCE admitted to any fault or wrongdoing when he clearly has made blunder after blunder after blunder? The liberals are out of touch when it comes to just reality in thinking that all their policies will work and the last 6 has shown the exact opposite.
@frungy
Actually, Obama is THE worst of all presidents in US history and that is already being etched into the history books, but the final word is not out yet he still has another 835 days to go!
@fadamor
Yeah and now we have Obama the war mongering president, what tickles me the most is how Obama and the Dems are trying so hard NOT to come up with another resolution to fight ISIS, they don't want to call this campaign a war, but dropping bombs and sending Tomahawk missiles to kill someone in a foreign country is precisely that! It's a war, no matter how they want to sugar coat it. The only thing the Dems and this president are doing is fighting the inevitable. Just give it some time, even if they drag it out and if (hypothetically) Clinton were to become president, she would, so now you have a Dem that's a Warmonger. Either way, this war will go on for the next 30 years and both parties will have to deal with this militarily at some point and will warmonger. There is your dose of reality. There will be ground troops sent in if they are really serious in combating the enemy, there is NO way around it and to stall and give daily excuses for not going it, is so politically obvious why they are doing this, because it is THE ONLY thing that matters to Dems.
@Jeff
Great analysis! I agree with you on every point!
sfjp330
The U.S. needs self-interested nations determined to act on their own behalf. Obama’s new Middle Eastern war has all the makings of a disaster and he doesn’t want to call the war a war. He gave the Islamic State advance notice of U.S. bombing, allowing the group to prepare and put the U.S. in the middle of another bitter sectarian conflict. Obama is stepping up aid to Syrian rebels, which will weaken the Syrian government. There is much to criticize in the U.S. foreign policy. U.S. should leave responsibility for dealing with the Islamist group to a coalition of the threatened. If those most at risk can’t be bothered to use their power, influence, and resources to protect themselves, they shouldn’t expect U.S. to help.
nath
Kind of like dubya, huh? I know you don't want to acknowledge the last republican president, but apparently both sides want someone strong and wrong.
bass4funk
Not at all, Bush had his flaws, I have never said that, but for the first 5 1/2 years we the economy was great, unemployment was low and compare that to every policy of this current president and it has been a total disaster and we still have 2 year to go!
Pandabelle
@Jeff Huffman
Only if you ignore all the successful monitoring and peacekeeping missions in Africa. Which I'm sure you don't, since it looks like you're defining "resolved successfully" as "someone got bombed".
Frungy
You know how much influence the US president has on the US economy? ... little to none. This has been repeatedly proven, but people persist in believing that the US president actually has power.
The entire US political system is set up to limit the power of the president, to the point where he has little or no domestic power unless he's insanely lucky enough to control both senate and congress (and even then his political party can stonewall him if they don't agree with him completely).
The US president is mostly important internationally where he has far too few checks and balances, as we saw with Bush just deciding that today was a good day to invade some foreign country he couldn't find on a map three tries out of ten.
bass4funk
If he doesn't have power, why is it that he won't send in ground troops to Iraq and Syria when virtually every top military official is advocating and recommending him to send troops. Why is everyone worried that he will use his pen and phone to bypass and veto any legislation he doesn't agree with? The president has power when it comes to spending or wanting to tax the Capitol gains tax. He certainly can get things rolling in the direction he wants. So the president has a lot of power, because if he didn't. The country wouldn't be in such a mess the way it is.
So then why are virtually all of his radical policies that he's implemented like Obamacare for one is causing a huge backlash. Many people don't want it, don't need it, were happy with their personal healthcare and now his ACA is the law of the land.
Tell that to Putin, ISIS and China.
But his enemies feared him in contrast to Obama, the constitutional law professor who is supposedly smart and couldn't see the the debt he was racking up, the threat of radical Islam, the open borders, the constant lies after lies. For a man who professes to be so smart, isn't as smart as people like to think, especially when he doesn't have that teleprompter around.
zorken
Then they shouldn't have voted for it. The ACA was on the cards way before Obama's re-election. If so many people didn't want it then the election should have been a cakewalk for the people who wanted to kill it stillborn.
bass4funk
A lot of people didn't realize that the costs would be outrageously high, for those that can afford it, they just pay it, but for many in the middle, it's a killer and now many have buyers remorse. The problem is, many people just don't read to deep into the issues and vote based on their either emotion or political affiliation.
nath
comment upthread "No one is comparing Obama to Hitler...."
from the article " ...the world got to witness a modern version of a Hitler-type interview...." and "Obama was almost declaiming, which according to the notorious Nazi propaganda minister Dr Joseph Goebbels, was a key component of Hitler’s brilliance as a speaker...."
nobody?
Fadamor
Phil Butler said in this opinion piece:
Bass4funk said:
I guess Bass4funk didn't read this opinion piece? Not surprising from someone who wants us to believe the President of the United States has actual power over what happens within his country's borders. Congress has, had, and always will have, ultimate control over what this country does... or should I say DOESN'T do. Congress is expert at getting nothing done by blocking anything remotely resembling an actual initiative, then conducting Congressional Inquiries to "discover" why nothing is getting done. Of course, then comes the press conferences proclaiming that Congress has thoroughly investigated the issue and will table it for now because it is now time to start campaigning for a new term!
"Many people"? Is that three people or four? The dirty little secret Republicans have been hiding is that they were wrong about how the Administration was grossly overstating how many would sign up for the ACA. THEN the dirty little secret is that their prediction that most of those who signed up wouldn't pay the premiums proved to be false.
Throughout this whole ACA process, Republican parrots like Bass4funk have been predicting failure, only to find their predictions were the failures. Is the ACA perfect? No, but nothing ever is. The Republicans were given ample opportunity to come up with something that was better than the ACA, AND THEY FAILED NOT ONCE, BUT MULTIPLE TIMES. Failure after failure after failure... perhaps the name of the party needs to be changed to the Republifails.
Pandabelle
I always love this phrasing - Obama as "radical". He's a moderate right-wing guy. He's probably to the right of our beloved Abe here in Japan - after all, not even Abe is as hawkish as your typical American politician, let alone one who has used military action multiple times.
All of this "radical" "socialist" talk about Obama gives me a chuckle. The dude's not a good president and he's pretty ineffective even by US presidential standards, but a radical leftist he sure as heck isn't.
bass4funk
Ahh, so that's why it explains his constant veto of various legislation laws, because congress has all the power, but the president has his pen and his phone. Congress couldn't get the border closed, Obama if he wanted could put the National Guard there to support the border patrol agents and yet, he doesn't. Again, if Obama didn't have any power whatsoever, the US wouldn't be in the shape it's in. This is one reason why people are über anxious to get him out of office ASAP! But once the Republicans get back the senate, his power will be cut significantly and hopefully, a lot of things will finally get done, but the president always has his mighty pen with him.
Thousands and with the recently new adjusted premiums more people will be put in a bad financial spot because of the outrageous costs.
Signing up and being satisfied or bring able to afford the healthcare is something entirely different.
So then if it's so good, why did the democrats move up the enrollment dates that were supposed to be from this week until after the midterm election? Because the Dems know if people see the prices now for a policy they would have a panic attack and most likely NOT enroll.
Can't argue with that, but what Obama is proposing will further bankrupt the nation, not to mention, but a lot of doctors and insurance companies out of business and if it's so good, why are so many doctors refusing to take it. Because Doctors and hospitals would lose more than take in.
Really, seems like in a few weeks the Demobomb party will have to play musical chairs and hand the keys over to the new tenants. The party that THINKS they know everything will finally and hopefully get tossed out on their ears and take Reid with them as well. That's something definitely worth looking forward to.
@pandabelle
So why isn't he in the Republican Party? He's so enthusiastically conservative, he should send in ground troops right away to deal with the radical Islamist terrorists, seal the border, repeal his own crappy healthcare, lower the corporate tax rate, allow the keystone pipeline through, strengthen the private sector, encourage financial independence. As a moderate right-winger, he would do these things and more.
Riiiight.
I get a chuckle at people who are finding out that he is. Redistributing income instead of teaching a person how to fish, just supply him with enough fish and hope the company doesn't fold.
No, he's an off the wall, egotistical, ideologue and weak partisan leftist president.
Fadamor
I'd love to rebut this, but I have no way of determining what a "legislation law" is. Normally legislation BECOMES law, but rarely is the legislation actually ABOUT legislation. But in regards to vetoes in general... Pop true/false Constitutional quiz:
(T/F) Once a President vetoes a bill, the bill is dead and cannot become law.
Answer: FALSE. Congress can override any Presidential veto with a 2/3 majority vote in both the House and Senate. The President has no recourse in the case of such an override.
So which government body REALLY has the power? Hmmm?
bass4funk
True, but in most circumstances in order NOT to have a government shutdown most presidents are rarely overridden by Congress depending on the funding. Even if either party opposes him on an issue. So again, it would seem that the president essentially has the final last laugh.
turbotsat
President needs the permission of Congress, whether express consent or consent implied by their inaction.
It doesn't take that long to round up a quorum. Certainly not when compared with the time wars have taken to build up so far.
bruinfan
I'm pretty sure that Warren Harding, Andrew Johnson and the Bush-Cheney combo were worse than Obama. Anyway the big problem now is massive corporate influence in government and that Citizen United ruling.