The Imperial March

American imperialism is an interesting thing; to the outsider it often includes the forcing of unwanted American ideals and values onto a culture that is otherwise unfamiliar with them. Yet from the American perspective this imperialism is know as Manifest Destiny. “It is a mighty people that He has planted on this soil; a people sprung from the most masterful blood of history; a people imperial by virtue of their power, by right of their institutions, by authority of their heaven-directed purposes, the propagandists and not the misers of liberty.” (Mathisen, Doc 101) By tapping into the realm of religion, American imperialism is pushed even further by justifying itself be through the work of God. “The Manifest Destiny Doctrine was based on the idea that America had a divine providence.” (Fouskas & Gokay, pp. 194) The attitude of the American people in this regard is that it is America’s duty to “enlighten” the rest of the world with their values whether the rest of the world wants it or not.
The result of this mindset creates a common feeling of superiority within the American people. This was an especially prominent feature of America’s Manifest Destiny as the country was stretching its wings and gaining power. “Some of the stronger races, doubtless, may be able to preserve their integrity; but, in order to compete with the Anglo-Saxons, they will probably be forced to adopt his methods and instruments, his civilization and his religion.”(Mathisen, Doc 98) This assumed superiority is not a healthy thing for a country to have, especially one with such great power at its disposal. Despite living in what is often times viewed as a “progressive” culture, archaic beliefs like American imperialism are still alive and well today albeit in slightly different forms. “..the USA has seized the attacks of 9/11 as almost a long-sought-for opportunity ‘to expand and increase its military and economic grip on the resources of Eurasia, and that this reaction to 9/11 is the product of a general decline of American economic power in the world’s political system’ that has ‘promoted a militarist drift in U.S foreign policy’”. (Fouskas & Gokay, pp. 196)
This imperialism creates an “us or them” mentality which is not conducive to peaceful activity in the world. Why is it that our country has historically and still needs to justify its actions under the guise of some civic or messianic duty? Could it be perhaps that the true attentions behind these “duties” are in fact completely the opposite from anything resembling a righteous cause? If this is in fact the case, then perhaps we need to take a step back and reevaluate the actions our country is making and decide whether they are really helping the world.

1. Robert R. Mathisen, Critical Issues in American Religious History: A Reader (2nd Revised Edition). Baylor University Press, 2006.
2. Vassilis K. Fouskas & Bulent Gokay. “The New American Imperialsim: Bush’s War on Terror and Blood for Oil.” Alternatives: Turkish Journal of International Relations, Vol. 6, No.1&2, Spring & Summer 2007.