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A Weird Kind of Isolationism
North Miami Beach, Florida Aug. 11, 2000 Aaron H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
A WEIRD KIND OF ISOLATIONISM
Wanting to be left alone is a human need at times. Governments intent on
their own agendas and timetables usually bully and get their way because
other governments do not want to get involved. You can abuse, even torture
and "liquidate" your own citizens and no one will raise the slightest kind
of question much less protest. Leave them alone to be left alone.
After the bruising of American 19th century expansive good feelings in
World War I, America went it alone and isolationism became a national
standard. Internationalists of all breeds had to deal with isolationists
who did not want to rub shoulders with strangers. We were once bruised that
way.
One of the greatest gifts of America to the world by the tiny new nation,
far from neighbors who could do them harm, was the exportation of the idea
of democracy and representative government. Revolution, as in the American
example, was also exported and millions of repressed peoples fought to be
free. While America was growing and developing into the potential greatest
world power, other countries tried to emulate the United States by giving
disparate peoples equality and yoking them to each other in combinations
such as Bosnia/Herzegovinas, Israeli/Palestinians and Pakistani/Indians to
mention just a few.
Did you know that there is a vibrant present day organization of the world'
s parliamentary countries? This is the Inter-Parliamentary Union, founded in
1889 with the help of the United States. This group wants to meet at the
United Nations but the United States has not paid its dues for years and
will not attend for our Congressional leaders have other things to do in
this year of elections.
This is a weird kind of isolationism. I think that America is too busy
selling knick-knacks of an electronic sort as well as Hamburgers and Cola
drinks. This pays better than fostering democracy in unstable places such
as the "Third World". What do you think? Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
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