Written by Frank Li
Three recent events (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Killing of George Floyd, and Shooting of Jacob Blake) compel us to critically examine America, with a profound question: Is America an ideal or a lie?
I used to believe in the former, but now I am leaning towards the latter.
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1. What is “ideal”?
Below is an excerpt from Dictionary – ideal.
An ideal is a concept or standard of perfection, existing merely as an image in the mind, or based upon a person or upon conduct: We admire the high ideals of a religious person. Sir Philip Sidney was considered the ideal in gentlemanly conduct.
Based on this definition, America has clearly been an ideal, as a “shining city upon a hill”.
2. What is “lie”?
Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia – Lie.
A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deceiving someone.[1][2][3][4] The practice of communicating lies is called lying. A person who communicates a lie may be termed a liar. Lies may serve a variety of instrumental, interpersonal, or psychological functions for the individuals who use them. Generally, the term “lie” carries a negative connotation, and depending on the context a person who communicates a lie may be subject to social, legal, religious, or criminal sanctions.
Based on this definition, America might have been a lie. The image below offers one example.
For more, read: Racism in America.
3. When does an ideal become a lie?
To me, when an ideal is too remote, it practically becomes a lie. Two examples:
- Communism is a lie – Been there, seen that!
- America may be a lie – Look at the image below (Shooting of Jacob Blake)! Over the past 200 years, America has come a long way from slavery. Yet, systemic racism persists, with no end in sight! For more, read: Wikipedia – The 1619 Project.
Two notes:
- The longest communist country in practice was the USSR, which had a lifespan of 74 years (1917-1991).
- At this pace, American democracy (from 1965 on) may not even out-last Soviet communism. For more, read: Longevity: American Democracy vs. Soviet Communism.
So, if communism is a lie, should America be counted as a lie too?
3. What is America, anyway?
Despite all its problems, America remains the best land of opportunity for many hard-working individuals to succeed, and I am a modern-day example (My American Dream Has Come True!).
Unfortunately, the success of a country is not the sum of the success of a bunch of individuals. Rather, an effective government is essential, which America has not – Three recent events (i.e. COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Killing of George Floyd, and Shooting of Jacob Blake) have made it abundantly clear.
Why does not America have an effective government?
America was founded by/of/for the rich, who wanted a “limited” government that would leave them alone to become even richer (What Is the American Revolution, Anyway?), and remains so today, with money driving everything from politics to the economy.
More profoundly, America was built on top of capitalism (Okay), colonialism (not Okay), and imperialism (not Okay), with profound implications to date. Two big examples:
- Two systems for the rich and poor, respectively.
- Systemic racism.
Let me elaborate on each …
3.1 Two systems
Below is an excerpt from this article (with a long title: “Our democracy’s founding ideals were false when they were written. Black Americans have fought to make them true“).
The United States is a nation founded on both an ideal and a lie. Our Declaration of Independence, approved on July 4, 1776, proclaims that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” But the white men who drafted those words did not believe them to be true for the hundreds of thousands of black people in their midst. “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” did not apply to fully one-fifth of the country.
The image below highlights America’s reality today.
3.2 Systemic racism
Below is an excerpt from Racism in America.
America has indeed been hugely successful, especially economically. However, here is the cruel truth behind America’s prosperity: throughout American history, there has always been a huge underclass supporting America’s economy, from slaves in the old days to prisoner labor (Prisoner labor is modern slavery. I’ve been sent to solitary for speaking) and millions of undocumented migrants doing the “essential work” nowadays (‘We’re Ignored Completely.’ Amid the Pandemic, Undocumented Immigrants Are Essential But Exposed).
The indigenous people may no longer have a strong voice, as they have been almost wiped out. But the blacks do, as they count for about 15% of the population! They must be treated fairly, according to their standards, or the country is not governable!
The image below highlights an important perspective.
4. Discussion
Three critical questions:
- Has America become a “more perfect union” over time?
- Are Americans confused?
- Again, what is America, anyway?
Let me answer them, one by one …
4.1 Has America become a “more perfectly union” over time?
Yes, but it may never be good enough, with “justice for all,” for example!
Why is that?
America has a very shaky foundation!
Three informative readings:
- What Is the American Revolution, Anyway (Version 3)?
- What Is the Original U.S. Constitution, Anyway?
- America: Justice in Unjust Land?
For more on the image above, watch the video at the end of this post.
4.2 Are Americans confused?
Yes!
Why is that?
Three informative readings:
- Media Distortion: From Boston Massacre to Fox News.
- Five Top and Fake American Intellects!
- America: It’s Democracy, Stupid!
4.3 Again, what is America, anyway?
A big lie, practically for some, at least!
Five examples with informative readings:
- History 2.0: Western Liberal Democracy is a Big and Fat Lie!
- Human Rights: Yet Another Big and Fat Western Lie!
- Globalization is a lie. For more, read: What is Globalism, Anyway?
- Free market is a lie! For more, read: What is ‘Free Market’, Anyway?
- Free trade is a lie! For more, read: Free Trade and China and Free Trade and The U.S.
Still unconvinced?
Three more informative readings:
4.4 Summary
The problems in America are foundational, with only one real solution: facing the truth and handling it, from the foundation up!
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?), or become a fiddle, second to China!
5. Closing
Western [liberal] democracy is a lie, not an ideal, just like communism!
America is a lie, not an ideal, much like the USSR, especially in terms of the governing ideology.
Now, please sit back and enjoy the long video below.
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