- On January 17, 1706, Benjamin Franklin was born. After
the American Revolution, when asked what form of government the American
people now enjoyed, his answer was, "A Republic. If you can keep
it."
-
-
- The Republic died on the anniversary of Ben Franklin's
birthday in 1893.
Today, January 17, 2003, is the 110th anniversary of the American Empire.
One hundred and ten years ago today, a group of rich white guys got the
US Armed Forces to invade the Hawaiian Islands and forcibly overthrow the
sovereign government of Hawaii. This invasion and overthrow of a sovereign
nation outside the North American continent signaled the death of the American
Republic, and the beginning of the AmeriKKKan Empire.
www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0117.html
Bill Clinton acknowledged in writing that the Islands were stolen illegally,
and yet the United States Government refuses to discuss the issue of returning
control of the Islands back to its rightful owners.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
During World War II, Okinawa was invaded by the Japanese, and 'annexed'
in the same way the Hawaiian Islands were. America captured Okinawa toward
the end of the war. After the war, the US signed a deal with Japan that
ceded control of Okinawa to Japan, with an agreement that the US could
keep the best real estate on the island for military use. They took nearly
the entire east and west coasts of Okinawa, which they retain to this day.
Naturally, the Okinawan people, who consider themselves Ryuku and NOT Japanese,
were given no say in any of this - no say in being ruled by Japan, and
no say in the theft of their land by the United States.
There have been endless protests against the US presence in Okinawa. Hundreds
of thousands of people have turned up at times to demand the withdrawal
of US troops. The rate of rapes and sexual assaults in Okinawa is six
times that of the rest of Japan.
The rape of Japanese girls by Americans, often girls under the legal age
of consent, has become commonplace in Okinawa. The majority of Okinawans
don't want the Americans there, which they express at the polls year after
year by electing anti-US candidates to press the issue with both the US
and Japanese governments. Despite their efforts, the Americans won't leave.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
In Pakistan, the people have also expressed their view of an American presence
at the polls, where the Islamists made huge gains in the federal election,
and once again handed Musharraf his hat at the recent local elections.
The people don't want American bases there, but Bush has no intention
of leaving until the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Oil pipeline is
built.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
American troops in Kuwait are being attacked and shot at almost daily as
their presence increases in the Middle East. Even the Kuwaiti people who
were once invaded by Saddam don't want them there. But there is no chance
in Hell that the US troops are leaving until Bush has set up a US friendly
government in Baghdad and stolen Iraq's oil.
-
-
- But America is 'not an Empire'.
Hugo Chavez was elected in a landslide in 1998. He believes that the wealth
of Venezuela's natural resources should be used to help the poor, and not
just to enrich a small number of George BushÕs friends. Thus, Chavez
is considered by Bush, who couldn't even win a majority in a fixed election,
to be an illegitimate leader. The Bush administration attempted a coup
in April, which failed. The coup leaders are now hiding in the United
States, where they were welcomed with open arms for their Terrorist activities
in Venezuela.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
In 1895, Jose Marti helped lead the Cuban people to freedom from Spanish
rule, after years of planning overseas. America promptly betrayed the
Cuban revolution, and set up its own puppet government, which ceded Guantanamo
Bay to the United States without consulting the Cuban people. The United
States has been asked to leave Guantanamo Bay for more than forty years,
but they refuse to do so.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
Now, Guantanamo Bay is being used to get around inconvenient things like
Constitutional rights, human rights, the Geneva Convention, and the rights
of man declared in America's own Declaration of Independence. Like Rome
and Nazi Germany, Bush is creating a two-tiered legal system - one set
of laws for those with the 'right papers', and another set for everyone
else.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
North and South Korea have been trying to establish a dialogue to work
toward re-unification. George Bush has been doing everything in his power
the prevent this from happening, and is trying his hardest to divide and
conquer, so the US can keep its base in Seoul and prevent a united Korea
from laying claim to the Spratly Islands.
Even the leaders in Korea have been protesting the US presence and the
Standard Of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The SOFA agreement is aptly named,
as it has been used by American GI's to turn places like Olongapo, Okinawa,
and Seoul into their own private casting couch.
Shops in Seoul have even taken to boldly displaying signs saying, 'AMERICANS
ARE NOT WELCOME HERE'. But the troops won't leave.
Re-unification of Korea is going to be allowed by the US only after Exxon
has laid its claim to the Natuna gas fields in the Spratlys. Until then,
the bases and large presence of US troops will remain, despite the protests,
despite the attacks on American troops in Seoul, and despite the wishes
of both North and South Koreans.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
Russia, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Cuba, the Sudan, Chile, Venezuela,
Brazil, Argentina, Vietnam, Cambodia, and many others who have dared suggest
that the mineral resources beneath their feet belong to them and not to
American companies have all suffered under attempted coups, invasions,
bombings, sanctions, and military blockades that have killed millions.
The people of these nations, who unlike Americans have no say in what
their government does, are innocent victims of these sanctions, and hundreds
are dying daily, deliberately being starved and denied essential medicines
by US sanctions.
But America is 'not an Empire'.
If it's not an empire, what is it?
What do you call 140 plus military bases, many of them in places where
they're unwelcome, unhelpful, and do nothing but add to the number of little
girls raped or killed by US Marines?
110 years of bad manners?
Pax Romana?
Skull and Bones?
In any case, Happy Empireversary, America.
Peace
|
