Everything After - A 9.11 Youth Circle

I would like to hear your opinions on responsibility. As a "first world" nation, what is America's responsibility to other countries and peoples? As people who have the opportunity to help both ourselves and others, where does the responsibility lie for changing the world, and where for bettering our own condition? How much responsibility should we take for the actions of those who do terrible things in the name of "freedom" and "justice". . . and how much for those whom we have provoked and angered with our policies?

Personally, I think America has a long way to go in accepting our role not only as a prosperous and powerful nation, but as a responsible one. We have used our wealth and power ruthlessly, without considering the consequences. For example: we developed nuclear and biological weapons. We have troops stationed in more than 130 countries around the world. We have invaded ten countries (to Saddam Hussein's three) in the past ten years. Many people are pushing toward globilization, free trade, and "fast track" authority for Bush. We have a long history of meddling in the affairs of other countries, and forming strategical alliances that escalate the threat of war. . . supporting Belgium against the indepedant movement in the Congo; Taiwan against China; Israel against Palestine. This abuse of power is dangerous and will prove only counterproductive to our security here and abroad. We are a very new country. Just because we are a member of the UN Security Council (an outdated, unjust relic of the post-Cold War era) and have a nice, sizeable budget doesn't mean we can do whatever we want. We need to look toward the future-- and review the past. It is time for true globilization: not boundless trade and limitless immigration, but time to think of ourselves not as Christians or Muslims or Jews; Americans or Palestinians or Israelis; but as citizens of a unified world, who respect one another and are willing to sacrifice, not for war, but for peace.

I think that in some ways America should help third world countries but i also think that it shouldnt. FOr one Ameica has a long history of conquering countires and when they conquer it it will be come apart of America. And although being apart of Ameica sounds great the benifits arent. America has taken lands in countries and Africa and South America.If Amrica would just mind its own buisness than maybe these countries could develope onits own . When Western countries "loan" money it comes with interest. Which is really pathetic becase wester countires know that they cannot pay off the interest alone. So not only do thrid world countries have to pay off other loans,interests, current loans and interests but the poor people in these countries. America fears Communism but when relly is isnt that bad. I mean look at Ethiopia. Is is bascially the poorest country. In the 70s Ethiopia tried communism. During this time education rates soured to 50% and it ws doing really well on its own. BUt when America butt in communism left and wnt down to less than 5%. I think that if America wants to help than they should give money to these countries for the sake of giving. More and more charities need to be made for Countries liek Ethiopia. They are in desperate need .

For one thing, America is the superpower people believe it to be only in the fact that it has an extraordinary military, incredible influence, and really sticks its neck out unnecessarily.
The military is being developed to an extent, in my opinion, that is beyond necessary. We've got a giant, well-trained, well-equipped one already. Now we're adding budget to that and cutting budget on NECESSARY things like funding for the mentally retarded!
Our influence is incredible. I suppose that being the nation with the first really democratic constitution gave us some power. Lots of other countries followed our lead. But now, we seem to (in general)revere ourselves as one of the ONLY democratic nations!
  In some ways, we are currently having conflicting actions with our purpose. When those revolutionaries of 1776 set out to carve the way for freedom, and when Pres. Washington made his final speech as pres., they didn't mean for us to be constantly trying to solve the world's problems.
  It is a great thing to have the resources and mind to help others. The problem is, we are currently the most debtor nation, and owe (if I remember correctly) about 2 million (or billion?) dollars to the U.N. And that's not very major. Mainly we don't help the nations in the right ways. By taking sides with Israel and not seeing the whole of the issue, we have angered Palestinians even more. By rashly naming a dozen countries as evil, we have angered the world. Yet nations still cooperate with us! In France, the French people were maddened when the French govt. cooperated in helping America storm in troops to kill civilians. It wasn't what they wanted. But the U.S. has so much power, so much influence, that France helped anyways.

           Is it just me, or is something
             wrong with this picture?

American citizens have a lot to deal with. Especially the terrorist attacks in September they caused a serious trouble with human society. Not only are the responsibilities of the world being brought out why not bring it out even more. The American Army and Navy or Marine Corps have gotten be in a picture that all the countries think that we are the strongest nation in the world. Maybe that is so but that doesn't stop the world to train their volentiary citizens. We are a role model to some countries that are less foutante, though we should take a lot of responsibilities for what our nation does; sometimes there are too much to deal with it can't be dealt with.
The responsibility that we take on as citizens to banish those people who betray us. Their punishment should be massive to even consider the bad thought of doing that.

I so agree with sentfr0mabove. Sierra Leone is widely agreed to be the poorest country in the world. Infant mortality rates are in the 50 percent range; life expectancy is around 40 years. Yet only 13 percent of their national debt has been forgiven. If you ask me we should stop spending so many trillion dollars on war; stop giving billions in weapons & aid to Israel, and use that money to help rebuild poverty-stricken 3rd world countries. The US has caused a lot of damage in this world through its infantile, bloodthirsty actions and our responsibility lies not in spreading our form of government and our freedoms to other parts of the world, but in helping them unconditionally. I don't agree that communism is a good solution, but you're right, that shouldn't be our choice what kind of government other countries have. We are fast becoming an imperialist nation by installing a puppet government in Afghanistan, and wrapping poor nations like Pakistan around our little fingers with piecrust promises of aid.

Horsej, your idea of defending our country is basically a destruction of the principles that the US is founded on. Our values should not be sacrificed even in an "unusual situation". We must not lower ourselves to the standards of those we claim to despise. "Punishment" is not the answer; prevention is. War will never bring peace, it will only bring more rage against us. Kill Osama bin Laden, and you will only anger another person, who will do the same sort of thing. Extermination is an archaic and Naziesque idea. We must try to rebuild our bonds with other parts of the world-- and an endless war will only push us farther apart. It is too late to prevent Sept. 11th. More blood will not bring back those who were so horribly murdered. If we want them not to have died in vain, we should learn from our mistakes. Our country is not perfect. We have come along way, but we still have much further to go. Foreign policy is the first step; foreign aid is next-- and after that, respect.

Indeed, again, complete agreement. Our government is taking advantage of our "war" (it's not even declared) and doing almost whatever it wants. What about these military tribunals? Ton of infringements on our personal freedoms right there. Let alone killing. We've reversed on the very cause we set out for back in the 1770s. Freedom, equality, love -- all that revolutionary stuff. In 200 years our ignorance and arrogance have grown to an intolerable degree.