Mass Media's Influence On America

The hegemonic status of America in the world has been attained with the help of its largely successful indulgence in a number of wars over the years. However, as a country that was founded on democratic principles and ideals, it has sought to even not let its decisions regarding going to war or conducting warfare unaffected by its democratic ideals and institutions. A very good example of such an attempt to allow the ideals of democracy to

This book addresses America's undeclared wars or "small wars" in chronological order, dividing them from 1801 to the present into three sections; "Commercial Power," "Great Power" and "Superpower" to argue that, they have always played a key role in American international affairs. This story, he shows what a special relevance to the current "war on terrorism" and the future of American conflicts around the world. Beginning with a description of going to work on September 11 as the World Trade Center tragedy displaced the WSJ newsroom, Boot quickly gets down to some historical detail: from the U.S. expedition against the Barbary pirates to violent squabbles in Panama, Samoa, the Philippines, China, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico,

Throughout post-WWII history, the United States has taken on the role of the world’s police. They feel the obligation to ensure the spread of their ideals for selfish and self-righteous reasons. John Mueller and Odd Arne Westad share their arguments as to what the United States’ actions have produced during the Cold War in Eastern Europe, Korea, and Vietnam and during the post-9/11 period in the Afghanistan and Iraq. While some of their arguments are valid, others are flawed.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s violence in Somalia was getting worse as the days went by. This violence allowed warlords from the regions of Somalia and, in turn, go to war with one another. Images of the war showing starving children called for a response from the United States. The United States government sent supplies of food to the needy. However, these warlords got to the food trucks first. This resulted in President George H.W. Bush sending in troops to make sure that the supply lines could reach these desperate people in need of our help. As violence arose in Somalia United States citizens began to question whether or not it was our place to be there.

The second World War brought untold suffering to million across the globe, but it also launched the United States into the position of a superpower for the next 50 years. With the utter destruction of nations across Europe, Africa, and Asia, both winners and losers, America easily assumed a dominant position in the coming international system and captured the ability to reconstruct the world using its high democratic ideals. The United States was the most powerful nation in the world. It is said that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and with postwar America it was no different. Given the unilateral power to spread its ideals of self-determination, liberty, equality, and individualism; America instead effectively subverted these principles not only around the world, but domestically as well. The unlimited global power and Cold War paranoia of the postwar years to the assassination of John F. Kennedy proved a fatal mixture to American ideals. As World War II came to a close, the United States gained the world as the most powerful country on earth; But to maintain this power it sadly reverted to the imperalism abraod and the Red Scare at home; its reversion made her loose her soul. These hypocritical actions and policies shaped a new world not set by democratic and liberal ideals of FDR’s “Four Points,” but by the power motivated creeds of repression, greed, and violence. In the race to fill the power vacuum created by World War II, the United States abandoned its civic

[2] When determining US policy, diplomatic and economic tools of statecraft should be more readily deployed than military intervention for the purpose of genocide prevention and mitigation. As interventionist Samantha Power notes in her book, A Problem From Hell, “[t]he United States should not frame its policy options in terms of doing nothing or unilaterally sending in the marines.” The period of time pre-genocide, which may be characterized by internal unrest or civil war, is a key period of time for U.S. policymakers interested in preserving human life and a nation’s stability. If policymakers fear the development of genocide, they can take steps such as threatening legal consequences, enacting economic sanctions, or “calling on countries aligned with perpetrators to ask them to use their influence.” All of these and similar options are far less risky to the U.S. than a military intervention and can be readily applied in order to prevent violence escalating into genocide or in the case of a suspected, but unconfirmed, genocide.

Over and over again, Williams illustrates this theme of “American Exceptionalism.” Throughout the book, there are several occurrences in which the “We are the best, and all that we are doing is of benefit to the world” mentality is shown. On one hand, there is nothing wrong with being proud of roots as an American and believing that America is the greatest country, but on the other hand, using this thought process in in order to legitimize the domination and control of other nations unlike America while preaching one set of values and acting on others, is wrong. We see these actions play out time and time again as America invades and controls other countries “to help” them, however, prohibits the country from experiencing the full advantages of self-determination – a value that America claims to hold i.e. a tragedy of American Diplomacy.

Under the claim of involving themselves in oversea events to “feed and clothe the world” (Beveridge, “The March of the Flag”) and promote democracy, the United States exploited these areas for personal gain. These “unexplored lands” were deemed to have a “savage wilderness” (Beveridge, “The March of the Flag”) society that required American intervention to civilize these inferior people. Even though morally one should “not to govern a people without

At the heart of nearly every world conflict, the United States of America is either at the epicenter, or in some way, majorly involved; this has caused disdain among many nations of the world—and their disdain for the United States and her means has been demonstrated in various attacks, kidnappings, and other acts of terror. And while there are plenty of Americans going off into the world making effective, meaningful change that doesn’t spur the resentment of other nations, it is easily seen that there are many Americans—a majority—that continue to give other nations the impression that Americans are pompous, ugly people.

Mass media is communication that reaches a large audience. This includes television, advertisement, the Internet, newspapers, and so on. Mass media is a significant effect in modern culture in America. It creates ideas and sustained within society not only send ideological messages out to the public but to advertise this ideas which are tend to manipulate our mantalities.

This “awakening” of the American psyche to the outside world did not necessarily discredit isolationist sentiments, but it undoubtedly gave credence to the belief that America was destined to assume an active role in world affairs. The American peace movement began early during the first decade of the 20th century. An ethnocentric lot, these peace-seekers were, as Herring states, “Optimistic about humankind and confident of progress…[believing] their cause could best be furthered by the extension of Anglo-Saxon principles, especially the codification of international law and arbitration” (Herring, pg. 357). In only a few short years, 130 non-governmental organizations were established by these peace-seekers. Ironically enough, Herring mentions that those supporters of the peace movement “saw no contradiction between working for peace and

It merely addressed the problems within “underdeveloped” countries, without taking into account the effects that colonialism, war, and natural disasters may have had on the ‘development’ of certain nations. The idea that, “the ‘laws of development’ are supposedly the same for all , and ‘win their way through with iron necessity’,” and the emphasis on self-ambition, and self-generated consequences also demonstrate the North American interest. These concepts are very similar, if not identical, to the American idea of equal opportunity. Furthermore, they sought to define these countries by their actions and the individual mentalities of their populations rather than account for outside forces. Such carefully crafted diction, removed the United States from fault, while simultaneously justifying its hand in international

This New York Times article covers the reasoning behind the U.N.’s failure to put an end to the Bosnian genocide. Up until 1995, the U.S. refused to intervene in the genocide taking place in Bosnia. The American government refused sending in their own troops and also vetoed Security Council draft resolutions to increase the number of UN peacekeepers. The American foreign policy toward Bosnia changed in 1995 due to new evidence of the atrocities being committed in Bosnia. This evidence was becoming common knowledge to the public and the United States’ lack of action was becoming an embarrassment. Because their inaction would make America look bad, this gave them no choice but to interfere in

The United States has been a super power for decades, and since America has always involved themselves in other countries' problems. Instead of isolationism, the country has practiced getting involved. Since the Monroe Presidency, America has been named the World's police force. Dispelling anarchists, and stopping coos, the united states portrays itself as the world protector. Since Monroe, some Americans have felt that isolation is the way to go, and most feel that it is our right to offer assistance. Two recent incidents, Operation Desert Storm and The War in Bosnia have allowed the United States to show off it's strength, both on the military and political level. It has also given the chance for America to evaluate it's foreign policy,

A modern act of doublethink in America, which could be compared to Oceania’s, is when Barack Obama in 2009 accepted the Nobel Peace Prize as he was simultaneously involved in two wars. One in Afghanistan and one undeclared in Pakistan. As in 1984 you could say that the anger was focused on the “enemy” instead of his and the governments leadership. America, the world’s savior, has a habit of as they please “keeping the peace” in foreign lands. They send their armed troops into these lands, threatening to kill anyone who goes against the interests of democracy. (Landler,