The worry is written all over his face as he jots down the patient’s symptoms: “Chronic cough followed by extreme fatigue; forgetfulness, confusion and other signs of mental deterioration; and clearly marked change in the pattern of an existing illness, either in frequency, severity or length” (Wai Loon). The attending physician’s mind quickly flashes to the handful of medical journals where he has seen this sort of list before. Instead of panicking, he calmly asks the patient to first describe the sort of relational activity she has been engaging in. “Reckless abandon might be a conservative description of the types of relationships I am involved in,” the patient explains. After examining the results of a few tests and hearing the vulgar description of her latest conquest, all evidence is clearly pointing the physician to deliver the painfully dreadful news.
“You have an incurable disease that is typically spread by the careless interaction of one body with another. This disease can be treated, thus saving future generations, but regrettably there is no cure for you.” The patient searches for the appropriate response to such scandalous news. With hesitation she finally asks the doctor, “AIDS?”
The doctor looks as though he might laugh. “What are you talking about? You are a nation completely incapable of receiving sexually transmitted diseases. No America, you do not have AIDS, but what you do have is equally terrifying. You have the worst case of Imperialism I have seen in a nation to date. You have been coughing up billions of dollars to support entangling relationships while your own people are plagued with extreme economic fatigue. You seem to continually forget your history and are clearly confused, perhaps even delusional, about your role in the global community (all signs of mental deterioration). Not only that, but when combined with marked change in the pattern of an existing illness, like racism for example, I would say this diagnosis is spot on.”
Although the previous narrative is a fictional account of an impossible relationship between a political physician and a nation, it requires no stretch of the imagination to envision such a dialogue taking place. This paper will attempt to draw the reader’s attention to the existence of a parallel between American Imperialism and the infamous final stage of HIV infection known as AIDS. By posing three simple questions concerning the nature of AIDS and providing sound scientific responses, the hope is to equip the reader with the tools to draw sensible comparisons of the disease to the conspicuously candid ideology of American Imperialism.
The first of the three questions would understandably be, “What is AIDS and how is it transmitted?” HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus; this is the virus that causes AIDS. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease” (“Basic”). The most common risk factor involving the transmission of HIV is having unprotected sex with an infected individual. Experts maintain that if sexual interaction was abstained from until a monogamous relationship was established the risk factors would be nearly eradicated. The deadliest disease known to mankind has no cure and is commonly transmitted through promiscuity; a sort-of cruel irony that is not lost in this discussion.
Imperialism, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas.” Is America, the self-proclaimed great bastion of democracy, actually infected with an imperialistic ideology? In spite of historical evidence and current international activities that indicate the contrary, most American leaders will deny any empirical notions on behalf of the nation. President George W. Bush, in his January 21, 2004 State of the Union Address best sums this up:
America is a nation with a mission and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire. Our aim is a democratic peace a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this cause with friends and allies at our side, yet we understand our special calling: This great republic will lead the cause of freedom.
This is where semantics might play a greater role than expected. When freedom loving Americans like President Bush claim to have no ambitions of empire, the rest of the planet is left wondering why then does the Base Structure Report for Fiscal Year 2008 boast of 761 U.S. military sites in foreign locations (United States). Such a number alone indicates a desire for direct or indirect control over the political or economic life of other lands; generic imperialism by definition, even if it is carried out under the banner of democratic peace.
Similar to the first question pertaining to AIDS, the spotlight is driven towards wondering how the United States became an imperialistic nation. One could argue that she was quite literally born out of the desire for expanding the British Empire. In the same way, the counter to that is the Revolutionary War and the Founding Father’s desire to break free from such tyranny. Yet history has shown that oppression in the name of expansion has continued to originate from this corner of the planet in spite of the two century’s worth of separation from the crown. Is it just the result of a faulty foreign policy? Undoubtedly that is a culprit in part, but just as promiscuity isn’t the instigator but the product of a careless desire for immediate gratification, this foreign policy is perpetuated by perverted patriotism.
Patriotism is the love or devotion to one’s country, almost in spite of the government (“Patriotism”). Perverted patriotism seems to be the love or devotion to one’s government in spite of the country. This is a bipartisan problem that can be witnessed on any twenty-four hour cable news network. Citizens are so passionate about the success of the party they are affiliated with that they can’t be troubled with the failure of the nation they are residents of. When applied to a foreign policy, this perversion allows for a frighteningly apathetic world view. In the eyes of a modern-day patriot, “America can do no wrong (as long as that wrong is done on distant shores).” The same selfish indifference that facilitates the spread of HIV is preserving American Imperialism.
The second of the three questions about AIDS would be, “What does AIDS do to you?” “There are no common symptoms for individuals diagnosed with AIDS. When immune system damage is more severe, people may experience opportunistic infections (called opportunistic because they are caused by organisms which cannot induce disease in people with normal immune systems, but take the "opportunity" to flourish in people with HIV) (“What”). Individuals with AIDS can plan for the worst as their body is completely unable to fight for itself.
Regrettably, even though it sounds like the rant of a crude conservative evangelist, the fact is that more times than not a careless attitude leading towards promiscuous living can lead to a breakdown in the internal functions of the careless individual. Without a doubt, how people interact with others is a key factor in maintaining a healthy body. Or put another way: Failed foreign policy leads to a breakdown of domestic policy.
Such is the case with government; a nation focused on sloppy expansion ends up neglecting the care of its own citizens. “As of 2005, direct U.S. economic and military assistance to Israel amounted nearly $154 billion (in 2005 dollars), the bulk of it comprising direct grants rather than loans” (Walt 24). At that same time, according to an early 2007 report issued by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 744,313 people were experiencing homelessness in America (“How”). A nation that will travel to the ends of the earth to ensure survival of a subjective political ideology should be able to keep its own citizens off the streets; unless that nation is infected with a disease preventing it from enacting successful domestic policies. AIDS cannot survive outside of the body, which is why hugging or shaking hands with a victim is safe. Once inside, it feverishly works to destroy the very thing that gives it life. In the same way, empires naturally destroy the very people that allow them to exist. Imperialism is identical to AIDS in its relentless crusade to ruin its host.
The third and final question would have to be, “So what can be done about AIDS?” Tragically there is no cure for this lethal disease. The only way future generations can truly be saved from this epidemic is if all hosts of the virus die; an impossibility as countless individuals are unknowingly spreading the virus daily. Not only that, but there is a moral quagmire of infanticide as mothers are giving birth to infected children all over the globe. It is simply up to the individual to care enough about their own health to prevent transmission. Infected individuals have an ethical responsibility to practice safe interactions with those around them. They should inform those they plan on being intimate with that they are infected and let them know of the chance of the virus spreading. As for future generations, they will just have to care enough about themselves to stay healthy, as all signs point to AIDS being a permanent fixture of society.
America is an infected empire, and regardless of what efforts are made there might not ever be a cure. She should stop all of her reckless relationships and start focusing on keeping the people within her borders healthy and secure. If she plans to interact with other nations she should let them know of her disease, and the ability for it to spread like wildfire. Removing the United States from the planet will have the same effect that removing a few AIDS infected individuals would have: Nothing. History shows that imperialism has been and most likely will always be a permanent fixture of society.
Some might question the merits of such a comparison, wondering if being an empire is actually as bad as being infected with AIDS. Well-spoken, intelligent and charismatic personalities will always find a way to rouse the masses in a revival towards empirical fervor. Sean Hannity, on a June 6, 2008 taping of his Fox News Channel program “Hannity’s America” is quoted saying, “The U.S. is the greatest, best country God has ever given man on the face of the earth.” Then he followed with, “America is the single greatest nation that God ever gave man on this earth.” This idea of American greatness is only further exaggerated during moments of crisis, which is exactly the idea behind Glenn Beck’s 9/12 Project. There is something that will always speak louder than the voices of Hannity, Beck, Tom Brokaw and other perverted patriots, though: The facts. The fact is America has been involved in over 250 military conflicts since World War II (“List”). Maybe being an empire isn’t so terrible for a community college student looking to write a controversial paper in the comforts of his Fort Worth Texas home, but ask the indigenous people of Iraq how comfortable the empirical sanctions were for an estimated 500,000 of their kids under the age of 5 (Welch).
Even though it is not near as popular as it once was, the AIDS epidemic still exists. HIV infected individuals are known to live somewhat normal, albeit shortened, lives now. The difference is there have been great leaps forward in medication and awareness to dampen the effects of infection. If such efforts were employed in the political arena towards decreasing the cost of her infected ideology, America could actually function as a normal member of the global community. Aruhdati Roy, famed Indian political activist and novelist, summarizes the critical call to action best in her “An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire”:
The only institution more powerful than the U.S. government is American civil society. The rest of us are subjects of slave nations. We are by no means powerless, but you have the power of proximity. You have access to the Imperial Palace and the Emperor’s chambers. Empire’s conquests are being carried out in your name, and you have the right to refuse.
It is dangerous for a nation to be as powerful and willfully ignorant as America. Her empire was built at the expense of lives and cultures on far-away lands. Change won’t be cheap, but this time let her pay the price herself. If she would take it upon herself to use her proximity to the Emperor and demand a revolution in policy, she just might be able to prevent another outbreak of diseased diplomacy.
Works Cited
"Basic Information." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 Sep. 2008. Department of Health and Human Services. 9 Apr. 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/#aids>.
"How Many People Experience Homelessness?" National Coalition for the Homeless. June 2008. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/How_Many.html>.
"Imperialism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 10 April 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperialism>.
"List of United States Military History Events." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 Apr. 2009. Wikimedia Founation. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_history_events>.
"Patriotism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 10 April 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism>.
"Transcript of State of the Union: Iraq." CNN. 2005. Time Warner. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/20/sotu.transcript.3/index.html>.
Roy, Arundhati. An Oridnary Person's Guide to Empire. Cambridge: South End , 2004.
United States. Department of Defense. "Site Size Summaries." Base Structure Report Fiscal Year 2008 Baseline (A Summary of DoD's Real Property Inventory). DoD - 22. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Defense. Sept. 2008. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://www.acq.osd.mil/ie/download/bsr/BSR2008Baseline.pdf>.
Wai Loon, Kris Lee. "Understanding AIDS: Symptoms and Diagnosis of the Disease." Suite 101. 19 May 2008. Suite101.com Media Inc. 9 Apr. 2009 <http://chronicillness.suite101.com/article.cfm/understanding_aids>.
Walt, Stephen M., and John J. Mearsheimer. "The Great Benefactor, Economic Aid." The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. 24.
"What are the symptoms of AIDS?" Aids.org. 2007. Community Partners. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://www.aids.org/info/hiv-symptoms.html>.
“You have an incurable disease that is typically spread by the careless interaction of one body with another. This disease can be treated, thus saving future generations, but regrettably there is no cure for you.” The patient searches for the appropriate response to such scandalous news. With hesitation she finally asks the doctor, “AIDS?”
The doctor looks as though he might laugh. “What are you talking about? You are a nation completely incapable of receiving sexually transmitted diseases. No America, you do not have AIDS, but what you do have is equally terrifying. You have the worst case of Imperialism I have seen in a nation to date. You have been coughing up billions of dollars to support entangling relationships while your own people are plagued with extreme economic fatigue. You seem to continually forget your history and are clearly confused, perhaps even delusional, about your role in the global community (all signs of mental deterioration). Not only that, but when combined with marked change in the pattern of an existing illness, like racism for example, I would say this diagnosis is spot on.”
Although the previous narrative is a fictional account of an impossible relationship between a political physician and a nation, it requires no stretch of the imagination to envision such a dialogue taking place. This paper will attempt to draw the reader’s attention to the existence of a parallel between American Imperialism and the infamous final stage of HIV infection known as AIDS. By posing three simple questions concerning the nature of AIDS and providing sound scientific responses, the hope is to equip the reader with the tools to draw sensible comparisons of the disease to the conspicuously candid ideology of American Imperialism.
The first of the three questions would understandably be, “What is AIDS and how is it transmitted?” HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus; this is the virus that causes AIDS. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “HIV is different from most other viruses because it attacks the immune system. HIV finds and destroys a type of white blood cell (T cells or CD4 cells) that the immune system must have to fight disease” (“Basic”). The most common risk factor involving the transmission of HIV is having unprotected sex with an infected individual. Experts maintain that if sexual interaction was abstained from until a monogamous relationship was established the risk factors would be nearly eradicated. The deadliest disease known to mankind has no cure and is commonly transmitted through promiscuity; a sort-of cruel irony that is not lost in this discussion.
Imperialism, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “the policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by direct territorial acquisitions or by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas.” Is America, the self-proclaimed great bastion of democracy, actually infected with an imperialistic ideology? In spite of historical evidence and current international activities that indicate the contrary, most American leaders will deny any empirical notions on behalf of the nation. President George W. Bush, in his January 21, 2004 State of the Union Address best sums this up:
America is a nation with a mission and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire. Our aim is a democratic peace a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this cause with friends and allies at our side, yet we understand our special calling: This great republic will lead the cause of freedom.
This is where semantics might play a greater role than expected. When freedom loving Americans like President Bush claim to have no ambitions of empire, the rest of the planet is left wondering why then does the Base Structure Report for Fiscal Year 2008 boast of 761 U.S. military sites in foreign locations (United States). Such a number alone indicates a desire for direct or indirect control over the political or economic life of other lands; generic imperialism by definition, even if it is carried out under the banner of democratic peace.
Similar to the first question pertaining to AIDS, the spotlight is driven towards wondering how the United States became an imperialistic nation. One could argue that she was quite literally born out of the desire for expanding the British Empire. In the same way, the counter to that is the Revolutionary War and the Founding Father’s desire to break free from such tyranny. Yet history has shown that oppression in the name of expansion has continued to originate from this corner of the planet in spite of the two century’s worth of separation from the crown. Is it just the result of a faulty foreign policy? Undoubtedly that is a culprit in part, but just as promiscuity isn’t the instigator but the product of a careless desire for immediate gratification, this foreign policy is perpetuated by perverted patriotism.
Patriotism is the love or devotion to one’s country, almost in spite of the government (“Patriotism”). Perverted patriotism seems to be the love or devotion to one’s government in spite of the country. This is a bipartisan problem that can be witnessed on any twenty-four hour cable news network. Citizens are so passionate about the success of the party they are affiliated with that they can’t be troubled with the failure of the nation they are residents of. When applied to a foreign policy, this perversion allows for a frighteningly apathetic world view. In the eyes of a modern-day patriot, “America can do no wrong (as long as that wrong is done on distant shores).” The same selfish indifference that facilitates the spread of HIV is preserving American Imperialism.
The second of the three questions about AIDS would be, “What does AIDS do to you?” “There are no common symptoms for individuals diagnosed with AIDS. When immune system damage is more severe, people may experience opportunistic infections (called opportunistic because they are caused by organisms which cannot induce disease in people with normal immune systems, but take the "opportunity" to flourish in people with HIV) (“What”). Individuals with AIDS can plan for the worst as their body is completely unable to fight for itself.
Regrettably, even though it sounds like the rant of a crude conservative evangelist, the fact is that more times than not a careless attitude leading towards promiscuous living can lead to a breakdown in the internal functions of the careless individual. Without a doubt, how people interact with others is a key factor in maintaining a healthy body. Or put another way: Failed foreign policy leads to a breakdown of domestic policy.
Such is the case with government; a nation focused on sloppy expansion ends up neglecting the care of its own citizens. “As of 2005, direct U.S. economic and military assistance to Israel amounted nearly $154 billion (in 2005 dollars), the bulk of it comprising direct grants rather than loans” (Walt 24). At that same time, according to an early 2007 report issued by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 744,313 people were experiencing homelessness in America (“How”). A nation that will travel to the ends of the earth to ensure survival of a subjective political ideology should be able to keep its own citizens off the streets; unless that nation is infected with a disease preventing it from enacting successful domestic policies. AIDS cannot survive outside of the body, which is why hugging or shaking hands with a victim is safe. Once inside, it feverishly works to destroy the very thing that gives it life. In the same way, empires naturally destroy the very people that allow them to exist. Imperialism is identical to AIDS in its relentless crusade to ruin its host.
The third and final question would have to be, “So what can be done about AIDS?” Tragically there is no cure for this lethal disease. The only way future generations can truly be saved from this epidemic is if all hosts of the virus die; an impossibility as countless individuals are unknowingly spreading the virus daily. Not only that, but there is a moral quagmire of infanticide as mothers are giving birth to infected children all over the globe. It is simply up to the individual to care enough about their own health to prevent transmission. Infected individuals have an ethical responsibility to practice safe interactions with those around them. They should inform those they plan on being intimate with that they are infected and let them know of the chance of the virus spreading. As for future generations, they will just have to care enough about themselves to stay healthy, as all signs point to AIDS being a permanent fixture of society.
America is an infected empire, and regardless of what efforts are made there might not ever be a cure. She should stop all of her reckless relationships and start focusing on keeping the people within her borders healthy and secure. If she plans to interact with other nations she should let them know of her disease, and the ability for it to spread like wildfire. Removing the United States from the planet will have the same effect that removing a few AIDS infected individuals would have: Nothing. History shows that imperialism has been and most likely will always be a permanent fixture of society.
Some might question the merits of such a comparison, wondering if being an empire is actually as bad as being infected with AIDS. Well-spoken, intelligent and charismatic personalities will always find a way to rouse the masses in a revival towards empirical fervor. Sean Hannity, on a June 6, 2008 taping of his Fox News Channel program “Hannity’s America” is quoted saying, “The U.S. is the greatest, best country God has ever given man on the face of the earth.” Then he followed with, “America is the single greatest nation that God ever gave man on this earth.” This idea of American greatness is only further exaggerated during moments of crisis, which is exactly the idea behind Glenn Beck’s 9/12 Project. There is something that will always speak louder than the voices of Hannity, Beck, Tom Brokaw and other perverted patriots, though: The facts. The fact is America has been involved in over 250 military conflicts since World War II (“List”). Maybe being an empire isn’t so terrible for a community college student looking to write a controversial paper in the comforts of his Fort Worth Texas home, but ask the indigenous people of Iraq how comfortable the empirical sanctions were for an estimated 500,000 of their kids under the age of 5 (Welch).
Even though it is not near as popular as it once was, the AIDS epidemic still exists. HIV infected individuals are known to live somewhat normal, albeit shortened, lives now. The difference is there have been great leaps forward in medication and awareness to dampen the effects of infection. If such efforts were employed in the political arena towards decreasing the cost of her infected ideology, America could actually function as a normal member of the global community. Aruhdati Roy, famed Indian political activist and novelist, summarizes the critical call to action best in her “An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire”:
The only institution more powerful than the U.S. government is American civil society. The rest of us are subjects of slave nations. We are by no means powerless, but you have the power of proximity. You have access to the Imperial Palace and the Emperor’s chambers. Empire’s conquests are being carried out in your name, and you have the right to refuse.
It is dangerous for a nation to be as powerful and willfully ignorant as America. Her empire was built at the expense of lives and cultures on far-away lands. Change won’t be cheap, but this time let her pay the price herself. If she would take it upon herself to use her proximity to the Emperor and demand a revolution in policy, she just might be able to prevent another outbreak of diseased diplomacy.
Works Cited
"Basic Information." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 Sep. 2008. Department of Health and Human Services. 9 Apr. 2009 <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/#aids>.
"How Many People Experience Homelessness?" National Coalition for the Homeless. June 2008. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/How_Many.html>.
"Imperialism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 10 April 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperialism>.
"List of United States Military History Events." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 12 Apr. 2009. Wikimedia Founation. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_military_history_events>.
"Patriotism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 10 April 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism>.
"Transcript of State of the Union: Iraq." CNN. 2005. Time Warner. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/20/sotu.transcript.3/index.html>.
Roy, Arundhati. An Oridnary Person's Guide to Empire. Cambridge: South End , 2004.
United States. Department of Defense. "Site Size Summaries." Base Structure Report Fiscal Year 2008 Baseline (A Summary of DoD's Real Property Inventory). DoD - 22. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Defense. Sept. 2008. 10 Apr. 2009 <http://www.acq.osd.mil/ie/download/bsr/BSR2008Baseline.pdf>.
Wai Loon, Kris Lee. "Understanding AIDS: Symptoms and Diagnosis of the Disease." Suite 101. 19 May 2008. Suite101.com Media Inc. 9 Apr. 2009 <http://chronicillness.suite101.com/article.cfm/understanding_aids>.
Walt, Stephen M., and John J. Mearsheimer. "The Great Benefactor, Economic Aid." The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007. 24.
"What are the symptoms of AIDS?" Aids.org. 2007. Community Partners. 13 Apr. 2009 <http://www.aids.org/info/hiv-symptoms.html>.
