Blog to America -
American Perspectives

Dear Global Community,

Every September, I recall that is more than half a century (62 years) since I landed at Nagasaki with the 2nd Marine Division in the original occupation of Japan following World War II. This time every year, I have watched and listened to the light-hearted "peaceniks" and their light-headed symbolism-without-substance of ringing bells, flying pigeons, floating candles, and sonorous chanting and I recall again that "Peace is not a cause - it is an effect."

In July, 1945, my fellow 8th RCT Marines [I was a BARman] and I returned to Saipan following the successful conclusion of the Battle of Okinawa. We were issued new equipment and replacements joined each outfit in preparation for our coming amphibious assault on the home islands of Japan.

B-29 bombing had leveled the major cities of Japan, including Kobe, Osaka, Nagoya, Yokohama, Yokosuka, and Tokyo.

We were informed we would land three Marine divisions and six Army divisions, perhaps abreast, with large reserves following us in. It was estimated that it would cost half a million casualties to subdue the Japanese homeland.

In August, the A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima but the Japanese government refused to surrender. Three days later a second A-bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The Imperial Japanese government finally surrendered.

Following the 1941 sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, a Japanese admiral said, "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant..." Indeed, they had. Not surprisingly, the atomic bomb was produced by a free people functioning in a free environment. Not surprisingly because the creative process is a natural human choice-making process and inventiveness occurs most readily where choice-making opportunities abound. America!

Tamper with a giant, indeed! Tyrants, beware: Free men are nature's pit bulls of Liberty! The Japanese learned the hard way what tyrants of any generation should know: Never start a war with a free people - you never know what they may invent!

As a newly assigned member of a U.S. Marine intelligence section, I had a unique opportunity to visit many major cities of Japan, including Tokyo and Hiroshima, within weeks of their destruction. For a full year I observed the beaches, weapons, and troops we would have assaulted had the A-bombs not been dropped. Yes, it would have been very destructive for all, but especially for the people of Japan.

When we landed in Japan, for what came to be the finest and most humane occupation of a defeated enemy in recorded history, it was with great appreciation, thanksgiving, and praise for the atomic bomb team, including the aircrew of the Enola Gay. A half million American homes had been spared the Gold Star flag, including, I'm sure, my own.

Whenever I hear the apologists expressing guilt and shame for A-bombing and ending the war Japan had started (they ignore the cause-effect relation between Pearl Harbor and Nagasaki), I have noted that neither the effete critics nor the puff-adder politicians are among us in the assault landing-craft or the stinking rice paddies of their suggested alternative, "conventional" warfare. Stammering reluctance is obvious and continuous, but they do love to pontificate about the Rights that others, and the Bomb, have bought and preserved for them.

The vanities of ignorance and camouflaged cowardice abound as license for the assertion of virtuous "rights" purchased by the blood of others - those others who have borne the burden and physical expense of Rights whining apologists so casually and self-righteously claim.

At best, these fakers manifest a profound and cryptic ignorance of causal relations, myopic perception, and dull I.Q. At worst, there is a word and description in The Constitution defining those who love the enemy more than they love their own countrymen and their own posterity. Every Yankee Doodle Dandy knows what that word is.

In 1945, America was the only nation in the world with the Bomb and it behaved responsibly and respectfully. It remained so until two among us betrayed it to the Kremlin. Still, this American weapon system has been the prime deterrent to earth's latest model world- tyranny: Seventy years of Soviet collectivist definition, coercion, and domination of individual human beings.

The message is this: Trust Freedom. Remember, tyrants never learn. The restriction of Freedom is the limitation of human choice, and choice is the fulcrum-point of the creative process in human affairs. As earth's choicemaker, it is our human identity on nature's beautiful blue planet and the natural premise of man's free institutions, environments, and respectful relations with one another. Made in the image of our Creator, free men choose, create, and progress - or die.

Free men should not fear the moon-god-crowd oppressor nor choose any of his ways. Recall with a confident Job and a victorious David, "Know ye not that you are in league with the stones of the field?"

Semper Fidelis
Jim Baxter
Sgt. USMC
WW II and Korean War

Job 5:23 Proverbs 3:31 I Samuel 17:40


About the Author:

Name: Jim Baxter
Age: 82
Country: USA
City: Santa Maria
State: California
Gender: Male
Income: Low
Occupation: Retired
Website: http://www.choicemaker.net/

Labels: 60's, american history, california, low income, male, retired, war and conflict, world war 2

Dear Global Community,

It's no secret that of late socio-pathic usurpers have claimed themselves as your voice. They have systematically torn you so far from the source of your foundation everyone believes we can never get back. Do you know what they say behind your back America? A good majority of the Middle East hates your guts, Japan thinks you're in the stone age, Russia considers you a falling power, and Europe thinks you're a joke.

I know the truth hurts, America, but these are things one brings upon themselves. You've become fat and complacent, America. You've been a superpower so long that there aren't hardly any Americans left that can remember when you weren't such a hotshot. Consequently these countries, regions and continents have valid points.

The Middle East doesn't hate your freedom. I'm not sure if anyone told you, but there's not too much freedom left to hate. They hate you for your decadence and your arrogance, not to mention that you've been poking your nose in and causing all kinds of havoc there for many decades.

Japan thinks you're living in the stone age partially because they're living in the technological age of 2050. But also because you're not able to compete in the world economy, especially in education. Inventing the iPhone is not enough innovation to float the whole economy.
As a result, Russia is right, you are a falling power. Because if anyone knows what a falling power looks like, its Russia. If you keep spending at such an exorbitant rate with an economy designed to accumulate debt, even a child could tell you that's bad news and cause for immediate alarm.
But you don't see that, which is why Europe is laughing at you, America. Because anyone who's paying one iota of attention to this situation knows that continuing business as it's been played out lately means total collapse.

Yes America.
Collapse.
Total.

But you used to be a badass, America. Not for your arrogance, but for your understanding that innovation is good for everyone. You understood that a truly free nation makes for a prosperous nation. Sure you've never been perfect, America. But perfection is not something you achieve, its something you strive for. And somewhere you stopped striving, America. Somewhere along the way you gave up free speech and Habeas Corpus for bomb shelters and gas masks. The world can say what they will America, but one thing you're never shy of is resilience. But you'll only figure that out when you get over yourself and see what needs to be done.

Love,
Marty


About the Author:

Name: Marty Loves America
Age: 22
Country: United State of America
City: Austin
State: Texas
Gender: Male
Income: Medium
Occupation: Sales and Marketing
Website: http://www.myspace.com/subterraneanpop

Labels: 20's, economy, foreign policy, freedom, male, medium income, north america, sales, texas

Dear Global Community,

Unfortunately, most comments about the USA in this blog are based upon press releases in various countries, which for the most part, are colored by a liberal socialist tinge.

As far as the personal experience with Americans by commentators go, they either have never even visited the U.S or have done so for only shorter periods. Such experiences are by far not enough to develop a halfway balanced judgment about the U.S., its people or its foreign policy rationale.


About the Author:

Name: Peter P. Haase
Age: 79
Country: USA
City: Boca Raton
State: Florida
Gender: Male
Income: High
Occupation: Retired IBM Manager

Labels: 60's, florida, high income, male, politics, retired

Dear Global Community,

I am an American, but am I proud? I have been debating this topic in my head in the past months especially leading up to today, 9/11. Have I come up with an answer? No, but many ideas. First of all, it is my dream to live, well, not in the United States. I would love to live all over the world , moving every few years, and finally after discovering as much as I can, settle down. But in the mean time, I am stuck here. As a young child, I was very proud to be American. Now I think that is because of the American "history" we were taught in grade school. To be honest, I feel like I've been lied to. As a high school student, last year I took an U.S history course, and realized what the real American history was about. I've always had this feeling as a kid that America was great and all, and really had good values and freedoms. When I learned about American imperialism and colonization, I was horrified and surprised. America was the nation that fought against all of that for freedom, and yet we did it to others. I can totally understand why people outside of the U.S would not like it. Even though they think we are possibly helping, by coming into your country, why is it America's business. Most of the time it is not. Why do you even want to be like us here? America is filled with shallow and completely stupid people. There are so many people who waste their lives away doing nothing with their lives and not trying to do anything to live nicely and many have all the resources available to them. There are so many people in countries around the world dying to live comfortable lives like we do here.

I am mostly liberal, coming from New Jersey. I probably have a biased view, but I really think that New Jersey, NYC, and parts of California (NOT L.A!) are the only intelligent parts of this country. Of course that is biased, but the majority of people in my school except for maybe a few are not Bush supporters. You go down to Florida or Virginia -and its difficult to convince people he is bad. It is sad and pathetic, that many people do not think for themselves, and many people from Texas love him to death, and believe everything he says and supports everything he does just because he is from their State. I almost wish we were not one united country, but a continent of fifty different ones. Each state or cluster of states has their own personalities, views and beliefs. If New Jersey were its own country, It would be pretty kick ass.

Now, as to 9/11. Seeing the smoke from my house, just killed me. I remember that day, being in the sixth grade, like it was yesterday, and sometimes it still feels like it was only last year. There is nothing worse than having a "i remember exactly what i was doing on the day of____ attacks" day. It could be Pearl Harbor, a president being assassinated, and now in the case of most Americans today, 9 11. And especially those close to where it hit. Like i said, seeing the smoke made it extremely real and petrifying. New Jersey-being the home of very important ports (in Elizabeth-about 10 minutes from me) could have very well been the next target, and when George Bush almost sold them... that would have been just ridiculous. Anyway, the memory of 9/11 will always be with me, and I will always remember that day-not knowing all day of what was happening except that the towers were no longer there-for a reason I did not know at the time. I was 11, the impact of it didn't hit me right away. When my mom picked me up, in tears, i knew something horrible had happened. We came home , and put the news on right away. every single channel. Watching over and over again, the planes hitting, the fires burning, and the people jumping out from the floors like the 80th floor, people jumping, people dying, the towers coming crashing down , the people in the streets screaming and running, and the debris flying and crashing down .wow. the impact of watching it on television was enough. i think i would have just stood there and froze if i was actually seeing it in real life. The footage was played over and over again, deathly. The panic. You just don't understand the impact of war, until it hits home, and this is one of the only times it has in recent history. I feel horrible and embarrassed and ashamed of the fact that America is inflicting this pain on Iraqis. I have read some journals and some of these letters from Iraq and their lives have been turned around. We think they are going from bad to good but for man!

Why it has gone from Fine to horrible. The people live in fear everyday that there will be panic explosion and death. We had to deal with it one day, they have to deal with it everyday.

So, I guess back to the original question, am I patriotic of the United States? I am patriotic of New York City-basically my second home, I am patriotic for the people who fought for their rights such as womens rights and gay and lesbian rights and any other rights fought for especially in the 60s. I am patriotic of the people who come to America or struggle in America and eventually live that so called "American Dream" -if they worked hard, persevered, and really really strived good for them and congratulations. But in no way am I patriotic of the principals we convince people and claim we stand for-They are Great, but if we don't actually follow them, then I am not proud. I am in no way patriotic of the scummy white trash citizens who do Shit, while people are risking their lives from Mexico to come here just to live their lives-maybe in the worst conditions and maybe illegally, but they have more justification and integrity and character and soul than many people living here. let them come here, let them have a chance, send all those scumbags wasting away to mexico in their place. and in no absolute way am i patriotic of president Bush. I am ashamed that I live here sometimes. I am not ashamed of the life I live or what I believe in or what I THOUGHT america was or what it is supposed to stand for. but for what it has become. I hope to hear some feedback.

Thanks,
Caitlyn


About the Author:

Name: Caitlyn
Age: 17
Country: United States
City: Cranford
State: New Jersey
Gender: Female
Income: Low
Occupation: student
Experience With US: Currently Live in the United States
Website: http://caitywrites.livejournal.com/

Labels: 10's, 9/11, american history, democrat, female, imperialism, liberal, low income, New Jersey, patriotism, pride, student

Dear Global Community,

The future of the United Sates should include efforts to more Cooperatively interact with the UN. With the UN's approval of action against circumstances of hostile, aggressive behavior of other countries, it will be easier to change the world for the better and protect the assaulted People/ nations. The goal of the United States international Interactions needs to be: 1) To make a better life for its own people needing help, and 2) To keep, create, and offer peace. The first step to help out humanity, without using force (a way for the U.S. to gain the worlds Trust again), is to, with the UN's support oversee and provide Assistance in the homelands of those who show up at our borders, because of disease, poverty, and hunger. The United States will have more success in the actions we take, if we work through international organizations. Hopefully, by strengthening the UN, unstable/ semi-unpredictable Countries like China and Russia, can be controlled, and even steered towards favoring the United States' and The UN's wisdom. We, the people of this earth, are stronger united than apart. We each have something to Offer each other. We believe the same is true for countries. If we take these cooperative actions, the world will respect all that the UN has to offer, and will become a more peaceful, cooperative place.

We could be begin by withdrawing our troops, not all at once because we have created a level of dependence, and that could easily cause a collapse and then, more unrest. Starting, post-haste, span it out over several months, and take back in our troops a few thousand at a time. We have no idea what the effect will or could be, but no one will probably worse off, and hopefully, it will slowly inspire independence. If we give them time, to sort themselves out, even if it has to come to a civil war, let them create their balance. We could, grouped with other powers under some UN sanctified task force, return later and offer monetary assistance or help them stabilize themselves in the world economy. We should continue using oil from the middle east, it forces a certain amount of trust and would keep some sort of communication open between us, and that is a good thing, we all need good foreign relations because no nation can live in isolation. We could offer work programs to economic migrants and then send them back with a good, or more advanced education, so as to help better their own communities. Now though, we need to back off, give them their space, and quit lording over them. We may be a world power, but we shouldn't be arrogant. Yeah.

Jessie Theby, Riley Deel


About the Author

Name: Riley
Age: 17
Country: USA
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Gender: Female
Occupation: Student

Labels: 10's, female, foreign policy, iraq war, missouri, student

Dear Global Community,

The United States needs to back off. Right now we are pressure people too much, and we are not making them happy. We are making some enemies, which is not good. We need to calm down and give other nations a chance instead of stepping in right away and interfering. Some nations might need a push in the right direction, but we don't have to force it so much. We need to stop focusing on the on everyone else, and start focusing on the citizens of our own nation. I understand that we can't pull out of things too fast, like Iraq, because that can cause trouble. We should just slowly start pulling out, especially if it's somewhere where we are not welcome. If we do not have the support from other people of what we are doing we should get the idea that maybe it's not the best thing. We should listen to other nations, instead of ignoring them. If we were to pull out of Iraq it may cause trouble, but maybe trouble is needed. Iraq should work out their own problems. If civil war were to break out, then maybe it is necessary. If a war broke out and got too bad, we could always come back, but I think we need to give them a chance and see what happens if we were not there. It would be nice if we could set up a working government in Iraq before we leave, but the reality is, that could take way too long.


About the Author

Name: Shannon
Age: 17
State: Missouri
Gender: Female

Labels: 10's, female, foreign policy, iraq war, missouri

Dear Global Community,

Why do we believe that the US has to police the entire world. I understand that with great power comes responsibility, but at the cost of our own citizens. Our unrelenting vigor when it is completely obvious we lost can only be two things, bravery or stupidness. Iraq is a prime example of this view, our forces have been there for four, almost five years and still little or no progress. We should focus our main support on actual issues that we did not instigate such as Darfur or our own homeland, where our border policy is a joke. I believe we should focus more on our own problems first rather than another country. Bush recently spoke comparing Vietnam to Iraq and in he speech he mentions that Vietnam forces their ideology on other people...I'm sorry but what do you believe we are doing in Iraq trying to get a dictatorship to turn into a democracy for our own benefit. General Patreus's report is coming in September and I believe we should heed what his report brings.


About the Author

Name: Nick
Age: 16
Country: United States
City: St Louis
State: Missouri
Gender: Male

Labels: 10's, foreign policy, iraq war, male, missouri

Dear Global Community,

I believe that the US role in the world should be focused more on international cooperation. The best way to do this, in my mind, would be a more powerful international court and organizations like the UN. This way many countries could take on global problems, such as global warming and other ecological crises, and terrorism. Foreign aid to less developed countries, especially many African countries, from the international organizations could increase trust, and that may be invaluable for future peacekeeping or aide attempts.

In Iraq the US should start to withdraw troops, but not rapidly. Perhaps bringing down the level of troops to around only a few thousand, just enough to train the Iraqi forces. But along with these 'advisers,' units of what today's equal of what was Vietnam's Combined Action Platoons (CAP) to attempt a 'pacification' campaign. From what I have read on CAP they were very successful in winning the hearts and minds of many villages in Vietnam, not working on big unit tactics like Westmoreland tried, but small unit tactics. What is crucial in fighting an insurgency is winning the hearts and minds of the population, and if the CAP could work in Iraq, then these kinds of units should be employed.


About the Author

Name: Stuart
Age: 17
Country: US
City: St. Louis
State: Missouri
Gender: Male
Income: Low

Labels: 10's, foreign policy, iraq war, low income, male, missouri

Dear Global Community,

On August 23, 07 President George W. Bush made a comment to the veterans people that was in the war of Vietnam. I just want to say how stupid Bush is for making a comparison to the war of Vietnam. First of all, I just want for everybody to know that back in the Vietnam war, the communist country of Vietnam people have won the war. American's and other people think that we lost or it's a draw. But, I want our troops to pull out of Iraq, but if President Bush does that, it will be more stupid because it will be like we haven't accomplish anything, then in the future we will be like the Iraqis won the war just like Vietnam.


About the Author

Name: Evan and Josh
Age: 17
Country: U.S
City: St. Louis
State: Missouri
Gender: Male
Income: Medium

Labels: 10's, foreign policy, iraq war, male, medium income, missouri

Dear Global Community,

I believe that the US should focus its resources towards leading the world to a greater state of cooperation. This kind of cooperation could earn the US more respect with the nations that may have reservations about our actions in the past. If all of the powerful nations were to work together to form a international decision making body, much like the UN, weaker nations that might be in poverty, etc. could be raised up by the help of stronger nations. The combined efforts of multiple nations would also do a much better job of assailing the international problems that threaten the US and other nations alike.

If the US were to allow itself to cooperate with other nations, we would be able to be slightly more reserved about issues such as our involvement in Iraq. This decrease in control would decrease anger towards US involvement in Iraq, as well as allowing the US to focus more of its resources on national security issues. Overall, if the US were to push for cooperation in the world, we would ultimately be able to improve our national needs, as well as gain the trust and aid of other nations to help against the international problems of the future.

Concerning the war situation in Iraq, I believe we should focus on being less of an influence. We can work on this by pulling somewhat, and trying to give them some freedom to work out their situation. If we are monitoring and controlling them constantly, they aren't going to develop a solution. We also continue to develop disdain from other countries while we weaken our own resources and economic situation.


About the Author

Name: Jonathan Hodnefield
Age: 16
Country: United States
City: Saint Louis
State: Missouri
Gender: Male

Labels: 10's, foreign policy, iraq war, male, missouri, student