Obama Is Trying To Save America's Schoolyard Rep
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I believe that President Obama has attempted to redifine the overall American geo-political narrative.
It's a sad fact that America's place in the world at large has been that of the proverbial "biggest kid in the schoolyard". Of course, much of the time that kid is feared by most other kids and gets to do pretty much whatever he/she wants...including smack other kids around. Oh...did I mention that usually this kid isn't that smart?
If you're friends with that kid, you are revered as he/she is for fear of retribution. Run afoul of that kid and you incur the wrath of the masses who follow him/her...mostly because everyone is afraid to question the bully and said bully's cult of followers. As anyone beaten into submission, the victim of aforementioned wrath eventually falls in line with the rest, high from being now positioned in the rarified atmosphere at top of the schoolyard and ecstatic not to be in fear any longer.
True to this metaphor, the U.S. as a whole has had the perspective of being "most powerful/wonderful/greatest nation in the world" for so long, that it has helped foment a sort of collective superiority complex, which defies anyone to question American actions or policies, and anyone who does question them (as reasonable people do) labelled as anti-American. We happen to have seen this mentality run amok during the last administration.
Enter "the smart kid."
Actually, I believe he happens to be the "the cool, smart, new kid." I believe President Obama seeks to change the aforementioned bullying way of doing things. Of course, to continue to define U.S. foreign policy by virtue of how much we can get other nations to fear us and our rather sizeable (if not somewhat strained at the moment) military "stick" would be par for the course. This would however do nothing to help the world understand that the U.S. is actually a lot more creative than the world gives us credit for.
The reasonable individual must see at some point in any analysis of the American position in the world that in the last 10 years or so, much needed diplomacy has taken a backseat to shows of power. We also saw a tax policy which benefitted America's wealthiest 1% and a mortage crisis which (in concert with 2 wars) increased the National Debt by $4 trillion (the largest increase under any U.S. President in history).
President Obama domestically is contending with a growing list of issues, some of which greeted him on day one:
-Allocation of stimulus funds (particularly as infrastructure and services are conerned);
-Amending of mortgage lending practices (which he would not have been able to accomplish as readily if he'd not bailed out the banks);
-Implementation of ecologically sustainable technologies and practices in government, which cuts waste and saves money;
-Revising healthcare in order that everyone is covered;
The international list is no less daunting:
-Focusing U.S. military forces on increasing Taliban activity in and along the Afghan/Pakistani border regions (which was exacerbated years ago by the power vaccum created by the previous administration's focus on a manufactured Iraqi threat and subsequent resulting military actions);
-Engaging with nations like Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and Cuba in order to seek every diplomatic option before imposing or increasing embargoes, sanctions or military options, which strengthens U.S. position amongst our current allies and creates potential allies.
In short, President Obama is seeking to actually make America the "kindler, gentler nation" that former President George H. W. Bush beamed about in his speeches, but didn't quite seem to bring into fruition. The "cool, smart, new kid" is offering the schoolyard kids an option to being bullied. He's actually talking to them. He's admitting that some will agree with him, but some won't and that's okay. He's actually offering to tutor the big kid who used to bully everyone in hopes that he may find another option than beating up on other kids just because he can.
Many will remember when the "toughest girl" in the schoolyard was vying for position during the 2008 Presidential Campaign. As tough as she was, he stood firm. He stated his case and wouldn't go on the attack, even as she attacked him. Even when she got her boyfriend, the "most popular kid" in the schoolyard to try provoking him, he remained cool. He eventually won them over too, and put her on his team. This is what you do when building relationships. Now they are all "bestest buddies".
Of course there are some kids who liked it better when the bully was running things, but they are finding out that the new kid isn't so easy to beat up on.
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As an avid student of history I do not see America as a bully at all. America has done more good in the world than any nation in history. We freed hundreds of millions from totalitarian tyranny from behind the iron curtain. We stopped the murderous Hitler from killing Lord knows how many more people. If we were a bully, why; we have the power to simply wipe our enemies off the face of the earth right now. But we don't. What nation has given more of its public and private treasury to the third world? What country has sent the most medical supplies and food around the world? What country sends the most volunteers to the third world to help the helpless and defend the defenseless? What country is first on the scene for any natural disaster?
I was actually referring to former president G.W. Bush in this piece as the "bully." I also made reference to the Clintons in the piece as well.
I don't indict America or all Americans as being bullies, as it just doesn't apply. There are some actions the government has taken that I am critical of, but that was allegedly what America was built on: Healthy dissent.
Ah, worthy adversary, I see your point but it makes me unsheathe mine own ... Well, anyway, I just got around to reading your interesting take on Obama's foreign policy, and its analogy to one schoolyard leader being deposed by another rings true. For all his talk about building coalitions, Bush and his gang weren't much for listening to other nations' viewpoints, were they? But your commentator Watkins has a point, too. America became the guarantor of security in the West by default after WWII, and should get credit in that quarter for the Marshall Plan rebuilding of Europe, at least. Too bad we ran roughshod over the Third World in the process of trying to counter International Communism wherever it appeared, ignoring the fact that even all communist politics is local. No wonder all the folks who could see themselves as Vietnamese learned to fear and (sometimes) hate us. It doesn't help that we've been traditionally so damned ignorant of anyone else's cultures, either. But in the months since your post, it's interesting to see foreign relations as yet another arena in which our President has felt he has to walk the tightrope balanced between all sides. When the cool, smart kid takes over the playground, it gets to be a much more complicated place, and all sorts of grievances which used to be stifled during the bully's reign will surface. And it becomes really, really difficult to deal with. -- And, hey, it's really good to exchange ideas with you!
JScottD:
I actually agree with you there (re; Post WW2 America).
To downplay America's role in stabilizing the European arena at that crucial period would just be wrong.
I also have enjoyed somewhat of an awakening to Mr. Obama's style of governing.
While I am still in awe of his undying centrist reflex to attempt non-partisan maneuvers (a feat to be sure), I sometimes wish he were more direct in shaping his objections to a conservative opposition whom I believe is absolutely over the top in many of the charges they make on him. I find myself at times recieving what he says in response or retort to Republican talking points and wanting to throw something at him for either failing to or refusing outright to take what they say and come back with, "No. Actually...THIS is what was said..."
He has only recently started to inject a bit more force into his speaking style.
I do like this latest tactic he is employing. Instead of fighting the amorphous, faceless, conservative mob, he chose John Boehner to take on. He finally adopted a legitimate street tactic to use in the fray he seemed to try staying above for far too long:
When a mob attacks, you zero in on one of the bigger or more aggressive ones, grab him...and fight him hard.
Maybe he learned something from Chicago politics after all. (lol)
BeautySpeaks 2 years ago
This was such a great post. I loved how you used the schoolyard analogy. And I must admit, I agree wholeheartedly. America has been the "act first; talk later" nation for far too long. And people wonder why were perceived in such a negative light internationally....