Saturday, January 11, 2025

American Imperialism Rears Its Attractive/Hideous Head

Donald Trump has had a pronounced and significant impact on our mainstream media and, to a similar extent, our social consciousness.  One can legitimately argue that his bombastic and egotistical approach to issues and rhetoric in general have had positive and negative impacts on the political environment in America.  What one cannot deny is the fact that he has certainly had an effect on it…a huge effect.  One large aspect of that effect is the increased knee-jerk tendency of the journalistic community to leap upon words or phrases uttered by celebrities or politicians, ignore the context within which they were presented, and then expand on their meanings in ways that reflect their own personal agendas.  In other words, they shape their reporting to their own liking.

 

A lot of folks who track and comment about such things submit that it is Trump’s strategy to intentionally raise the rhetorical level…with the full intention of settling for some things that are far less controversial.  He aims high and settles for the middle.  This may be true, but I must wonder whether this Trumpian characteristic is intentional or simply his basic nature.  Whatever the case, he has resurrected some issues that have been lurking around for decades. Those issues involve the territorial domain of the United States, how that particular map was arrived at, and how that concept might change in the foreseeable future. 

 

The recent discussions involving Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal fall largely into this category of news matter.  Any rational discussion of the USA acquiring, one way or another, part or all of these territories must take into account not only America’s history since its inception, but also world history from the beginning of time.  And of course, the current state of the global environment should also be considered.  The absolutes are few and the provisional contingencies are many. 

 

It is not my intention to take a position on any of these issues.  I am certainly not qualified to offer any type of rational nor educated opinion about these particular complex and layered subjects.  However, I do find the studied and thoughtful discussion of them fascinating and I would urge anyone who is interested in the past, current, and future status of America in the context of the global community to avail themselves of the many varied opinions surrounding these matters.  Once again, the avoidance of clinging to absolutes is important if this exercise in study is going to be enlightening.  That is not to say that principle must be abandoned; it is simply to say that principle must be studiously applied. 

 

Greenland is occupied by approximately 60,000 residents and is currently a territory owned by Denmark.  I believe it is geographically closer to the USA than it is to Denmark.  Its real and potential strategic importance to the economic and territorial security of our nation is beyond debate.  The Canadian province of Quebec has in the past flirted with seceding from Canada.  What would be their plans if that secession effort were ever successful?  There are thoughtful people who say that the Canadian province of Alberta is more like America than the rest of Canada.  Is it really that far-fetched to imagine them as the future North Montana?  The strategic importance of the Panama Canal is inestimable.  Is there any common sense to be found in our nation sacrificing resource, both blood and treasure, to construct it and then handing it over to a nation that is more opposed to us than friendly? 

 

To me, it is fascinating to listen to people whose opinions I respect discuss these issues.  It broadens my appreciation of how our country was founded, how it evolved, and where it might be headed for future generations.  We are all fortunate in today’s climate of information overload to have access to many and varied views about any subject matter imaginable.  It goes without saying that assessing the qualitative value of these musings is a very personal and debatable matter.  Aside from reading selected journalism on the internet, I greatly enjoy listening to various podcasts that I find interesting.  A podcast is something that is enlightening, entertaining, and convenient.  You can take it or you can leave it…and I oftentimes do both.  In regards to the aforementioned subject of this post, I would urge you to avail yourself of the following podcasts and following that, seek out others that you might find substantive. 

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/the-editors/going-for-greenland/

 

https://podcast.charlescwcooke.com/episodes/episode-77-this-podcast-is-huge-in-greenland

 

https://podcast.charlescwcooke.com/episodes/episode-59-ukraine

 

Now on to some other news of the day…….

 

What is the current status of our mainstream media?  Is it becoming more balanced…is it becoming more divided…is it becoming more professional…or is it continuing its descent into chaos and irresponsibility? 

 

https://reason.com/2025/01/10/facebooks-new-free-speech-policy-shows-business-getting-back-to-business/

 

https://www.racket.news/p/why-is-russiagates-origin-story-redacted

 

https://www.manhattancontrarian.com/blog/2025-1-7-the-most-under-reported-story-of-the-biden-presidency

 

Want to hear a brief, informed, and succinct illustration of Trump Derangement Syndrome via Democrat/Liberal/Progressive Lawfare?  Listen to this podcast: https://www.nationalreview.com/podcasts/the-mccarthy-report/lawfare-remnants/

 

Is there a chance in hell that the DOGE can stem runaway federal spending or is it just “barking at the moon”?

 

https://reason.com/2025/01/09/will-2025-be-the-year-of-u-s-fiscal-sanity/

 

In fairness to Biden and the Dems, this piece of legislation had a whole lot of Republican votes also.  Our Congresspersons surely do love them so time at the trough: https://reason.com/2025/01/08/bidens-infrastructure-bills-leave-a-legacy-of-big-spending-and-little-payoff/

 

The evolution of our national education continues…

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/colleges-will-have-to-adjust-to-a-new-normal/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-colleges-resist-change/

 

It cannot be repeated often enough... “We will get the government we deserve”

 

https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/a-progressive-hellscape

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/how-policy-decisions-exacerbated-the-devastating-los-angeles-wildfires/

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNU3v-yRTOo

 

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