Since 1863 - a time of bloody internal conversation - the United States has celebrated annually Thanksgiving - a day to recognise the benefits of peace, a day to remember the fortunes of this nation, and as Congress proclaimed, 'a day of SOLEMN THANKSGIVING to GOD for all his mercies'. For in many senses this is a day where the majority within the nation's 'secular' society, sits with their religious understanding; a way of translating their own particular 'manifest destiny' with their country's material success. Or is it visa versa?
What is instructive about Thanksgiving is it ranks alongside Christmas and New Year as one the United States few principle federal holidays. This after all is a key domestic affair as it acknowledges implicitly and explicitly the exceptional nature of this 'united nation' and its separation not its congregation from the rest of the World. It is there to remind us all that its closely guarded unified independence is the real recipe of their success. In other words, the notion of self reliance is not just applicable to the individual but also to the nation as a whole.
But like much of the 'American Dream' this idea that the US became and remains pre-eminent because of its divine and divorced condition is largely nonsense. The United States on going political and military power is the product of a particular of form of economic and political literacy that continually demands expression, originated by the 'unchallenged' access to raw materials, the industrial revolution, and its imagination and innovation in turning these natural gifts of ideas and ingredients into products that would be sold, resold and retold world wide. The post civil war domestic markets that expanded due to increasing immigration was never going to be able to consume sufficient to satisfy the growing rapacious incorporation of the United States and therefore, it is not coincidental that the 'internationalisation' of the United States political and economic religion found real traction after this declaration of 'Thanksgiving', and the end of their destructive internal argument about the 'meaning of life'.
The subsequent 'real success' of the United States has been its unrivalled ability to sell one story and live another without real fear of any further divisive, destructive contradictions: The American Dream providing liberty and opportunity for all due to the unique 'genius of the people': American power that allows the nation to insulate itself from other nation's woes whilst benefiting from its continued participation and intervention in our capitalised world - One of those stories is largely fictional one is not. In other words, due to the mystic of 'unrivalled freedom' that cloaked the reality of geographical determination, political construction and commercial power, whilst other nations fought often self destructively on their own territory for their own understanding of liberty the US has remained largely untouched. The Founder's 'original' interpretation of freedom had long been dismantled on the battlefields of Sumter, Shiloh and Gettysburg and replaced by a Republican Washington into the self serving image of Wall Street and eventually a self service Wall Mart.
As growing technological advancements suggested that the natural separation that the New World long enjoyed was under threat the US maintained its insulated condition throughout the The First and Second World War, and the Cold War by protecting its natural borders on other nation's real estate. This is not to suggest that this approach was cost free, however, although US human capital was spent maintaining their domestic integrity the nation remained intact while other nations less fortunate bore a terrible cost. As we are witnessing at present the United States continuing default position to conflict is stark: unless we can clearly identify that 'we have a dog in this fight' stay clear.
Moreover, this approach has allowed the US to benefit hugely financially from 'other nation's conflicts'. The First World War offering the US a material glimpse of the American Dream during the 1920's, the Second World War providing the environment for a decade of unrivalled growth as 1950's America experienced a step change in standards of living that have never been bettered. However, the Cold War abruptly reminded the US that no matter how powerful you are you cannot expect to control and order all international society without there being a domestic price. Vietnam, Afghanistan and then the Middle East continue to demonstrate that. Yet, as the United States sits down to their Turkey dinner with Pumpkin pie their celebratory thoughts will be towards their domestic fortune and future and not to their 'adventures' elsewhere.
The President will take time away from the matters of State to enjoy these peaceful celebrations; a far cry from the condition that now envelops parts of Europe, and has engulfed the Middle East for many a year. There will be the obligatory sound/film bite as Obama utters: God Bless America, but of course there will be no reference to the United States complicity in the conflicting story overseas since it just would not fit into their prevailing unflinching narrative. However, that should not stop us reminding the President that instead of concentrating on national self praise and meaningless rhetoric he should actual recognise that the United States continuing 'good fortune' has been due to others huge efforts and sacrifices outside of their nation's borders as well as to their own 'genius of the people'. That after all is truly worth saying thank you for.
KK
KK
What is instructive about Thanksgiving is it ranks alongside Christmas and New Year as one the United States few principle federal holidays. This after all is a key domestic affair as it acknowledges implicitly and explicitly the exceptional nature of this 'united nation' and its separation not its congregation from the rest of the World. It is there to remind us all that its closely guarded unified independence is the real recipe of their success. In other words, the notion of self reliance is not just applicable to the individual but also to the nation as a whole.
But like much of the 'American Dream' this idea that the US became and remains pre-eminent because of its divine and divorced condition is largely nonsense. The United States on going political and military power is the product of a particular of form of economic and political literacy that continually demands expression, originated by the 'unchallenged' access to raw materials, the industrial revolution, and its imagination and innovation in turning these natural gifts of ideas and ingredients into products that would be sold, resold and retold world wide. The post civil war domestic markets that expanded due to increasing immigration was never going to be able to consume sufficient to satisfy the growing rapacious incorporation of the United States and therefore, it is not coincidental that the 'internationalisation' of the United States political and economic religion found real traction after this declaration of 'Thanksgiving', and the end of their destructive internal argument about the 'meaning of life'.
The subsequent 'real success' of the United States has been its unrivalled ability to sell one story and live another without real fear of any further divisive, destructive contradictions: The American Dream providing liberty and opportunity for all due to the unique 'genius of the people': American power that allows the nation to insulate itself from other nation's woes whilst benefiting from its continued participation and intervention in our capitalised world - One of those stories is largely fictional one is not. In other words, due to the mystic of 'unrivalled freedom' that cloaked the reality of geographical determination, political construction and commercial power, whilst other nations fought often self destructively on their own territory for their own understanding of liberty the US has remained largely untouched. The Founder's 'original' interpretation of freedom had long been dismantled on the battlefields of Sumter, Shiloh and Gettysburg and replaced by a Republican Washington into the self serving image of Wall Street and eventually a self service Wall Mart.
As growing technological advancements suggested that the natural separation that the New World long enjoyed was under threat the US maintained its insulated condition throughout the The First and Second World War, and the Cold War by protecting its natural borders on other nation's real estate. This is not to suggest that this approach was cost free, however, although US human capital was spent maintaining their domestic integrity the nation remained intact while other nations less fortunate bore a terrible cost. As we are witnessing at present the United States continuing default position to conflict is stark: unless we can clearly identify that 'we have a dog in this fight' stay clear.
Moreover, this approach has allowed the US to benefit hugely financially from 'other nation's conflicts'. The First World War offering the US a material glimpse of the American Dream during the 1920's, the Second World War providing the environment for a decade of unrivalled growth as 1950's America experienced a step change in standards of living that have never been bettered. However, the Cold War abruptly reminded the US that no matter how powerful you are you cannot expect to control and order all international society without there being a domestic price. Vietnam, Afghanistan and then the Middle East continue to demonstrate that. Yet, as the United States sits down to their Turkey dinner with Pumpkin pie their celebratory thoughts will be towards their domestic fortune and future and not to their 'adventures' elsewhere.
The President will take time away from the matters of State to enjoy these peaceful celebrations; a far cry from the condition that now envelops parts of Europe, and has engulfed the Middle East for many a year. There will be the obligatory sound/film bite as Obama utters: God Bless America, but of course there will be no reference to the United States complicity in the conflicting story overseas since it just would not fit into their prevailing unflinching narrative. However, that should not stop us reminding the President that instead of concentrating on national self praise and meaningless rhetoric he should actual recognise that the United States continuing 'good fortune' has been due to others huge efforts and sacrifices outside of their nation's borders as well as to their own 'genius of the people'. That after all is truly worth saying thank you for.
KK
KK
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