Wednesday, November 7, 2018 // The Statement
7B
W
hile
at
times it
seems
that we are living
a
political
farce,
President
Donald
Trump’s
admin-
istration is not an
exaggerated
the-
atrical
mockery
of politics. It is
the overt and vio-
lent manifestation
and expansion of
American
imperi-
alism. What is hap-
pening south of the
U.S.-Mexico border
— the approaching
caravan of migrants
— is a direct con-
sequence
of
this
historical
legacy.
Though the mid-
term elections are
often written off
as
inconsequen-
tial, the outcomes
of this election say
much more about
the future of the country than before.
American imperialism can be succinct-
ly defined as policies enacted to expand
American dominion — whether political,
economic or cultural — beyond its geo-
graphic boundaries. Throughout its his-
tory, American imperialism has come about
through economic engagement both by way
of private means, government treaties, mil-
itary interventions or
regime changes. While
this is talked about as
a historical issue, the
consequences of impe-
rialism
are
present
today.
Central and Latin
America
are
not
strangers
to
these
political
interven-
tions. The 1960s repre-
sented an era of social
hope
where
major
civil wars and com-
munist
revolutions
exploded in the Southern Hemisphere.
As a result, the 1980s, under Ronald
Reagan’s neoliberal agenda with Henry
Kissinger’s geopolitical games from the
preceding decades, marked an era of con-
servative backlash. In an attempt to contain
communist expansion, the United States,
through its seemingly unlimited resources,
pushed its interests through puppet govern-
ments and military-backed dissidents. This
created a growing political divide in Cen-
tral America. Nicaragua, El Salvador, Gua-
temala and Honduras would all be directly
affected. Today, the legacy of these inter-
ventions are most clearly seen in the privati-
zation of state enterprises, changes in labor
rights laws, neoliberal trade reforms and
the overall liberalization of “democracy.”
The
imposed
political
transforma-
tions have left in their wake the dis-
placement
and
destruction
of
entire
communities.
American
intervention
has left these countries unable to rec-
oncile the political divide and they are
crumbling under a neoliberal banner.
The approaching migrant caravan is
the loud rumbling of this past. Thou-
sands of migrants are embarking on a
dangerous journey to escape the conse-
quences of American imperialism. They
are fighting poverty and violence. As they
travel, they face the dangers of human
trafficking,
dehydration,
starvation
and death — all for an uncertain future.
As Trump send troops south — mili-
tarizing the border — he further proves
his ignorance of the country’s historical
legacy. He uses military power to make
a political statement — a statement that
lacks reflection. His comments highlight
a collective unconscious that has failed to
problematize the question of America in
the world. His actions, using the military
for political gain, as well as his comments,
reveal the dark and racist underbelly
of America. He is bolstering an angry
white constituency that is blind to reality.
However, Trump has made one cru-
cial mistake: People have the ability to
see through his actions and recognize
the bigotry behind his words. In these
turbulent times, the ability to think
and reflect is our greatest strength.
So as people lined up at the polls, their
vote was no longer just about healthcare,
reproductive rights, or tax laws. Their vote
now represents a shout that we will not tol-
erate the ignorance and blatant violence
against people who represent the very
consequence of American intervention. As
Americans, we have an obligation to under-
stand and question the prevailing history of
our interventions as they affect the world
at large. Only by engaging in these con-
versations can we make sure that politi-
cians don’t use generalizations to justify
their means. Yesterday it was at the polls
— tomorrow it will be at the dinner table,
making sure this history is not forgotten.
This is the only way to live up to the image
and promise of America as a land of hope.
An American Farce
BY MARTINA VILLALOBOS, COLUMNIST
ILLUSTRATION BY BETSY STUBBS
American imperialism can be
succinctly defined as policies enacted
to expand American dominion —
whether political, economic or cultural
— beyond its geographic boundaries.
BY ALEC COHEN, ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR