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

