The 108th Congress should:
- repudiate militaristic, coercive imperialism with the non-violent
spiritual imperialism envisioned by our Founding Fathers;
- use the power of the purse (appropriations) to limit foreign
military intervention;
- issue a formal apology to all nations which have been victims of
U.S. military aggression which was employed to obtain or buttress
corporate advantage ("U.S. interests")
America began as a Christian Republic. That America no longer exists.
The United States is now a secular (atheistic) empire. As a Christian
Republic, America was the most admired nation on earth. America is now
hated by many foreign nations. This is not because America is the land of
the free and the home of the brave. This is not because America is perhaps
the most charitable nation on earth. It is not the American people who are
hated, it is the federal government. America's government is hated because
it has abandoned the principles of America's Founding Fathers:
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The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to
foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations to have
with them as little political [Washington’s
emphasis] connection as possible."
— Washington, Farewell Address (1796)
I deem [one of] the essential principles of our
government, and consequently [one] which ought to shape its
administration,…peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all
nations, entangling alliances with none.
— Jefferson, First Inaugural Address (1801)
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The federal government has not extended commerce, but forcibly blocked
it, blocking even necessary
medical and humanitarian supplies to some nations. Yet it has
simultaneously increased entangling political connections through
government-to-government aid and quartering of our troops overseas.
In the eyes of many across the globe, America stands for Imperialism.
Most distressing, it is not just Middle East terrorists who denounce
the United States as "imperialist," it is the leaders and
strategists of both
the Republicans and the Democrats who believe America ought to be
an empire, and ought to bring all nations under the control of a global
empire:
Two Kinds of Empire
There are two ways to build an empire.
One is to be a "city on a
hill." This beacon shines the light of "Liberty
Under God" into the darkest corners of the globe. Its soldiers
are ideas, its "weapons
are not carnal." James Madison, "the father of the
Constitution" made this point to the Virginia legislature in one of
his life's most important addresses. He said legislators should oppose any
bill which is
adverse to the diffusion of the light of Christianity. The first wish
of those who enjoy this precious gift, ought
to be that it may be imparted to the whole race of mankind. Compare
the number of those who have as yet received it with the number still
remaining under the dominion of false Religions;
and how small is the former! Does the policy of the Bill tend to lessen
the disproportion? No; it at once discourages those who are strangers to
the light of (revelation) from coming into the Region of it; and
countenances, by example the nations
who continue in darkness, in shutting out those who might convey it
to them. Instead of levelling as far as possible, every obstacle to the
victorious progress of truth, the Bill with an ignoble and unchristian
timidity would circumscribe it, with a wall of defence, against the
encroachments of error.
This is a non-violent, spiritual imperialism based on voluntary
exchange.
America has been hijacked by a secularist regime which favors an old
style imperialism, that of militarism. We must return to the Christian vision of
Madison and the Founding Fathers.
next: Conspiracy or Consensus?
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