The Big Picture: America, The Shining City on the Hill

Madmick

Madmick

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Several days ago @tonni sneered in the thread where I advocated we Americans prioritize helping our Canadians friends, and send them N95 masks, when I referred to our country by Winthrop's famous words, echoed by Reagan in his farewell address, alluding to Jesus's speech, as "The Shining City on the Hill."

I've been dealing with this ignorance my whole life, both within and without my country, where most ironically I've noticed the contempt might be most acute among Europeans, when Europeans (and social critics within the USA) have probably gained the most by the informal rule of the so-called American Empire.

Below is one of the finest videos I've ever seen in my life by a historian named Neil Halloran made in 2016. It conveys this truth more succinctly and profoundly than anything I've ever seen. It deserves an Academy Award, and yet all it uses are bar graphs. Despite the consummate cynicism of the news, particularly those foreign presses and how they cover the USA, or Commonwealth comedy sketches lampooning us, all in some sort of misguided envy, I estimate, we are not the "baddies". We are the most morally virtuous, ethical, benevolent leaders you will ever know: yes, capitalist USA.

Because this is the big picture. Watch to the end; herein lies the cost, but also the bounty. This is the age of our rule.



topic-statue-of-liberty-gettyimages-960610006-promo.jpg
 
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Thanks for the hookup Mads.

Been looking for a good history documentary series to watch.
 
I dont understand the OP i read it 2x. You saying US and Canada are one?
 
Madmick said:
or Commonwealth comedy sketches lampooning us, all in some sort of misguided envy, I estimate, we are not the "baddies". We are the most morally virtuous, ethical, benevolent leaders you will ever know: yes, capitalist USA.

Because this is the big picture. Watch to the end; herein lies the cost, but also the bounty. This is the age of our rule.



topic-statue-of-liberty-gettyimages-960610006-promo.jpg
Click to expand...


giphy.gif
 
Not sure how the video helps your original point. I don't disagree with you, but the video makes me think about how different the world would be if it hadn't been for the Soviets.
 
Thats some strong kool aid there. I think what TS is arguing that America has caused less death due to war and atrocities than previous empires. That may be true but America still causes death, destruction, and chaos around the world. Still not a good thing even if better than others.
 


If you’re not first you’re last - Ricky Bobbie
 
Thanks for sharing that vid @Madmick

Pretty profound stuff. About midway through I started considering "The girl in the closet" story (or whatever it's called) about perspective and how often times we as people lose sight of it. This is why I love history. So often times the answers lie in our pasts if we just bother to look.

I was glad that it ended in an uplifting sort of way. Once he started discussing the length of time between wars I thought sure he would go on to predict WW3.
It was good to get factually correct information that isn't bad, in present terms, for a change.
 
Madmick said:
Despite the consummate cynicism of the news, particularly those foreign presses and how they cover the USA, or Commonwealth comedy sketches lampooning us, all in some sort of misguided envy, I estimate, we are not the "baddies". We are the most morally virtuous, ethical, benevolent leaders you will ever know: yes, capitalist USA.
Click to expand...
That was a good write up. I did not take you for being so patriotic. You should watch "American Experience: The Bombing of Germany", 2010.

"Through interviews with veterans, historians and ethicists from all the countries engaged in World War II, this film recounts the story of the Anglo-American bombing campaign against Germany, exploring the moral conundrums imposed by the reality of the war."

Hamburg: "When it was over, 17,000 bomber sorties dropped more than 9,000 tons of explosives, killing more than 30,000 people (men, women, and children) and destroying 280,000 buildings, including industrial and munitions plants."

This was back in the day when the Air Force was still part of the U.S. Army. B-17 bombings over Germany were complete 'suicide' missions in my opinion. Each bomber had 10 men: 4 officers and 6 NCOs. Americans bombed during the day and the British bombed at night. Bomb drop runs were turned over to the bombardier and the whole squadron (lead plane) had to fly a straight line over the target for a few minutes. All the while going through German air artillery and flack. Casualties were horrendous. A soldier on the ground had a better chance of survival. One British flight over Hamburg included over 700 bombers! FFS! That is an 'ocean' of bombers in the air over a city. Americans had up to 100 bombers, but again, were sitting ducks flying during the day.

B-17 U.S. bombing in Europe: About 5,000 U.S. bombers lost or 46,000 men.

 
I've watched that video before so I didn't re-watch it now, but I recall it a lot more to make a case for the profound burden the Soviet Union bore in winning WW2.
I certainly don't remember it doing anything to make the case for America as "the shining city on the hill".
 
TheComebackKid said:
Thats some strong kool aid there. I think what TS is arguing that America has caused less death due to war and atrocities than previous empires. That may be true but America still causes death, destruction, and chaos around the world. Still not a good thing even if better than others.
Click to expand...
Buddy, I think this might be the best, least crazy post i've ever seen you make
 
The American Civil War casualty numbers are almost double the American casualties during WWII:
. Civil War (1865): 750,000
. WWII (1945): 405,399
 
Madmick said:
Several days ago @tonni sneered in the thread where I advocated we Americans prioritize helping our Canadians friends, and send them N95 masks, when I referred to our country by Winthrop's famous words, echoed by Reagan in his farewell address, alluding to Jesus's speech, as "The Shining City on the Hill."
Click to expand...
BoldFriendlyAfricanporcupine-size_restricted.gif
 
I guess it depends what you think "shining city on the hill" means
 
@tonni

Being that you are in Belgium how many languages do you speak? You seem like an English native speaker. Are you a transplant from the UK?
 
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