View of the George Washington and Lincoln (in the back) memorials and taken from the US capitol. Shot on Kodachrome 25 my favorite film. 280MM f2.8 Leica lens.By Isis Win
Arguably the USA has been considered and called Big Brother. A title that does not come with easiness, peace, and support. The most prominent a person, country, etc. is on any area, the more prone is to develop chronic enemies. Some “forces” are not able to understand and support; there is someone more powerful than themselves because they tend to react as overpowered by such. Therefore, instead of relying on that power to feel safer, have a better chance to improve, etc. it is treated as a threat. That is part of what Big Brother is to those opposing “forces.”
Throughout US History, being Big Brother has created a series of ripples regarding our role before the world. Big Brother is much more than an influencing brother to those behind it. Big Brother is a brother -that will dictate the how-s, what-s, and when-s when it comes to resolutions that proclaim that role and prevail that supremacy. US interests lead to that position. The USA has exerted that and more.
US History and the world do not compliment the role of Big Brother in all cases – all the time. For instance: Big Brother has taken down dictators from several nations and placed a pro-Big Brother regime instead, so the dictatorship of the previous ruler comes to an end. However, not all pro-Big Brother puppets have been on the side of the US. We have no choice but to live with that and hope that those countries get their act together and function as they should. Of course, without threatening our position and role.
Almost through our entire History, US presidents had done what it takes to keep that role of ours in order. It offers the safety that any country relies on. Especially us, because we are Big Brother. So what makes us Big Brother? We get involved every time, and as much as we need to ensure our place is the right order, otherwise, we have to act accordingly. When it comes to nations that clearly are not friendly to Big Brother but the contrary, our tool to check and straighten that path of safety is dealt through diplomacy. Big Brother counts with several alternatives to counter the threat of that enemy, such as our substantial military power threats, which they cannot defeat – or to share our economic power to keep them in the loop. If they do not comply, Big Brother will use our big muscle by applying sanctions that defeat their purpose to derail our path. North Korea is one of those countries that bounce back and forth. We keep them under certain “restraint,” but often, they do not comply to perfection our demands. Such was the case with China and the Soviet Union in the past.
China and the soviets, now Russia, are the next powers to Big Brother. Therefore it requires intelligent maneuvering through diplomacy to keep that balance between them and us. Since the Soviets are “no longer” a threat to the capitalist world, the balance has been somehow achieved. Not really, but they are not directly threatening us as they were – no so long ago. However, they are looking for the proper opportunity to take over our role and become the supremacy of the world. Such requires a delicate balance that somehow we have maintained, but not even diplomacy had resulted in delivering what we want. We cannot disregard that those nations are extremely powerful too, and creating a crisis with them, is a threat to us also.
The fear of destabilizing the order needed to have everyone to keep Big Brother place has been assumed. It happens when a nation challenges us, and unrest creates severe damage to our position. In other words, the other countries aspiring to become #1 are the potential threat. That was an underestimation considering what our internal affairs (divide/fear/uncertainty) can create – contrary to the policies and actions of what previous administrations achieved. Now we have a great example of that underestimation.
Our 45th presidency decided to act as the Big Brother through intimidation. Big Brother became Big Bully, and China is responding accordingly to their power. Diplomatic efforts of the past, failed or not, have been put aside, and now we have a cold war with China, and it can create devastating results for us. Russia, which has been acting behind the stage curtains, is not quiet. They are maneuvering cyber “tricks” for the same effect. In fact, based on testimony shared to me by a former intelligence officer that worked in the US government through several administrations, Russia silently has been passing us in a few fronts that make them in those areas more powerful than us. The cyberwar, according to him. Such war is managed by Putin, his oligarchs among them, and they are highly connected to the Russian mafia in association with the Ukrainian mafia, gradually making again Ukraine a Russian territory. National and international intelligence (Ukraine specialist) is my friend’s field of expertise while I was a White House correspondent.
An “apocalyptical” government does not act neither diplomatically nor politically. It works as they feel suited and disregard previous status and negotiations that did not fix the issue but held them in place. Possibly hoping in the future, and all is cleared in our favor. Well, now, Big Bully changed that status, and the result so far is that we have been losing that role of supremacy in the world. “Who wants that supremacy?” I have heard too many times. “Because we are Big Brother, we pour billions of tax dollars in the hands of rulers that do not care for us nor having a world’s balance. Let’s cut that and mind our own business.” A valid sentiment, but it does not work that way.
The role this administration had played before the world had demerit what we were before. We still are the #1 power military and economic realms, but we need a “New Order” approach, as Reagan called it, requires a totally different approach to keep us at the lead. This administration focused entirely on the business section of the administration. Although some modest success has been achieved, the benefits do not go towards the US nor the taxpayers. As it has been said over and over, the 1% is the beneficiary.
The present status is not the final word now if we can stop this nonsense approach to the world. Unless, of course, we have another four years (Trump) of continuation of the same approach, which likely will not happen, but the very same way, four years ago, most voters assumed Trump could not possibly win the White House.
If Ronald Reagan were at the helm today, we would have the contrary status. We would not have any concerns about losing control over Corona and its consequences. Nor fear other nations, including India, which is becoming a power in different areas that may lead to power similar to the Chinese, or Russian. So why is this administration so far apart of what once was a beloved Republican administration? What is happening with GOP? Why are the house and senate chambers incapable of arriving at a consensus that preserves our safety and harmony? We have to look inside each of us and inside of what the USA is today. If we do not do it, we will end up as the ancient empires did before their fall, Roman, Egyptian, Greek, Ottoman, and many others. So, did we not learn something from those? Or why are we facing devastating results as Covid out of control, our failed cyber supremacy, been victimized by intellectual property theft, unfair trade, etc. etc. etc.? Think about it, get your facts and act accordingly before it is too late. Be Big Brother, even for a short while!
