Reflection: America First

As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect.

     The truth is that I started writing my thoughts, and sharing my teaching, learning, and resources to simply  be of help to others. The purpose of my thoughts were specifically because it is difficult to have thoughts heard, listened to, or even valued. Even if thoughts do make it, if and when they do, they might not even be relevant. This is what makes the beauty of writing on-line a cross between academic and personal writing. The thoughts become available in an instant, and right away. I write and think of these words, specifically because of my thoughts that are related to Globalization. At it's most simple level: Globalization is about relationships, partnerships, investments, economic trade. Examples include: EU NAFTA NATO. Apart from these there are also unofficial close ties and relationships that are built through post-war efforts, such as Afghanistan or Japan. We can also think of peace efforts abroad, such as the work done with the Peace Corps in Africa. These partnerships are not only vital for the health, well-being, and prosperity of America, but also for countries who are involved in trading relationships and agreements. 

     The partnerships, relationships, and agreements can be said to be a part of the U.S. led global mission, or agenda. America is and has asserted itself as the World leader historically through processes of de-colonization, and post-war efforts, through military response, and diplomacy. What we are seeing today is not a declared war, but terrorism, and terrorist acts that occur frequently, particularly in America, and also in countries that are strong U.S. allies. This form of modern terrorism occurs through surprise attacks, and what makes them so devastating, is that innocent members of a nation become the victims. In most cases, innocents who are non-state actors, and don't participate in everyday political decisions. These attacks are purposely done to harm, halt, or even destroy the American strength, and mission. We can say that the attacks that are from Islamic groups, because some are individuals who join these groups because they feel as though they are being left behind from the global process. At it's root modern terrorism is a rupture, an anti-globalist response. But what these groups fail to understand is that globalization is a process, that should seek to benefit for all nations. Some nation are already more developed that others, and other nations require the assistance, and aid of foreign investment.

     As much as America has, and still is contributing to these efforts, terrorism does not stop. Life is lost, blood, terror, hurt, destruction continues. It should also be noted, that Islamic terrorism is only one form of terrorism. There are many forms of terrorism, some are even from within a nation. These are not random, they are also done for the same reasons, or seen as an opposition. So what I will say to every terror group out there, is simple: enough is enough. How many lives will be lost until everyones ego is satisfied? Terrorism is gruesome. It is a cowardly act.  It questions the moral consciousness of human beings, because it disrupts upon the psychological and physical levels. This is why I think that it is important to put a nation first. A secure nation, thrives. Having said this, it is important to maintain relationships with other countries as well. This will also mean that if allies want to engage in flourishing partnerships with America, there must also be support for America, who is leading and paving the way for everyone. Every new era arrived with disruption, we can think about previous revolutions, or movements such as the Women's Suffrage. This is the beauty about introspecting history, we have social mappings that we can refer to, to predict or plan future directions. This is also why I think that America should look after its own interests, at a national and international level simultaneously, therefore a strategy for each. 

     Historically, America First was a campaign that was started to deter war. We could also see this through the lens of the current American slogans and Presidential promises. America is trying at best to keep close ties with allies, strengthen a nation, keep on building and maintaining diplomacy, so that there is no official war declared. America must also understand that yes; at its root modern terrorism is intricately  linked to globalization, but another focus is Israel. Israel is linked to the United States through policy, Palestinians have been left out for far too long, this is also a source of tension. 

Dedication: These thoughts are dedicated to all the innocent victims of modern terrorism. May there be peace on Earth. My thoughts to share with love & kindness. 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on December 18th, 2017.Reference - For more information please read:

Cronin, K., A. (2002). Behind the Curve: Globalization and International    Terrorism. The MIT Press. 27 (3), 30 - 58. 
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