Change in the U.S.A.?
by Jorge Vargas
The United States was overjoyed last night. Once more, to those whose candidates won: Congratulations.
President-elect Barack Obama claims that he will bring change to this country. He will change the world through it, he claims and his supporters earnestly believe.
Chancellor Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde of Peru put it best last night when he sent his message to Mr. Obama: "Your election to the presidency [of the United States] creates expectations regarding the relations between your nation and our entire region."
An extremely neutral message.
None of the praise of the sort that the European heads of state rained down on the young populist, nor the skepticism that was illustrated by the reactions of several Middle Eastern heads of state, nor the down-right derision of Afghanistan's leader.
Just, neutrality.
This is a time for neutrality not mirth nor anger nor resentment. Skepticism, however, is always something to be valued.
The United States got a new president last night, and a Congress controlled by its 'leftist' party: the Democrats. The Democrats are very different from their right-wing opponents: The Republicans.
The Republicans believe that the U.S. has a God-given right to dominate this planet and that it is the last great hope in the world (they, obviously, do not really understand the teachings of Jesus Christ nor have they ever been to China, for both offer plenty of hope and opportunity). They, therefore, dominate - or attempt to - the world and their neighbours while utilizing brutal force. Thus, Iraq. Thus, Afghanistan. They also rely on unilateralism. Thus, the ICC. Thus, Kyoto.
The list is endless.
The Democrats are very different folks. They believe that the U.S. has a humanistic right to dominate this planet and that it is the last great hope in the world. Okay, so, maybe they are not that different in their beliefs.
However, their approach is different. They do not like money as much as the first lot, to be sure, but they do put a heavy emphasis on human rights, marriage between homosexuals, rights to abortion, women's rights, etc. For the most part, great causes worthy of honour.
There is a problem, though: Democrat politicians are not actually Democrat politicians, just as Republican politicians are not really Republican politicians. Both groups are, in fact, U.S. politicians. That did not change last night.
The goal of maintaining a status quo that has half of our planet ignored and in poverty did not change last night. The United States still wishes to be the dominant power, and her dominance depends on the aforementioned status quo. Therefore, all that will change will be the methodology. Instead of invasions, the Third World will now be threatened with treaties. Instead of warships, we'll get human rights inspectors landing on our shores.
And those are even more annoying because you can shoot at warships. You can not shoot at human rights inspectors. It looks awful.
Not all of us should feel neutral, of course. The Europeans are not ecstatic because they 'hope' in something better. They are not so naive. They are thrilled because they use the Democrat approach toward domination as well, so they, knowing that the U.S. has now joined their club, feel strengthened.
Everyone else knows that absolutely nothing changed last night, nor will it ever until the interests of the United States change and because the United States is a democracy, those interests are defined - in part - by the people of that country - and they have not changed - and of course by the needs of the country and those will not be changing in the foreseeable future.
There is a changer to the status quo and that is China. Therefore, we Latin Americans, and developing countries everywhere, will continue drifting toward the Chinese because, for the most part, our leaders want to change the status quo and they know that no matter who governs the United States of America, the United States of America does not and can not want to change the status quo because that would mean formally accepting the loss of her supremacy (she lost it years ago, but she has yet to accept and in the world of geopolitics, illusions can mean a lot).
Thus, let us re-state what the Peruvian Chancellor meant in his neutral statement: Last night was fun and all, but the United States remains the same United States that shamelessly invaded Mexico and instigated war with Spain and did everything in its power to overthrow democratically-elected leaders throughout the world for her own national benefit, and so therefore I will feel neither joy nor anger for absolutely nothing has changed and nothing will change so long as the developing nations continue gravitating toward the United States. Thus, we will gravitate toward China and Russia and Brazil and toward one another for Mr. Bush did show us one thing though he likely did not mean to nor does he likely realize how he did it: When the developing nations work together, they can avoid crises like the one that is currently wiping out the financial institutions of the developed countries.
So, congratulations, Mr. Obama; but please recognize that you will be what you can not change: A U.S. President. The same goals, but less overt tricks than your predecessor.
