Book Review: American Adventurism Abroad

American Adventurism Abroad

American Adventurism Abroad: Invasions, Interventions, and Regime Changes since World War II is a 267-paged book that makes a comparative analysis of 34 American interventions in the countries of the world. It’s written by Michael J. Sullivan and published in 2008 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Michael J. Sullivan is professor of history and politics at Drexel University. He has authored several articles on arms control and nuclear non-proliferation and has been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the North Atlantic treaty Organization (NATO), and the Pew Foundation. He has also authored Measuring Global Values: The Ranking of 162 Countries (1991) and Comparing State Polities: A Framework for Analyzing 100 governments (1996).

First edition of the book was published in 2004 by Praeger Publisher under the title American Adventurism Abroad: 30 Invasions, Interventions, and Regime Changes since World War II. It covered American interventions into developing countries between the late 1940s and the late 1990s. Later he revised an expanded the book by adding another part which covered the era of George W. Bush and the “War on Terror”.

In his introduction, Sullivan states that American foreign policy since 1945 has mainly been motivated by the goal of being the hegemon of the global capitalist economic system. After World War II the United States of America replaced the United Kingdom which had been controlling the world for more than a century before. Sullivan believes that US actions and interventions has not been to protect the world and make it safe for democracy (the usual ideological justification ) but to be the leader of the capitalist world and the upholder of the global economic system. The time frame for the book starts from the “Truman’s Doctrine” of containing Communism in Greece.

Sullivan divides the world into five geographic regions: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and Western Hemisphere. Two areas are the historic areas of America’s pre-World War II “manifest destiny”: the Western Hemisphere and central Asia. Thirteen cases are drawn from Latin America and the Caribbean. Seven studies are from East Asia where it was harder for this country to reach. Seven cases are in the “Middle Eastern” Islamic world. Four studies are from Africa and the final three examples are drawn from Southern Europe.

The main thesis of Sullivan is that the primary strategic goal of the United States since 1945 has been to take the place of major imperial powers of the pre-World War II era (the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan) as the sole economic hegemon of the global capitalist system.

The result of this thesis is that the US objective in most of the cases studied, has primarily been to make the world safe not for democracy, but rather for capital. Sullivan believes that American interventions in the world are not just limited to the protection of the investments of American corporations, but rather to uphold the economic system of capitalism itself.

United States has adopted different methods of intervention that some were nefarious and others were more subtle. Among the nefarious are: overt military intervention or invasions that demanded US combat troops in hostile situations. This method was applied to 12 of the total 34 cases. Provoking coups resulting in the military take over of government is another method which was used for 11 countries. Also attempts of assassination of foreign leaders were made in 9 cases. At last the tolerance of overkill, even to the point of genocide, has been another method which was the case of 9 countries.

Among the less violent tactics were: manipulation of the constitutional relationship between head of state, head of government and the legislative branch; and also tempering with electoral processes.

Sullivan studied the personalities involved in these cases. He found that two kinds were prevalent among them. First was using unsavory characters or “thugs” as junior partners in many of interventions; CIA agents or informants; and drug traffickers. Second, its technique was to defame disfavored leaders as “crazy,” “Unstable,” “Hitler-like,” etc.
The author mentions that these tactics may have resulted in some short-term US foreign policy successes, but nearly always they have proved tragic for the local societies affected. They range from the “mere” loss of democracy to the strengthening of authoritarianism where it was already ruling.

In almost all instances use of military along the American intervention led to destruction of life in those developing societies.

This book has 8 chapters. Chapter one covers the era from World War II to the Cold War (1945-52) which is the Truman years. Cases studied in this part are Greece, Italy and Philippines. It talks bout the launching of the Cold War in 1947 with the “Truman Doctrine’s” military aid in the Greek civil war, followed by the CIA’s conspiracy in the Italian election of 1948.

Chapter two is entitled “The Expanding Empire under Eisenhower” and talks about the cases of Iran, Guatemala and Lebanon during 1953-60.

Chapter three covers the extremist years of Kennedy-Johnson idealist expansions in 1961 to 1968 in Congo, Cuba, and British Guiana; also in Indochina region which contained Laos, South Vietnam, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Indonesia.

Chapter four is about Nixon and Ford realist consolidations during 1969 to 1976 which engaged Cambodia, Kurdistan, Chile, Angola, Australia and East Timor.

Fifth chapter talks about the four-year pause in US interventions during Jimmy Carter administration which started from 1977 and ended in 1980.
Ronal Reagan was the last Cold War Warrior mentioned in chapter six. His administration took part in the countries like El Salvador, Nicaragua, Grenada, Libya and Afghanistan.

Post-Cold War era (1989-2001) included Bush and Clinton administrations who mediated in Panama, Iraq, Somalia, Haiti and Yugoslavia.
Last chapter analyzes the attacks of 9-11 and “Wars on Terror” during George W. Bush. At this time United States attacked Afghanistan and Iraq and intervened in Venezuela and Haiti.

American Adventurism Abroad is a well-written book especially for students and gives a clear picture of US foreign policy from Cold War and Truman’s administration, till the end of George W. Bush’s presidency.

Reading Mom and Dad in Tehran

Azar Nafisi whose book “Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books” was published in the U.S. left her home country in 1997. She declared “I left Iran, but Iran did not leave me.”

“When Azar Nafisi was a professor of Western literature in Tehran in the 1980s and ’90s, she told her best stories anonymously, sometimes to visiting foreign journalists seeking guidance about Iran’s Islamic Republic. In 1997 she settled for good in the United States and discovered her public voice, turning the volume up high in her 2003 memoir, ‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’ “.

Nafisi is currently a visiting Fellow and lecturer at the Foreign Policy Institute of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. Nafisi serves on the Board of Trustees of Freedom House, a U.S. NGO that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights (wikipedia).

Now she has published another book whose title is: “Things I Have Been Silent About”. Again it’s a memorial book about author’s memories in Iran with her family. In the book she reveals that she had had a difficult childhood and had been abused by a religious man in Iran. “Most men cheat on their wives to have mistresses,” she writes in the opening line of the book, with a nod to Tolstoy. “My father cheated on my mother to have a happy life.”

“Nafisi uses the new memoir to flesh out stories left untold or half-told in her earlier work: her upbringing in a prominent family; her education in Switzerland, England and the United States; her impulsive first marriage to a man she didn’t love (for reasons she never fully explains); her return to Iran in the late 1970s, as the Islamic revolution was unfolding; her teaching career under clerical rule; and her second marriage and her two children.”

Her book seems to be a furious outlet of not that much true experiences. Most Iranians find her books completely untrue and untrustworthy. They can be considered as a means to gain more sale in the anti-Iranian atmosphere we experience today. she relies on memory, a powerful tool that can distort realities.

look at the News on NYTimes

Priests Wanted

according to NYTimes U.S. churches are in need of devoted priests who would serve in American churches. Most of these priests are wanted for the Catholic church. A majority of them are from Asian and African countries. They are going to immigrate to the United States to fill perishing priests.
It is clear that American people are a religious population. They are more devoted Christians than their European religionmates but one reason for this phenomenon (shortage of priests) maybe the hard process of reaching to this level. followers are there but the need for fathers is growing.
This phenomenon leads to new things in the future. Asian and frican priests will lead American white (and also black) population. Such priests would certainly bring by themselves theire own Asian and African identity to the new land and it may lead to new thoughts and approaches among both priests and followers. It will result in new understandings.

Allies for Armageddon: the Rise of Christian Zionism is a 331-paged book that looks into the history of Christian Zionism from English Puritans of 17th century, Puritans in the Colonial era, till today’s large population of them in the United States of America. It’s written by Victoria Clark and published by Yale University Press in 2007.

Victoria Clark is a former Correspondent and Moscow bureau chief for the observer. She now works as a free lane journalist and writer, contributing to Daily Telegraph, Independent, Prospect magazine and the Tablet. Her other books include Why Angles Fall (2000), The Far-Farer (2004) and Holy Fire: the Battle for Christ’s Tomb (2005). The book is intended for a general and secular audience and does not set out to tackle the rights and wrongs of Christian Zionist Bible exegesis.

The author states that in her book she has benefited from Dr. Stephen Sizer’s Christian Zionism: Road-Map to Armageddon? (2004) and Dr Timothy P. Weber’s On the Road to Armageddon: How Evangelicals Became Israel’s Best Friend? (2004).

Clark states in her introduction that Christian Zionists are Christians who believe that Jesus Christ’s return depends on the concentration of all Jews in the Holy Land. They believe that Jesus will not return unless Jews convert into Christianity. Christian Dispensationalism is the idea which advocate’s that Christians must be active in the process to shorten the time left for Christ’s return. They believe that all these are predicted in the Bible.

The book is divided into two parts. The first half explores Christian Zionism chronologically from 1621 to 1948 which marks the establishment of Israeli state in Palestine. In this part Clark studies the movement’s development through time. The second half is a complete investigation about contemporary Christian Zionism. She takes part in their conferences, goes to a tour to Israel and talks with many of them and finally interviews with many of their leaders.

She traces all these to 17th century, Calvinism and Puritanism in England. Printing facility and Christian Reformation were two major elements which resulted in the appearance of Puritanism. Printing made books available for many people and increased the pace of information distribution.

The book introduces a book titled The World’s Great Restoration, or the Calling of the Jews and (with them) of the Nations and Kingdoms of the Earth to the Faith of Christ. King James I of England was reading the book and he was astonished by author’s claiming that between 1650 and 1695, the Jews would be converted into Christianity and would return to their ancient homeland in Palestine, which would become the mightiest and wealthiest kingdom in all of Christendom. Those claims seemed too absurd to James I because the Jews were famously stubborn in their ancient faith and scattered all over the world. And Palestine was a remote and impoverished backwater that had been under the rule of the superpower of the day, the Muslim Ottoman Empire, since 1517. The author claimed all these on the basis of more than 200-odd pages of meticulously selected Bible chapters and verses (p.27). She says that Puritans had emerged as a result of Reformation of the Church of England in King Henry VIII’s era. There occurred some troubles in England like beheading King Charles I, the Civil War, start of the Common Wealth and finally the restoration of another king. During this time some Puritans managed to go to America.

English Puritans, with their apocalyptical interpretation of the Bible, passionately awaited Christ’s second coming. They thought America a New Jerusalem and imagined themselves as the Jews who were escaping from the Pharaohs. They thought themselves the God’s chosen people returning home to build their utopian Jerusalem. They saw many similarities between themselves and the Jews. They even started learning Hebrew to read Hebrew Scriptures. Different people such as John Winthrop tried to establish Puritan theocracy in the new land.

Clark points to two movements which affected Contemporary Christian Zionism. One was Darwinism and the other was German Higher Criticism. Darwinism opposed creationism which was fundamental in Christian teachings. German Higher Criticism opposed literal interpretation of the Bible and laid emphasis on historical and social factors.

These were the essence of Christian Zionism. British officials applied these into action and helped creating the state of Israel. Balfour Declaration in 1917 was a declaration by the British government which confirmed the establishment of Palestine as a Jewish homeland.

Christian Zionists are Christians in the sense that they believe Jesus is the Messiah and the Bible the true word of God; they are Zionists in the post-1967 sense because they also deny the Palestinians’ right to an independent homeland (p.3). They support a particular understanding of the Bible which is totally partisan toward Israel. According to their interpretation of the Bible Jerusalem must become Israel’s capital and Al-Aqsa mosque must be destroyed to be replaced with the Solomon Temple. They believe that a seven-year period known as Tribulation will start in which the Antichrist will rule over the world. Finally a great battle called Armageddon starts and many Christians and two-third of all Jews will die as a result of it. Then Jesus returns and his glorious one thousand period of reign starts.

An interesting point about the book is dividing it into two parts. It has been done by purpose. The first part, from 17th century till 1948 studies their interest in making the Jews’ return to their long-lost home in Palestine. Modern Christian Zionists who are described in the second part are concerned with the fulfillment of End Times prophecy and securing God’s favor for America.

Second part consists of Clark’s interviews with Christian Zionist leaders and followers including Hal Lindsey, author of famous The Late Great Planet Earth; Pat Robertson; former US Presidential candidate Gary Bauer; Jerry Falwell; Ted Haggard; and the co-authors of the apocalyptic book series Left Behind, Jerry Jenkins, and Tim LaHaye. She interviews Hagee whose book Jerusalem Countdown gives biblical explanations for current events in the Middle East. These leaders are very powerful and influential in American policy. They can make a great population into action and lobby for their purposes. They pressure American official to pass laws supporting Israel.

Allies for Armageddon: the Rise of Christian Zionism is a complete book about Christian Zionism and its historical roots. It’s an important and influential movement in the U.S. today. The book is published in 2007 and is new in a sense but now that Obama has become the president and the Democrat party has taken the leading role instead of the Republicans (who benefit from Christian Zionists’ support) we should see what changes would happen and how would they enforce their intentions.

Following are the recommendations by different individuals about this book:

“This is a compelling and much-needed book.”—Giles Fraser, author of Christianity and Violence

“Allies for Armageddon is a useful primer on a historic and influential movement.”—Sheldon Kirshner, The Canadian Jewish News

“An insightful and readable book on Christian Zionism. . . . [Clark] adds freshness to the story through her travels and interviews with the principals. . . . Recommended.”—Choice

“An astonishing story and a well-told one.”—Jeremy D. Mayer, The Journal of American History

The President and the Pardon Power

“With the Bush administration drawing to a close, it is presidential pardon season. Presidents have become increasingly shameless about issuing pardons to insulate political cronies from prosecution, even to protect themselves.”
U.S. presidents are given a good means of getting out of trouble and condemnation by the constitution. Though it wasn’t aimed so from the beginning, it helped many presidents escape punishment. It’s called authority to “grant pardon” which was intended “for presidents to use this power as an “act of grace” or to promote the public welfare.” But now it’s used for the president to clear himself or his associates from being sued by law.
George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and President Bush have effectively used the law for personal utilities. Till now Bush has granted 14 pardons and saved some of his assistants in Abu Ghraib scandal. It’s interesting that any law has a counter-law in the constitution. For example impeaching the president is a law that allows congress to remove the president from the office. It has been applied no time in American history. Right of granting pardon is a counter-law for impeachment.
Now Bush has several days left till 20th of January to pardon any one he wishes.

Spiritual Journey of a “Dead man”

Director: Jim Jarmusch, Writer: Jim Jarmusch, Genre: Drama/ Western Music: Neil Young, Language: English, Color: Black and White, Running Time: 121 minutes, starring: Johnny Depp, Gary Farmer, Lance Henriksen, Michael Wincott, Mili Avital, Crispin Glover, Gabriel Byrne, Iggy Pop, Billy Bob Thornton, Jared Harris, John Hurt, Alfred Molina and Robert Mitchum.

Dead Man is the story of a young man called William Blake (Johny Depp) going to America for employment as an accountant in the town of Machine. He moves westward in a train and along the way he sees different people who have migrated to America. Their costume and figure shows that they have come from different parts of the world. He sometimes looks out of the window and observes destroyed coaches and burning tents belonging to Indians. On the trip, train’s fireman starts talking to him. He warns him about the place he is going and calls it Hell. At this time they witness the passengers of the train shooting Buffaloes which is a snapshot of what immigrants did in the new continent.

Finally Blake reaches the town of Machine and finds that his promised job is filled. He strays in the town and observes the pollution, crimes and misbehaviors. He sees a bunch of Skull, a coffin maker and a great number of coffins, antlers and the skin of deer all of which are manifesations of what the whiteman brought with hiself. He observes an astonishing scene of a man and a woman engaged in sex in the street.

Then he goes to a bar. He buys a drink and comes out of the polluted atmosphere of the shop to take breath. He then encounters a young lady named Thell (Mili Avital) who makes roses out of paper and applies perfume to make them smelly. They go to Thell’s house and sleep. at this time Charlie Dickinson (the company owner’s son) ,Thell’s former fiancé comes in. He decides to kill Blake but the bullet hits them both. Thell dies and Blake gets wounded. He hits Charlie and after some shooting kills him and after that incident escapes from the house.

At this time an Indian (Gary Farmer) finds Blake in the jungle and tries to cure his wound. Here on we get introduced to the Indian’s world who calls himself Nobody. He tells Blake some ideas which are new to him. He gets familiar with Indian mysticism and world view which are completely in contrast with the values of the town of Machine.

Mr. Dickenson appoints three killers to kill Blake. They are all criminals and the oldest one is the worst. While Blake and Nobody pass the jungle together, Nobody teaches Blake and prepares him for his spiritual journey to return to where he has come from. He takes him to the place where the remaining of the Indians live. He puts Blake, who is now dying, in a boat and farewells him on the see.  Blake goes to the poetic world of peace to which he belongs.

William Blake is an English poet of the Romantic school who disgusted industrial revolution and cherished mysticism, peace, and freedom. We can find all these themes in Dead Man. He is also the Jarmucsh’s beloved poet. He has mentioned this in his speeches.

Dead Man is a Poet’s journey to a harsh and hellish land (West). We can see life, death, west and humanity through Blake’s eyes. Blake is alienated from other people in the train and in the town of Machine. His costume and way of seeing the world is different from that of others.

Machine is the symbol of industry and the town is the Hell which machines have made. Coffins, skeletons, dead animals, guns and smoke are symbols of such city. Flower and its smell have died in that town and Thell is the only person who tries to revive them by making paper flowers and when she dies paper flowers also disappear.

As I said Blake has the soul of a poet and Nobody understands this. From the time Nobody and Blake get familiar to each other we are shown the contrast between Indians’ life and insight, and what White immigrants made in the new found land. Nobody says ” the stench of Whiteman proceeds him”. He tells Blake, from now on your “weapon will replace your tongue and your poetry will now be written with blood”. He means coming into such land, he is obliged to use weapon which by itself is conveying the concept of “determinism” believed by puritan Americans. When Blake becomes angry by seeing the “wanted papers”, Nobody points to his determined destiny by saying: “You cannot stop the clouds by the building of a ship”.

Once Blake wakes he sees him eating some plants and speaking his own dialect. He says he has ingested food of Great Spirit. Blake asks some of that food but Nobody answers “It’s not for use, even for William Blake”. He means that he is not ready for food of spirit yet. Here we see how small and inferior Blake is in comparison with Nobody and his high spirit.

Once Nobody looks at Blake and sees a skull in his face. He sees death in his face. Death follows Blake in that land and Nobody tries to prepare him for that journey. He advises him to fast and removes his glasses so that he can see the world more vividly.

Gradually we find that Blake is becoming ready. Once he finds a killed deer in the jungle He sleeps behinds it and watches the sky. He has a kind of spiritual experience and individuation with creatures.

We see another contrast between the white American and the Indian when Blake unawarely encounters Nobody in the forest while he is having sex with an Indian woman. The white man did the same in the morning, in the street but the Indian did it at night, in a hidden and covered place. Nobody tells Blake who has interrupted their affair: “you interrupted a very romantic moment” which is completely different from what the white man did.

Nobody uses delicate phrases to speak about death. He says “I will take you to bridge made of waters; the mirror. Then you will be taken up to the next level of the world. The place where William Blake is born; his spirit belongs… where the see meets the sky.”

Another contrast is shown when they encounter a priest who sells means of death; guns. Funnily he says that all the ammunition are guaranteed because they are personally blessed by the archbishop of Detroit. Nobody says “the vision of Christ thou dost see is my vision’s greatest enemy”. He means that your vision compels you to come here and kill but my vision is humanitarian and merciful. It’s interesting that Nobody replies the priest in the archaic language of Christianity. That priest is one of the zealous Puritans who came to that land and did every malice in the name of religion and Christ.

Nobody and Blake get on a boat and go to Indians’ territory. Blake’s horse follows him on the land and bequests him. This shows that he is now prepared for the spiritual journey because he has made a relationship and friendship with the animal. Blake asks Nobody if that boat is the one which will take him across the mirror of water and Nobody answers, no “this boat’s not strong enough”. He means that it’s a materialistic boat. It doesn’t have enough strength to go to the spiritual world.

They reach the Indian community. He wears Indian clothing which means that now he is accepted for the journey. It’s time to leave. Nobody tells Blake “this world will no longer concern you”. Blake moves on water and a calm and tranquil music goes on which is different from the harsh tone of guitar played from the beginning of the film to this point.

Another point to mention is the black and white production of the film. Colors hinder true understanding of meaning but black and white color stops the viewer from prejudgments, so we cant see any difference between the white and the indian, that can be made by colors.
It’s also important to note that Jim Jarmusch is an independent directo. criticyzing American culture is the main theme of his moves. As we said he criticeses White- brought civilization, industrialization and what the white immigrants commited after they step in Indians’ territory.

U.S. Influence Is on the Decline

Reporting from Washington — A new assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies predicts that American influence in the world will decline over the next two decades as surging powers such as China and India, as well as independent entities including tribes and criminal networks, gain international clout.

After the recent financial crisis in the United States there are many expectations about America’s future role in the world. Since a long time America has intervened in the affairs of many countries. It had done so by its strong financial support. Reports predict that there would be some halts in this process as a result of recent financial crisis. They say that now America has so many problems in his affairs that it would affect his foreign interventions. On one hand a great number of people have got jobless and homeless and circular of money is in danger. On the other hand military expeditions in Iraq and Afghanistan are money-consuming. All these may affect U.S. foreign affairs at least by reducing the pace.
Besides all these, we can look back to the history and find that America has always sought different ways to pass the crisis. Foreign interventions are always profitable for the country. The profit made out of weapon trade and extracting the resources of occupied countries are undeniable blessings for the country.
So the financial crisis would affect U.S. foreign affairs in two ways. It wont stop them but it may lower the fast pace of it. For example in relation to Iran’s nuclear program and American threat to financial boycott. Now that America is in financial crisis it needs some market for investment and Iran can be one of them. In a way boycotting Iran will have negative effect on the U.S. itself.

Obama’s Victory

Finally the election campaigns in the U.S. finished and now the American are certain about who would be their president. Some points are interesting in this matter.
First: Choosing Obama, disregarding his skin color can be considered a great victory in American society, especially for the black. They have got a good chance to prove their equality with the whites in one of the most important positions in the United States which had been totally occupied by the white majority. It’s a good chance for the black citizens to recover their position in the American society. It’s essential to note that American’s choice was not completely color blind. The recent crisis in the country helped Democrats and as a consequence helped Obama. Many voted for the Democrats rather than Republicans. We can say that if the recent crisis has not occurred in America Obama had a less chance to win the election.

Second: Obama’s winning shows an important point in Americans’ thought. It shows Americans’ thirst for change. It showed that the majority of them have got disappointed with Republican policies, with war and with continual economic depressions. It becomes more conspicuous with Obama’s slogan: “we will change this country and change the world.” Now Americans expect great changes and this would be a great burden on Obama’s and Democrats’ shoulder. Surely Americans’ expect a better economic condition. They would want an emergency solution for the war in Iraq and other anti-terrorist campaigns. American soldiers in Iraq long for returning home soon. I think after great faults of Bush’s administration all America needs and craves for recreation.

Third: Besides the American, many people overseas long for change. They expect new policies for the U.S. in its foreign policies. People in Iraq and Afghanistan and many in Iran are expecting changes to come. Though Obama’s promises to the Israeli government and his pro-war promises disappoints many, still we can hope for more peaceful America in the future.

All we can do is expect and see what happens in the forthcoming January.

Conquest of America; Holy Words for Unholy Ends

Conquest of America is four part television documentary miniseries produced by The History Channel in 2005 and premiered on Saturday April 2nd. The show documented the adventures of various European explorers who were key figures in the colonization of the Americas. Some of the featured explorers include Henry Hudson, Pedro Menéndez, Jean Ribault, Vitus Bering and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado.
The documentary involves four parts of the new-found land: the southwest, the southeast, the northeast, and the northwest.
It starts with depiction of Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, one of young ambitious conquistadors who sought wealth and power in that part of the continent in 1544 in today’s Mexico region. A legend of seven lost cities of gold fuels a great conquest. In their search for seven cities they find nothing but Indian villages with no gold. In this part it dramatizes the Spaniards’ confrontation with the Indians. They perform extremely horrible deeds against the natives and at the end of their expedition just find one thing: There is no wealth there. So they established Mexico and settled.
Second section of the documentary depicts what happened in the southeast in 1565. The French Protestants try to found a French colony in Florida which is claimed by the Spanish. Both countries experience severe battles both at home and in the colony. There is also a religious clash between the Catholic Spanish and French Protestants. At the end dream of French empire in America fails.
Third section moves to Northeast. It shows Dutch, Spanish and the French trying to find a passage in the north direction to reach Asia. Henry Hudson earnestly set outs to find the passage, each time with the help of a country. His first voyage was paid for by the Muscovy Company, the second a Dutch one and the last by an English one. He died unknowingly in the bay named after him. This episode shows Hudson’s conflict with the environment and Indians. It’s more the presentation of Hudson’s enthusiasm to find his goal.
Fourth section shows the Russian role in the continent. Since the old world (Asia) and the new one (Americas) are thought to be connected to each other in a point in the past, Danish captain Vitus Bering starts an expedition from Siberia to reach America. They go a long voyage to find some source of money. At last they find a kind of white fox to use their fur.
Some points are very prominent in the process of the film. One of them which I choose to explain is the role of religion in conquest of America which is manifested in the movie. In several scenes of the film we see the cross. It is carried in front of the army or it is used to show surrender. Symbol of cross is so eminent that the Indians hope to find peaceful treatment of the new comers by their holly sign. It is interesting that they also take up a cross to show surrender.
Aside from religious symbols, religious language is also prominent. The Spanish captain declares we want to go to the new world for “God’s Glory and Gold”. They say we are undertaking such hard trip to save souls, to civilize the barbaric. They hide their ambitions under the disguise of religion and religious preaches. For example one priest is in charge of the expedition to seven legendary cities of gold. He encourages soldiers to continue their resistance to reach those cities. Another instant is the episode which shows Spaniards confrontation with Indians. A man is holding a big cross behind the leader of the army. He says “we have come with God’s will and pope’s will to conquer you.” The interesting point is that they expect Indians to accept their claims easily and give them whatever treasure they have. On one hand it seems too funny and on other hand it shows a great deceit. Using such language is a tool to deceive Christians to support those great voyages and expeditions. It seems that few of them (like Bartolommeo De La Casa) are open-minded enough to see the reality behind all deceits.
All these happened simultaneously with religious oriented wars of Europe. After Luther’s Reformation, Christianity divided into branches. Lather’s new way challenged the authority of pope who was the supreme leader behind European kings. The Spanish king waged wars in the old continent against Protestants, the flames of which reached the new world too. The Spanish monarchy as supporter of Catholic Christians established colonies of its own. Other European countries established colonies and populated them with the dissenters of their population. They could get rid of them and benefit from them at the same time. Again religion is manifested to be a tool in the hand of power.
I want to conclude that there are two elements shown clearly in the film: Gold and God. By gold I don’t mean just gold. I mean material goods that may include gold, labor and so many other means of it. By God I mean religious terminology. Europeans combined these two elements by using one as a tool to obtain the other. Religion and God was a good device for the benefit of material purposes of Europeans.
I confirm that there remain many other points to be mentioned about the film.

The Master and the Mistress

“The master and the mistress” by Eric Foner starts with introduction of a painting called “Virginia Luxuries” which depicts a white slave owner in 1800 in Virginia. On one side he is whipping a black slave, which was common at that age and on the other side he is caressing a black woman, which again had been common at the age.

Then it concludes that no one is more qualified than Thomas Jefferson to be the white slave owner of the painting. Jefferson became the president of the United States in 1800 and owned many slaves. It says that according to some evidences, mainly Ms. Gordon-Reed’s research in “Hemingsis of Montecello”, Jefferson had a permanent relationship with a black slave woman named Sally Hemings.

Eric Foner seems to be objecting Gordon-Reed’s tendency to depict the president’s relationship with the slave woman romantic. He starts his article by calling the black man and woman of “Virginia Luxuries”, “human property”. He interprets the painting as “the contradiction between ideals and realities in the early Republic”. Stating such an idea at the time the country is going to choose another president may bring a hidden stereotypical idea to the white American’s mind: that blacks are the human properties of the Founding Fathers, and now they are going to be the future’s presidents of the same Republic. It will certainly ignite a fear in any white American’s heart. They may unconsciously feel that human properties of the past are going to take revenge. Such statements and feelings may convince some (whites) to prevent its happening and some others (blacks) to remember what has been forgotten and try to take part in the play.

DVDs on “Radical Islam”

LA times said recently that “Newspaper subscribers are accustomed to the sample-size boxes of laundry detergent or aspirin bottles that sometimes arrive packaged with their morning paper, courtesy of advertisers. But readers in battleground states are getting a different kind of freebie: the DVD of a controversial documentary on Islam.”

It also said that Millions of copies of “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West” were sent to American houses over the last few weeks.

This issue can be analyzed from different perspectives. On one hand It can be considered as a part of election campaign which is being conducted today in the country. The image of a radical Muslim together with the rumors about Obama being a Muslim may induce some Americans to turn against him and vote for McCain.

On the other hand it is strange that just a few days after 9/11 and after the high tide of Islamophobia in the country that has been raised against Al Qaeda, such a widespread propaganda be organized against Muslims.