In turn, a repudiation of empire and hegemony on the part of the ‘Founding Fathers’ – along with their historic resistance against empire and hegemony – is in essence a repudiation and resistance against old world corruption and politics. America represents the “New World,” and as a result, American culture and American values are distinguished by a repudiation and referendum against old world culture and corruption. In turn, old world culture and corruption evolved into the imperialism and hegemony that the ‘Founding Fathers’ ended up fighting against.
Thus, as stated in the speech of the American flag – known as “Old Glory” – it has been written that: “I stand for peace, honor, truth, and justice. I stand for freedom. I am confident; I am arrogant; I am proud. When I am flown with my fellow banners, my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.”
Moreover, the focal point of American culture and society is not the federal government or dependence on the federal government. Rather, the focal point of American culture and society is self-governance and the freedom of each individual to evolve into their own governor and ruler. Thus, America is the only place in the world where an individual can still truly self-actualize and become an overseer and manager of international affairs by virtue of self-governance. While addressing the ‘General Assembly of the State of Virginia’ in 1778, James Madison said: “We have staked the whole future of our new nation, not upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments of God.”
What the neocons tried to do beginning in the 21st century was to take away the freedom, liberty, and rights of individuals to self-govern and thus self-actualize under the guise of ‘national security.’ Hundreds of millions of dollars now go to a corrupt and insignificant place like Ukraine out of federal government coffers, but not a dollar goes to universal education, universal health care, or universal basic income so that Americans can self-actualize and self-govern. What was known as the “Global War on Terror” (GWOT) turned into a shitshow at Kabul Airport this past August. As Confucius said, you can assess the righteousness and legality of a war by its outcome.
Hans Morgenthau wrote that the impetus for regular people’s involvement in public and international affairs is anger and frustration. But what underlies anger and frustration to a certain extent is the perennial search for truth and justice. Peace and stability in the international system hinge upon truth and justice. As the Quran states: “We have created the Heavens and the Earth in truth and justice.” Without truth and justice, the entire ecosystem and the entire world spirals into disarray and instability. Thus, through continued effort and persistence, the truth and justice which is necessary for the correction of an international system that is in disarray and is unstable will continue to emanate out into the public sphere, given that the “collective end” of the international system is both peace and stability, which in turn are underpinned by both truth and justice.
Adam A. Azim 