America is by far the most violent country in human history. This is true both abroad (Jimmy Carter Lectures Trump: US ‘Most Warlike Nation in History of the World’) and at home. It is seen especially in terms of gun violence (List of countries by firearm-related death rate) and incarceration (U.S. has World’s Highest Incarceration Rate). And need I mention slavery in the old days and lynching in the South up to the 1960s?
Why is that?
Three main reasons:
- America was founded via violence.
- Poverty and violence are deeply rooted in America.
- America is exceptional, in violence!
Let me elaborate on each …
1. America was founded via violence
Unlike Canada or Australia, which gained independence from Britain without violence, America gained it via the American Revolution.
What, then, is the American Revolution, really?
It was instigated by a bunch of rich colonists, who simply did not want to pay [more] taxes! For more, read What is the American Revolution, anyway?
2. Poverty and violence are deeply rooted in America
Two main reasons:
- America was founded by/of/for the rich.
- America remains by/of/for the rich.
Let me highlight each …
2.1 America was founded by/of/for the rich
After winning the American Revolution, the Founding Fathers, of whom most are slave-owners (Who are America’s Founding Fathers, anyway?), wanted a “limited” government. This would not only leave them alone in the pursuit of fortune, but also work for them to make them even richer, especially via exacerbated slavery and territorial expansion (aka “exacerbated British colonialism, without Britain”).
Specifically, these two issues were left alone, if not enhanced, by the Founding Fathers (America: What did the Founding Fathers do, actually?):
- Slavery.
- Gun ownership (Second Amendment to the United States Constitution).
Both proved to be the major source of violence ever since.
What about having a government working for the rich to make them even richer via territory expansion? Two examples:
As a result, poverty and violence were deeply rooted in America, systemically!
2.2 America remains a country by/of/for the rich
It took America a Civil War (American Civil War) to address the slavery issue. It may take another civil war to address the gun ownership issue (America: Guns vs. Slavery).
What about territory expansion?
First, North America …
Then, globally …
For more, watch the video at the end of this post.
Now, what does the “limited” government look like today?
We have ended up with a huge, but dysfunctional, government that is still by/of/for the rich, who control the politicians with their money! Two big examples:
- NRA (National Rifle Association).
- The Military-Industrial Complex (America’s Evil Military Industrial Complex).
As a result, poverty and violence remain deeply rooted in America, systemically.
3. America is exceptional, in violence!
The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.
Let me highlight American violence at home and abroad, respectively …
3.1 Violence at home
Examples:
1: Slavery …
2: Read: Wounded Knee Massacre …
3: Lynching …
4: Modern-day gun massacres …
5: American Carnage vs. American Revolution.
4.2 Violence abroad
Examples
2: Vietnam …
3: Iraq …
4: Syria
5: Ukraine … Pope Francis Says NATO Started War in Ukraine by “Barking at Putin’s Door”.
4. Discussion
America is deeply in trouble. “We the People” simply do not know what to do, other than periodically casting our vote of “no confidence” to elect someone very different to be the President: Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. Unfortunately for America, none of them have worked out!
What’s wrong, really?
America might have been wrong since the beginning, with violence topping the list!
Simply put, America is actually the last big colonial power standing, resisting the inevitable: it’s over! For more, read Is America the last big colonial power standing?
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline), or become a fiddle, second to China!
5. Closing
To understand what America is, we must recognize this simple fact: America is by far the most violent country in human history, both at home and abroad. This post has shed some light on it, hopefully.
Now, please sit back and watch the video below.
