by Solomon Comissiong
American popular geopolitical ignorance sometimes seems infinite. Most of the world is fully aware that the U.S. government financed the Ukrainian coup “that helped bring to power a wave of neo-Nazis.” Yet, most Americans think that Russia is playing the Hitler role, and Washington is the good guys.
The United States: Land of Blissful Ignorance and Blatant Hypocrisy
by Solomon Comissiong
“Who the hell is the United States to lecture anyone about how wrong it is for bigger nations to invade smaller ones?”
One day an innovative social scientist will perhaps conduct a case study centered on the state of blissful ignorance many Americans continuously reside within. That same scholar will take things a step further and delve into the root causes that contributed to the mass production of blissfully ignorant American citizens. Far too many US citizens have been socially engineered to embrace ignorance regarding things like geography, geopolitics, history and basic social studies. This experiment in social engineering does not stop there; numerous Americans have been mentally configured in ways that prevent them from comprehending their own ignorance. And as if all that were bad enough, Americans have a knack for commenting on topics they know very little about, without actually utilizing due diligence as a means toward educating themselves. Their minds have been brilliantly manipulated to accept untruths as facts. This happens when critical thought is not employed. Unfortunately critical thinking is a virtue many Americans have yet to acquire. This, too, is by design.
The corporate media, US government and school systems have all played significant roles in the blissful ignorance Americans unwittingly cling to. This was by no accident; it is as premeditated as the United States’ imperialist wars. Keeping the masses as politically dumbed down, while programming them to believe they are actually well versed, insures that the unacceptable status quo will be keep in place – in perpetuity. That status quo has much to do with global domination and the concentration of power within the slimy hands of a small minority. The powers that be, which also control the corporate media, inundate Americans with shows like “Hannity,” “Hardball with Chris Matthews” and “Anderson 360” to program Americans into believing they are now comprehensively educated by virtue of watching these types of programs. As a result, they are not only geopolitically undereducated, they are stuck in a quagmire of consternation, mere pawns to further the US’s destructive global campaigns. Instead of organizing and protesting against US wars and financial machinations, most Americans foolishly cheer on the villains: their own government.
“Americans have been mentally configured in ways that prevent them from comprehending their own ignorance.”
Even when the lies and hypocrisy are blatantly in their faces, most Americans are too information-starved to recognize them. Take, for instance, the US backed coup in Ukraine. Most Americans have absolutely no idea that their “own” government financed a coup in that Eastern European nation that helped bring to power a wave of neo-Nazis. This critical geopolitical event has numerous layers including Western European and US powers trying to upend Russian influence in the region and absorb Ukraine into NATO. Most Americans could not locate Ukraine on a map let alone identify what has really been going on in Ukraine. President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry find it easy to blatantly lie about the situation. They know most Americans will not be able to catch them in their lies. After all, you have to know you’ve been lied to in order to recognize it. Most Americans have no idea where to look for the truth.
Barack Obama and John Kerry have even had the audacity to look into cameras and tell the world “bigger nations cannot simply bully smaller ones.” Besides the fact that Russia has not invaded Ukraine, the utter hypocrisy of the lies that spew from their mouths is beyond laughable----it is reprehensible. Who the hell is the United States to lecture anyone about how wrong it is for bigger nations to invade smaller ones? The United States has a long destructive history in this arena. Barack Obama, himself, led a US and NATO bombing campaign and invasion of Libya, based on a foundation of lies. Between 50,000 to 100,000 people have lost their lives in Libya as a result of that US imperialist conquest. And what about the over one million lives lost in Iraq for which the United States’ invasion is responsible? What about them, John Kerry and Barack Obama? Did you forget about the Iraqis, Libyans, Somalis, Yemenis, Afghans and Pakistanis? Do their lives not matter?
“The United States government is the preeminent global bully and hypocrite.”
There is blood all over the hands of every US official (and media personality) that championed these crimes against humanity. Was this not a bigger nation bullying a smaller one? Obama also stated that, “Each of us has the right to live as we choose.” I guess he meant everybody except for Libyans and all of the communities and people he gave the order to destroy – by way of his drone attacks.
This pack of inexcusable lies may work on the “average American”, however they do not work on much of the global community. They know that the United States government is the preeminent global bully and hypocrite. When one tallies the number of US military engagements and couples them with brutal economic sanctions, the United States government is responsible for the destruction of tens of millions of lives.
Such irrefutable truths are, literally, unthinkable for most Americans. Reality shows, professional sports and music videos are the main courses in far too many of their mental diets. This must change, if Americans are ever to demand an end to Washington’s hypocrisy and ceaseless death campaigns. However, before they can demand anything they most realize how (and why) they have been systematically lied to. And before that happens they must quit – ‘cold turkey’ – their addiction to corporate media “news” and other distractions. Those of us who are not afflicted with willful ignorance must do our best to re-educate our communities. We must engage them, hold forums, utilize social media and support and create alternative grassroots media initiatives. If this information is new to you, do your own research to find the truths, and there you will also locate the lies. And please stop supporting fork-tongued war mongering US politicians.
Activism is the watchword. There is no time for spectating when it comes to building a humane society.
This week’s featured author is Biko Mandela Gray. Gray is Assistant Professor of Religion at Syracuse University. His book is Black Life Matter: Blackness, Religion, and the Subject.
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