Opinion 4 Everything

THE MONROE DOCTRINE:
President James Monroe's seventh annual message to Congress, December 2, 1823 he stated:

"[T]he American continents...by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European Power." (http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/USA/MonDoc.html)

This is a piece of a larger declaration in which President Monroe charted a course for the future America to follow. He basically stated that other nations are to stay out of North America; they are to keep their system out of our territory including forbidding any attempts at colonizing. While at first people feared the President's direct demands to European Powers, 20 years after his passing (1931) this became known as the Monroe Doctrine. Furthermore it was used as justification for continued American expansion into the West.

What we see here, in hindsight, is a paradigm shift. A shift from seeing ourselves as an East Coast Nation to a Two Coast nation. As a country that was still preoccupied with local/state issues over national issues, this was a major shift in our national identity. A shift that has forever changed the future of America.

THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY TO THE MONROE DOCTRINE:
In 1904 President Theodore Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics. He liked to quote a favorite proverb, "Speak softly and carry a big stick. . . . "
Aware of the strategic need for a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific, Roosevelt ensured the construction of the Panama Canal. His corollary to the Monroe Doctrine prevented the establishment of foreign bases in the Caribbean and arrogated the sole right of intervention in Latin America to the United States. (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/gp/17660.htm While Roosevelt was envoking the Monroe Doctrine to allow the United States to keep the peace in the Western Hemisphere, this was the impetus to allow America to become a military force in the Western Hemisphere. While the Monroe Doctrine was more passive in nature, the Roosevelt Corollary helped frame America's emergence as a global military power. From 1904 on, the USA had precedent when it came to engaging in foreign affairs in the western hemisphere. Again, people at first thought that Roosevet was over stepping his bounds. But after the completion of the Panama Canal and the emergence of America as a military power, his actions were justified.

Here, again, we have a paradigm shift. We started as a country seeing the world as a place we participated with, a minor-player in international events. We ended up as a country that was poised to, and expected to, participate in and form world affairs. As a nation that had primarily been isolationist, this represented a major change in foreign policy. A change that framed the "American Century [20th]."

THE GEORGE W TERRORIST INITIATIVE TO THE ROOSEVELT COROLLARY:
After September 11, 2001 President George W Bush vowed to fight terrorism all over the world in the name of homeland security and to protect America and its allies. Bush stated that there will be no difference between terrorists and those that harbor terrorists. The President is confident that by helping build free and prosperous societies, our Nation and our friends and allies will succeed in making America more secure and the world more peaceful. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/gwbbio.html) This belief in America's right to chase down our enemy all over the world, particularly a non-traditional enemy like a terrorist, will some day become know as the "Terrorist Initiative to the Roosevelt Corollary [to the Monroe Doctrine]." Similarly to the other declarations, people see George W as too brash, some feel that he is overstepping his authority. However, once the "West was won," everyone thought that Monroe was a forward thinking genious. Once America was able to turn the tide in WWI & WWII, Roosevelt's forward thinking in getting America ready to be a world power was seen as genius as well. It will take time and perspective, but eventually George W Bush will be seen as taking the final step to what Monroe started in 1823. For, the best way to stomp out terrorism is to establish free and prosperous societies in which terrorism is unwanted and unable to survive. Many say this is impossible, but just like Monroe and Roosevelt, time will vindicate George W. Some day our text books will speak of how he redefined American foreign policy and created the world we live in.

Here again, is the completion of our international journey via another paradigm shift. We started as a country that did our best to prevent incidents, but primarily reacted to events. We ended up as a nation that preemptively destroyed our enemy. Since our legal/military system is predicated on responding to and making amends for offenses, pursuing potential offenders will be a major issue in the 21st century and will mark a major switch in our national identity.