I've been thinking about how much time media devotes to the American electoral cycle, the American democracy machine. In recent times, one feels there is a battle going on between good and evil, the Good Democrats fighting for women's abortion rights, for immigrant rights, for the environment, for public funding for schools and healthcare while the Evil Republicans are eroding a progressive, inherently good American society. We are meant to cheer the successful election of a person of colour to local or Federal level or of a white politicians standing up for the right thing.
Good Democrats like Biden and Obama are trotted out at voting time to save democracy.
But then the same media will report that President Biden has said something as racist and offensive like "Pakistan is the most dangerous country there is" and, "Afghanistan is such a Godforsaken place."
Anyone care to connect these dots? Why are we invested in following the integration of people of colour into the American State and, at the same time being insulted by American heads of state?
I was pretty livid at Biden's statements and, still am. They personally stung me and the timing could not have been worse. two thirds of Pakistan was submerged under water when Biden called it a dangerous state. I know he was attacking the military state but how democratic to not even bother to differentiate between people and the state.
His comments on Afghanistan maddened me with rage. I was livid with rage. How dare he continue to belittle , hurt and offend people of our region? I realised he speaks with arrogance only an imperial lord can. He may not necessarily dictate hatred to his public but reserves racism and bigotry for people his country conquers. His remarks immediately sent me off in blinding rage, thinking of the 80s, the invasion and carpet bombing of Afghanistan after 9/11, of Obama and his drones and how he traumatised children of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the trillion dollars they supposedly spent to help the country, the cowardly withdrawal, and how Afghan girls are now literally fighting the Taliban for their rights.
I realised that only a racist imperial power tired of bombing, invading and abandoning a land can speak like this.
I also thought about my American friends who demonstrate their Democratic credentials online as they cheer Hillary or Obama and condemn Trump. But not one peep against any American war. I think about their tears as Republicans shred this so-called veneer. But not a peep against any imperial destruction. I also think about the artificiality of international friendships where my concerns are irrelevant but somehow my deep knowledge, general interest and ability to follow and comment on heir society is taken for granted.
In my adult life I've met most Americans through the aid and international development complex. I've also met many Europeans like this. Are they passionate about international aid because of its neo colonial nature, its apolitical hollow nature of work? As a consolation prize for imperial wars? How do Westerners see their jobs and careers in countries directly ravaged by American occupation? And all her countries suffering long term colonial legacy? Capitalist extraction? Debt incurred by borrowing from Western institutions?
I suppose looking for accountability and empathy from individuals is a big ask. Privileged sections of society benefit from a system and, they are selective in critique of power.
Nevertheless I'm profoundly disturbed.
Enough to finally realise what defines the core of American support of Israel. If we take a long view of history as Americans inheriting the vast British Empire, we can see why they supported such a violent settler colonial take over of Palestine by European Jews. It was not only to create friendly state amongst a dying Muslim Ottoman Empire and, play the region. American support for Israel is a a profoundly white supermacist project. White Christian America believes Israel has the right to exist and occupy and destroy Palestinians. Every American President furthers this cause. Even the lone black one has to follow suit.
Israel is a white imperial project.
Zelensky congratulated Netanyahu and, said his country shares values with Israel. What an amazing loop. Biden gives billions to Netanyahu for fighting Russians who in turn call Ukranians Nazis. And, round and round we go.
American Presidents will never speak against Israel. But they can shit over rest of us.
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