I recently read a social media comment about how ungrateful we are for all the aid money Am
erica has given us in the third world. I was also having a heated Facebook stand off with a pair of American friends, fed up with how America is always helping everyone and yet they are ‘hated’.
Does America or anyone else just give anyone anything? America has a history of offering the helping hand and as quickly withdrawing it. Vietnam, Afghanistan (not once but twice at least) are the worlds favourite examples.
Does the average American understand that never, since America came out of ‘isolation’ during and after World War 2, has their great country ever done anything for anyone without expecting a return. Capitalism after all, is why the US of A came out of isolation. Even the Marshall Plan after WW2 ultimately benefitted the US.
500 million dollars in military assistance comes with strings attached. 2 million dollars in medical projects comes with different strings attached. A 100,000 dollar community clean water initiative supports the “America is great” propaganda machine with plenty of priceless photo ops. These are all investments one way or the other. Nothing for free and all about advancing US strategic interests – political, military, business, financial, resources, hearts and minds.
The volumes of legal paperwork involved in obtaining the aid belie any ‘giving’ being involved. The deliberate or Wiki leaks then tell appalling tales years later, of cynicism, corruption and hidden agendas.
The Cold War is fought by and with America on many fronts. The average American may believe this is solely for the benefit of the rest of the world, but if Soviet/Russian expansion succeeded who would America trade with? The American way of life is being threatened.
US incursions into Spain, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Korea, Nicaragua are the big history stories that have been debated and argued for decades, with thousands of questions about American “interests” asked and not answered. Declassified documents result in revealing, shocking documentaries of military actions, government ineptitude and vile political agendas.
Why do we not hear about America in Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Uganda, Tajikistan and Haiti and other ‘shithole’ countries desperate for assistance but of no strategic value to the USA?
Yet they are in your face and spending billions in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq (now 29 years!!), Iran, Egypt, Ukraine, fighting proxy wars killing millions mostly women and children. “America First” interests are being well served in its ‘war against terror’ and Russian resurgence, financing the US arms industry and everyone, including paper clip suppliers, that keep it running..ROI basically, Return On Investment.
The Russians at least make no excuses for their behaviour or tactics and Ukraine would not have received any Aid were it not for the strategic importance of this country, just remember Crimea and how the world just…watched.
Make no mistake, as ordinary citizens, we are mostly very grateful for the medical and food donations they, the EU, Japan and others provide in times of crisis. We are desperately grateful for all the ‘donor’ community projects that are initiated. We strive to meet the stringent AGOA criteria to export our produce to the USA. We welcome US corporate investors, even if they believe they are not liable to taxes like the rest of us.
We citizens fear US sanctions, travel advisories used as political leverage, damaging to our economies, preventing us putting food on our tables. We despise our own governments more than we may dislike Americans, but hate?
If the US is giving us so much then why are our despotic leaders selling our countries to Russia and China. Of course your average Joe has no idea this is happening as well, and that US Administrations must react.
What is appalling is that American administrations wilfully deceive their citizens into believing they give us everything. We in turn see the betrayal of those who have put their lives on the line for America and ask the question, not “why?” but, “Are we shitholes ungrateful for American ‘giving’?”
Oh and by the way, we don’t hate anyone, we’re wearily cynical.
November 1, 2024
Last Updated on November 1, 2024
