Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor…Your Revolution

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"If actions speak louder than words, then the U.S. has lost its revolutionary courage."

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WorldNews Guest Writer Beverly Darling.


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Almost everyone is familiar with the Statue of Liberty and how it represents the immortal symbol of freedom and change. However, few people understand its origin and historical context. Without the aid of the French during the American Revolution, the U.S. probably would not have become an independent country. Almost a hundred years later, French intellectuals were discussing the American Insurgency in reference to their opposition to the oppressive regime of Napoleon III. As they spoke of their admiration towards America’s progressive and revolutionary spirit, one individual commented, ’Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people in France gave the United States a great monument as a lasting memorial to independence and thereby showed that the French government was also dedicated to the idea of human liberty?’ Unfortunately, somewhere between the American Revolution and the present day, the U.S. has forfeited the capacity to develop new ideas of revolutionary rights and to imagine a better world. Words like ‘Transformational Diplomacy’, ‘Rapid Response Teams‘, ‘Inoculation’, and ’Renditions’, cannot hide their true purpose, namely, imperialism, illegal invasions, more trade and economic sanctions, and torture encampments. It is ironic that America was birthed in revolutionary visions of rights and liberties and seceded from an empire. Yet, the U.S. has come to embrace ancient imperial ideologies and aspirations. Like the European and Asian empires of ancient times which were portrayed by aggressive nationalism, militarism, cultural superiority, and colonial resource wars, the U.S. is no different. Today, America is yearning to be free. Just as France sent a revolutionary symbol to the America., perhaps Latin America can re-invigorate U.S. economic, political and cultural rights. For example…<snip>


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Finally, Latin America can offer the U.S. a revolution of peace. America continues to fight a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, threatens to invade Iran and Syria, continues its sanctions against Cuba, Hamas and North Korea, while Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina are attempting to work towards a different goal: economic and political rights and liberties for all. Their processes may be different, but their goal is one. They do not attack other countries they disagree with, nor do they threaten or torture.

If actions speak louder than words, then the U.S. has lost its revolutionary courage. With 38 million hungry people in the U.S., 45 million individuals without health insurance, 13 million children living in poverty, 70% of convicts illiterate, secret energy department meetings with oil conglomerates, corporate greed and lobbying scandals, companies laying-off thousands of workers, educational funds being slashed, and a President with a $500,000 yearly salary, America desperately needs a new revolution of values, economic equity, and political redistribution. As President Hugo Chavez said, ‘Imagine if the U.S. government would declare peace on the world and retire all military bases and soldiers from the planet? Imagine that the $400 billion used for aggression were being used for education, health, and other human needs…the U.S. working class is a giant that needs to be awakened to join the struggle for justice!‘ Once again, America needs aid and assistance. Instead of pursuing destructive policies, the U.S. should embrace revolutionary principles coming from Latin America. This is one gift America cannot reject!

[Katherine Brengle]

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