By Emma Peterson. In the State of the Union address last Tuesday, President Obama made a lot of strong statements about the United States and its role in the world. He reassured the room of Senators, Congressmen, military personnel, and the American people, that America is as strong as ever. President Obama stated that America will continue to “stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings, men and women, Christians, Muslims, and Jews. We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets because tyranny is no match for liberty.” This was said following statements about the success of the Iraq war and the removal of our troops, and was meant to repeat our stance as a nation that fights for the equality, rights, and freedom of all people.
To dissuade those who believe that America is not well liked by the rest of the world, the President assured us that, “The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe. Our oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever. Our ties to the Americas are deeper. Our iron-clad commitment, and I mean iron-clad, to Israel security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history.” He continued: “We made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in Burma has lit a new hope. From the coalitions we’ve built to secure military materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease, from the blows we’ve dealt our enemies, to the enduring power of our moral example, America is back. Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in decline, or that our influence has waned, doesn’t know what they’re talking about.”
While this final statement was clearly a jab at Republican candidate Mitt Romney, Obama’s assertion that we still have our hegemonic status as the leader of the world, and that nations still look to us as a role model for how government should be run, seems contradictory.
What powers and qualities truly make us stand out as global leaders? Surely it must be more than military might. Have we been active players in global institutions, and in addressing global challenges? What exactly is the power of our “moral example”? And have we truly set an example in recent years? While there have been some bright spots, there have been some darker times as well. What do you think?
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