America's International Future
America has gone from a small colony of rebels to an isolated nation, from a revered ally to a disliked presence. Although America is the only remaining superpower in the world, its world standing has noticeably decreased through the last few years. Action needs to be taken to reestablish America’s place in the world so that America can participate in the global economy and command respect from potential threats and allies.
The new presidential administration in January brought hope to many that the presence of America in the world would have a tonal change. It was evident from President Obama’s first trip overseas that Obama was certainly better received in Europe and Asia than former President Bush has been (remember the shoe-throwing travesty?). Having a president that the world respects is a first step towards having a better and more positive world presence.
However, having our leader liked by the people and leaders of other countries is not enough. We need to reexamine our foreign policy, especially our Afghanistan and Iraq policies in order to reestablish our standing. We will have to actually stand up for human rights in places like Darfur, rather than just talking about it. We need to lead the world in green energy, and to challenge all nations to meet the highest standards of legal systems. We have to stand up for the little people, and follow our standards of morality ourselves- not force our ideas on other nations while we house detainees at Gitmo. We need to review our nuclear policy and work for the safety of all the world’s citizens. We must take action and do all the things we claim to do, all the things we promise the world.
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