HUBRIS – THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES AMERICAN MISADVENTURES

Hubris – noun: excessive pride or self-confidence; arrogance.

Often times, despite historical precedence and its consequent lessons, the American government continually promotes actions that fly in the face of reality, exhibiting a hubris that defies common sense. There are many examples in recent history—not the least of which is our military misadventures in foreign lands. The French failed in Vietnam? What do the Frenchies know? We'll take 'em on. The Soviets failed in Afghanistan? What do the Ruskies know? We'll show 'em who's boss.

The fact that so many Americans not only go along, but also cheer this contempt of the obvious is disheartening. "We're number one!" is the throaty response, without any forethought as to the mantra's validity or its consequence. This stance sets the tone for taking any desired military action regardless of its inadvisability or chance of success. How dare anyone stand up to American power and superiority!

Ironically, this attitude sets up the rank and file for insidious governmental manipulation. There are relatively few actions that can't be framed in terms of the American "national interest." We are told that we've got to "fight them over there before we have to fight them over here." Or that they might give terrorists aid to attack us. Our troops, whom we absolutely must support and thank for their service, are "fighting for our freedoms." Never mind that since the end of WWII, this jingoistic falsehood has been thoroughly disproven –most notably in Korea, Vietnam and Iraq. Wars have been lost without any documentable loss of "freedom," unless you count the erosion of our civil rights due to the implementation of the security state.

Ironically, amid all the bravado, and tacit acceptance of illegal spying, we are continually reminded to be vigilant because the enemy is all around us waiting to strike. "They are coming to kill us," blurted one prominent US senator. The warnings about terrorist activity during the recent Independence Day holiday, absent any known credible threat, were broadcast over and over by a complicit media. The holiday passed uneventfully, with the only casualties caused by the stupidity of the revelers themselves. But the fire of fear was appropriately stoked and the populace remains primed and ready for whatever moves our government "must" take to protect us. How can so powerful a country, and so proud a people, be so afraid so much of the time?

Ever since the end of WWII, we've been caught up in the belief that we can do whatever we set our minds, and money to—even if no one's done it before. Why, we put a man on the Moon, didn't we? How hard can anything else be?

Until the public comes to grips with the fact they are continually being manipulated by special interests, and that their patriotic hurrahs are misplaced, these reckless misadventures will continue. The ultimate cost to the citizenry for this hubris will be lives lost, and treasure wasted that could be better spent at home for the benefit of all, especially the least among us.