Analysis Of The Arrogance Of Power

717 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Nature of american federalism

After reading an excerpt from William J. Fulbright's, “The Arrogance of Power,” the author argued that Americans were abusing their power during the Vietnam War by ignoring international law and twisting U.S. Foreign policies. This essay argues the point that power has a tendency to breed arrogance. Arrogance stems from a know-it-all attitude or “as a psychological need that nations seem to have in order to prove that they are bigger, better, or stronger than other nations, (Fulbright 1966).” Being too sure of oneself and looking down on others is a surefire way that an arrogant attitude causes offense. William J. Fulbright “holds the record as the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, from 1959 to 1974, (Fulbright 1966).” Senator Fulbright was opposed to the United States always involving itself in the affairs of other countries. To put it frank, he believed that Americans should mind their own business and stop meddling with the issues of other countries all of the time. The United States tended to intervene in the affairs of other countries even when not invited to do so. Almost like a big brother who just wants to protect his younger sibling every time a situation arises. When power is given to a country, boundaries and limits must be set as to how that power is to be utilized, because if Americans perceive they are better than others, then that power, will more than likely, be misused.
One of the arguments that Senator Fulbright makes a valid point on has to deal with perspective. “Having done so much and succeeded so well, America is now at that historical point at which a great nation is in danger of losing its perspective on what exactly is within the realm of its power and what is beyond i...

... middle of paper ...

...of Americans to go to other countries and act as if the people have to bow down to them. Helping other countries sometimes does not mean that the United States is better than that country. There may be times when foreign countries may be called upon to help America and there cannot be the attitude of, “there is nothing that you can do for me.” Americans are generally known as being nice people.
In conclusion, Senator Fulbright's argument is successful. He made many valid points and gave logical examples as to how arrogance had shown itself through Americans during the Vietnam war. Senator Fulbright gave warnings as to what could happen if the United States continued to misuse the power it already had in and against foreign countries. He simply wanted to make his point that there must be limits and restraints as to how Americans act and react to foreign policies.

Show More
Related

  • Chris Appy's American Reckoning

    1077 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chris Appy’s s American Reckoning is a book-length essay on the Vietnam War and how it changed the way Americans think of ourselves and our foreign policy. This is required reading for anyone interested in foreign policy and America’s place in the world, showing how events influence attitudes, which turn to influence events.

    Read More

  • Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq by Stephen Kinzer

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    As stronger nations exercise their control over weaker ones, the United States try to prove their authority, power and control over weaker nations seeing them as unable to handle their own issues thereby, imposing their ideology on them. And if any of these weaker nations try to resist, then the wrath of the United States will come upon them. In overthrow the author Stephen Kinzer tells how Americans used different means to overthrow foreign government. He explains that the campaign & ideology of anti- communism made Americans believe that it was their right and historical obligation to lead forces of good against those of iniquity. They also overthrew foreign government, when economic interest coincided with their ideological ones (kinzer.215). These factors were the reasons behind America’s intervention in Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam and Chile to control and protect multinational companies as well as the campaign against communism with little or no knowledge about these countries.

    Read More

  • National Security Structure Development in Steven Hook and John Spanier's Book, American Foreign Policy Since WWII

    822 Words  | 2 Pages

    Steven Hook and John Spanier's 2012 book titled “American foreign policy since WWII" serves as one of the most important texts that can be used in understanding the underlying complexities on American foreign policies. Like the first readings that are analyzed in class (American Diplomacy by George Kennan and Surprise, Security, and the American Experience by John Lewis Gaddis), this text also brings history into a more understandable context. Aside from being informative and concise in its historical approach, Hook and Spanier also critiques the several flaws and perspectives that occurred in the American foreign policy history since World War II.

    Read More

  • Kaufman Vs. Kaufman's American Foreign Policy Legacy

    1676 Words  | 4 Pages

    The book A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy, by Joyce Kaufman, and the essay, American Foreign Policy Legacy by Walter Mead both acknowledge the history, and the importance of American foreign policy. The two argue that American foreign policy has always been an essential aspect of the prosperity and health of the United States. After reading these writings myself, I can agree that American foreign policy in the U.S. has always been detrimental to the success of this nation. Throughout history most Americans have had very little interest in foreign affairs, nor understood the importance. This essay will address the importance of foreign policy, why Americans have little interest in foreign affairs, and what the repercussions

    Read More

  • Eugene McCarthy´s Speech Against the Vietnam War

    1315 Words  | 3 Pages

    In his speech, Eugene McCarthy describes why fighting the Vietnam War was a poor decision to make. First, he mentions how John F. Kennedy gave hope and courage to America and its people in 1963; on the other hand, in 1967, America was in a period of frustration and distrust due to the escalation of the Vietnam War. McCarthy states that America is not the world police and should not be giving promises that they could not follow through with. Moreover, the United States was fighting a pointless war where there are no changes being seen. “I see little evidence that the administration has set any limits on the price which it will pay for a military victory which becomes less and less sure and more hollow and empty in promise” (McCarthy). Throughout the duration of the war, the United States made very little progress, even though they had p...

    Read More

  • Vietnam War Analysis

    692 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is understandable that some Americans strongly opposed the United States getting involved in the Vietnam War. It had not been a long time since the end of World War II and simply put, most Americans were tired of fighting. Mark Atwood Lawrence is one of the people who opposed our involvement in the Vietnam War. In his essay, “Vietnam: A Mistake of Western Alliance”, Lawrence argues that the Vietnam War was unnecessary and that it went against our democratic policies, but that there were a lot of things that influenced our involvement.

    Read More

  • America Should Never Have Entered the Vietnam War

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the Lyndon Baines Johnson presidential administration, both those policy makers who supported America’s involvement in Vietnam and those who opposed the war were part of the “containment generation.” They had reached political maturity during World War II and the early years of the Cold War and had experienced the intense anticommunism of the McCarthy era of the early 1950s. These leaders understood and applied the lessons of American nationalism, which had the primary message that the U.S. was the dominating nation that had to embrace its responsibility to aid and improve nations in America’s image. Therefore, when they saw that there was a threat of the spread of communism to areas of Southeast Asia, a majority of the politicians were in favor of the war, which was the most costly U.S. foreign policy intervention during the Cold War. President Johnson and others considered Vietnam a crucial Cold war battleground where an American loss would trigger dire domestic and international repercussions. This view led him to decide to enter the Vietnam War, which was a condemnable action considering that there were intensifying domestic issues that he neglected because he was engrossed in the Vietnam situation. Anti-War protesters, a few politicians, and even the South Vietnamese all pointed out that this war was immoral and was resulting in destruction. Ultimately, Johnson’s decision resulted in a huge price paid on America’s part for its determination to prevent the spread of communism through this war and in the deaths of more 50,000 in an overseas war that was extremely difficult to win and that deepened divisions at home.

    Read More

  • United States Foreign Policy Following World War II

    1225 Words  | 3 Pages

    Following the war with Vietnam, America foreign policy saw a new shift. This shift is marked by the decline of containment to a policy of a ‘here and now’ approach. That is, the United States’ new policy was to deal with each situation on a case by case basis rather than treating every threat of communism as a threat to containment. This reclaimed part of the old policy of objectivity in international affairs. As the past shows, controversies and wars alike have the power to dramatically shift a countries foreign policy. One can only wonder what will cause the next change.

    Read More

  • The Questionable Morals and Values of the United States

    2467 Words  | 5 Pages

    During the institution and emerging years of the United States of America to present, we have witnessed some questionable acts committed by the United States. Now days the United States condemn and prosecute nations that get involved in these kinds of tyrannous practices; practices that lead the United States to become the superpower nation today. Often times American people act like if the United States had the ultimate word when it comes to morals and principles. We will go back in time to talk about the massacre and displacement of millions of Natives Americans along with the semi-extinction of their lifestyle and heritage. It is also important to look at the indentured servitude slavery to which the African people were subject to. Another example was the convenient exploitation of the foreign Chinese, Irish and Mexican labor forces and a double standard emigration policy. Lastly the use of intimidation and force for the appropriation of foreign territories such as Hawaii, Philippines. There is help of rising rebels in other countries in order to achieve United States goals. Humans are supposed to learn from past mistakes so they do not commit them again. There is a great irony in calling other governments tyrannous and then imposing our own agenda on their society. The United States have historically and presently demonstrated what could be considered “tyrannous” behavior towards other nations and societies. The United States history has a stain in every page and therefore we are not a good candidate to intervene in other nations affairs.

    Read More

  • American Exceptionalism: Why We Are Different from Other Nations

    819 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the first day of class, I wasn’t so sure what the term “American Exceptionalism” meant, but by the end I have figured it out. American Exceptionalism is the notion that America is uniquely different from the other nations. The reason America is “uniquely different” from the other nations is because, the world expects America to lead, have values, pursue freedom, be diverse and open, and also practice democracy. Being a democratic nation makes us the city upon the hill. America is like a big brother, other nations look to us for help, guidance, and prosperity. The values and beliefs about politics and the government shape our American culture. The stress on a distinct national identity is appropriate within an increasingly diverse nation state and ever globalizing world. I agree upon this statement, because America deserves to be known as the “it” nation. America is more accepting, we are like a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities.

    Read More

  • ?Letter to Americans? by E. P. Thompson

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is somehow strange for today’s reader to find out that the situation with America’s foreign affairs hasn’t changed much. As some clever people have said, “The History book on the shelf is always repeating itself.” Even after nineteen years, Americans think of themselves as citizens of the strongest nation in the world. Even after the September the 11th. Even after Iraq. And Afghanistan.

    Read More

  • A Constructivist View of North Korean Nuclear Proliferation

    2007 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nye, Jr., Joseph S. “Hard and Soft Power in American Foreign Policy.” In Paradox of American Power. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. 4-17. Print.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Vietnam War

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    For the first time in American history, widespread revolt against our nation’s decision to fight in the war influenced the outcome. This is what saved our country and the lives of soldiers who were fighting an unwinnable war. The initial policy decision made by President Lyndon B. Johnson was to “Americanize” the Vietnam War (Tindall and Shi, p. 1341). This meant that American troops would be sent to Vietnam in large numbers to fight. The goal was to keep South Vietnam from falling to Communism, and the U.S. felt like it needed to intervene to achieve this.

    Read More

  • Corruption & Destruction by Power

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    Authority in a society is a necessary evil which when unfettered, results in the abuse of power. Power has long been considered a corrupting and a disrupting force in function and in influence. Underlying motives and greed fuel those who seek to gain and or abuse this power. The Crucible examines this twisted force as it corrupts societies’ clergy, blinds its justices, and empowers those who seek to abuse it. Arthur Miller shows how power can be a corrupting influence and how it can blind the judgment of authoritative figures.

    Read More

  • Power & Authority

    410 Words  | 1 Pages

    Although they are very closely related, power and authority are two different concepts. Power is needed in order to establish authority, yet it is also completely distinct from authority (Week 9 Study Notes).

    Read More

More about Analysis Of The Arrogance Of Power

Open Document