Junk Food for the Soul

When I was very young my mother

would take me shopping. Stores were

wonderful, appealing places, filled with

brightly-labeled boxes and cans. It was

always fun to see what was there,

especially when Mom would allow me to

choose the food we were going to eat.

There was something to appeal to every

appetite. Invariably I would get fixated on

food items that weren't very healthy for

me or for the family. Given the choice, I

would fill the cart with sugary, addictive

things that provided a quick fill and little nutritive value.

There's no doubt that Mom knew how important it was for kids to make choices, but fortunately she was there to provide some guidance as well. It was nice for everyone to have the occasional treat, but more important for me to choose food that would make the whole family healthier. The manufacturers of the addictive foods thought our health was not as important as keeping me coming back for more.

I hope there's something in this story that rings true to everyone. Someone once said that "you can never get enough of what you don't need." It seems fair to apply that concept to voters. Some of our American brothers and sisters keep choosing the equivalent of political junk food. The manufacturers have kept it flowing for decades and they've found their target consumers. They offer sweets, fats, and frosting that addict but never satisfy.

As you eat political junk food you become weaker and unattractive, you lose self-confidence, and you become desperate to identify with other victims. Worse yet, you care less about the well-being of anyone but yourself. The junk food purveyors feel your discontent and that of everyone in your group. They'll tell you it's not your fault, it's those people who make you feel envious. Those few skinny, healthy, happy, naïve people.

Envy is a soul-crushing, ugly poison. It's never led me anywhere but down. Likewise, getting even will never make you happy. Anyone who uses envy to motivate your vote doesn't care about you, your well-being, or the happiness of your family. They want you addicted for.ev.er. So if you're part of a disadvantaged group, please, please do some shopping. Don't go back to the same snack bar where they claim to feel your pain.

You are an individual. Browse, search, and shop for what makes you and everyone else more healthy, independent, and capable. And lay off the junk food.

Why anyone can rise to their full potential

   Can anyone rise to their full potential? Many of us would think not. And they have compelling evidence. Some of us are born into a poverty-stricken or abusive home; others have to deal with a poor-quality education and are less able to succeed in school. Many of us have health problems; others are born into countries in this world where one's right to choose their own destiny is not respected nor recognized. A lot of us accept this as justification to prove that some people just 'aren't lucky' or are disadvantaged. Such reasoning is false. Though many of us are disadvantaged in certain areas, each and every one of us can still rise to our full potential. In this essay, I hope to explain why this is so and reveal why this issue is more tied into our current issues and future well-being than we might think.

   In order to illustrate my point (and show how this is connected to present-day political topics), let's take a look at the issue revolving around the wealthy vs. the needy. Some of us believe that success requires wealth and affluence. For example, if someone is born into an impoverished family with abusive parents, one would expect that person's life to progress like this: they go to school, get bad grades, get bullied, bully others, don't go to college, don't get a job, and end up homeless, living in the forest and possibly asking for government assistance. Because of this, one would describe this person as 'unlucky'. Is this fair? Some historical figures that many of us consider heroes, in fact, came from a simple background.

   Consider Abraham Lincoln, who was born out in a log cabin in Kentucky (which was the frontier at the time) into a simple, hard-working family. He was not rich or wealthy by any means. His actual education, in total, summed up to less than a year. Yet, he rose beyond his circumstances. Lincoln largely taught himself by reading from books. He worked hard around the home. And because of his initiative, he embarked on a life journey that took him out of the backwoods of Kentucky, into Illinois, and eventually, to the White House at a time when the country was on the verge of falling apart. Abraham Lincoln started as a farmer, but ultimately became a soldier (in the Black Hawk War, though he saw no actual fighting), a lawyer, a congressman, and finally, president of the United States. Abraham Lincoln led the nation through its largest test of unity and sacrifice, and it was because of him that the Union remained united and the slaves were freed. There were countless others like him, people who were born in log cabins with very little. Many of these people stayed where they were at; some probably died in the same cabin in which they were born. Lincoln was different. He ended with much more than he started with, and it was largely because of his ingenuity that the United States remains a united nation today, where we can experience the same blessings of freedom, self-determination and potential opportunity that enabled him to become a great man and leader.

   Who could have guessed that Ben Carson, born in a very "disadvantaged" background in which he did poorly in school and did not know how to read, would rise to become a great neurosurgeon and potential 2016 presidential candidate? Yet, it still happened. Ben Carson's mother, determined to give her children better opportunities in life, forced them to turn off the TV and learn to read. Soon, Ben Carson learned to love reading. He shot ahead in school, rising to become a great student. Today, he is a well-known neurosurgeon and has recently been a subject of great presidential speculation.

   Besides Abraham Lincoln and Ben Carson, there are millions of Americans who started off with simple means and rose to become something more. This is the reality of the American Dream; anyone, no matter what background they came from, has the potential to succeed. True, not all of us start out with the best of conditions, but ultimately, those of us who work harder to succeed will receive a greater moral boost in self-confidence and determination. After all, if a farmer from Kentucky or a boy from Detroit can rise to become president of the United States or a record-breaking neurosurgeon, surely those same people can achieve anything else they set out to do in life. This system of belief is stronger when we work more diligently; thus, while some of us need to work harder than others to get to a higher spot, those of us who work harder will ultimately be able to do more and more.

   These ideas form the basis of the American Dream. It is the reality of freedom and the right to the pursuit of happiness that has transformed the lives of millions of Americans in the past and here in the present. It is also the ingredient to the reaction that took America from being a handful of rebellious, rival colonies to the world's greatest economic, technological and military superpower. Furthermore, the nations of Europe, along with many nations throughout the world, have had the opportunity to accept the ideas of the American Dream along with the spread of freedom. This is how Japan and Germany rose from being tyranny-stricken, war-devastated and fallen empires to becoming economic giants within a matter of decades. Because of the embracement of the American Dream by many countries, billions of people now enjoy comforts and blessings that their great-grandparents never would have dreamt possible.

   Sadly, the widespread belief among many of us that the disadvantaged "cannot succeed" and the worship of the concept of luck is what condemns many people to failure. These people believe that, because of their background, they cannot possibly become who they want to be. Because of this, they simply give up, lay back and expect some "better-off guy" to come take care of them. And some people who are affluent take advantage of this. They prey on the false beliefs and oftentimes self-imposed failures of these individuals by catering to their "needs". By doing so, the "unlucky" become dependent on these "lucky" people, who in reality are preventing them from succeeding. Thus, we have programs such as government welfare that don't make the disadvantaged any better-off or able to rise beyond their current state. This has an unfortunate effect that keeps many of us at home and abroad trapped where we start. In many cases, this is why "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer."

   It is important for people to recognize that they have the ability to rise to their full potential. This is the same way that Abraham Lincoln, Ben Carson and countless others have become great leaders and inspirational examples. For all we know, there may be a Lincoln, or a Ben Carson, or a George Washington, Winston Churchill or Ronald Reagan among us somewhere. They could be rich or poor. They could be White, Hispanic, African-American, or Asian-American. They could have a disability. They could be Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Atheist. Yet, no matter what their background may be, their potential still exists, and the key to saving our future might rest in the hands of these individuals, just as it has with people in the past.

Bibliography:

•  Abraham Lincoln Biography
• A Real Education - Abraham Lincoln Biography
• Ben Carson Biography

"Don't Give up the Truth!" - How the War of 1812 really happened

USS Constitution vs HMS Guerriere by Michel Felice Corne

   The War of 1812, as many other figures have stated, is one of the most ignored, forgotten or distorted major events in American history. Most Americans know that Washington D.C. was burned and that the war took place in 1812. And that's pretty much it. Yet, the War of 1812, though relatively small in scale and not an outright military victory for the United States or the United Kingdom, goes far beyond that. How many people know that American forces invaded Canada multiple times, and once burned Toronto (then called York), part of the reason that the British torched the White House? How many of us know anything about the naval combat during the war, such as the stories regarding the USS Constitution, the Battle of Lake Erie, the Battle of Lake Champlain, or James Lawrence's defeat by HMS Shannon ("Don't give up the Ship!")? The War of 1812 did not create a Canadian national anthem, yet the war is better known and more revered by Canadians than Americans. The War of 1812 is one of the most important conflicts we've ever waged (for Americans, and for Canadians I suppose), and few in the United States seem to know anything more than basic details about it!

   Go ask one of your friends about the War of 1812, and there's a good chance that they either won't know anything about it (except that it happened in 1812) or have made up their own version of events. Go to any website or source on the war, and it will likely either say that the British won, or the Americans won.

   In reality, neither side won! And neither side lost. Neither side really accomplished their original goals, and the Americans did not surrender land to Britain, nor vice versa. In order to make this judgement, let us first cover the history of the War of 1812. I will do my best to represent both sides of the conflict fairly.

   What caused the war?

   In the early 19th century, the United Kingdom was at war with Napoleonic France. This almost constant state of war would not end until 1815. During this period, both countries tried to weaken each other economically. Napoleon's Continental System led to France and much of Napoleonic-controlled continental Europe refusing to trade with Britain; as a result, France seized American merchant ships that had been trading with Britain. The British tried to stop neutral countries from trading with France, and thus seized neutral ships as well, including American merchant vessels.

   At first the United States tried using trade restrictions and embargoes to solve the problem regarding British and French maritime attacks; these efforts ultimately failed. Later, the US Government tried to play Britain and France off against each other in competition for American trade, saying that if one side ended restrictions on trade, then the US would refuse to trade with the other side. This, too, failed. On top of these issues, the British, needing more manpower at sea, impressed American sailors, forcing them into the Royal Navy. Meanwhile, British agents stirred up trouble between American settlers and native tribes in the "Old Northwest" (now present-day Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan), largely in order to halt American westward expansion and to create a native american buffer state for the protection of British Canada. Eventually, these combined tensions would set off the war; Congress declared war on Britain on June 18, 1812.

   Neither country was prepared for war. The US Army and Navy were both very small, and the government was not ready or in a good position to command a war effort. On the other hand, the British were concentrated on their ongoing fight against Napoleon, which was much larger in scale and closer to home (for the British, not the Canadian colonists) than the War of 1812 would ever be.

   1812

  The fighting on land soon began. The British captured the American fort on Mackinac Island (in Michigan), as the defenders had not received notice of the war. American General William Hull invaded Canada from Michigan, yet he was cautious and easily intimidated by the smaller British force moving towards him under General Isaac Brock. He retreated to Detroit and ended up surrendering the city and his army to the British without a fight (even though the British were outnumbered). Further west, Fort Dearborn (now Chicago) was captured by the Potawatomi. Large parts of the northwest had fallen under British and/or Native American control, and it appeared as though the first year of the war on land went poorly for the United States. American attacks further east against Canada also failed, and British general Isaac Brock gave his life while repelling an American invasion at the Battle of Queenston Heights.

   At sea, things went better for the United States. Though the British would tighten their blockade throughout the war, the Americans won several morale-boosting ship-to-ship victories, notably with the USS Constitution vs. HMS Guerriere and USS United States vs. HMS Macedonian duels. American commanders Isaac Hull and Stephen Decatur became national heroes.

   1813

   In 1813, both sides had mixed success. In the west, the British and their native allies assaulted Fort Meigs, and were repulsed, though many Americans were killed in the River Raisin Massacre. Henry Procter, the new British regional commander, tried to attack small Fort Stephenson on the Sandusky River in Ohio. William Henry Harrison, the American regional commander and future president (for one month) ordered the fort's commander, George Croghan, to abandon the fort. He refused, and with just 160 defenders managed to repel a British/Native American force nearly 10 times larger, thereby saving the American supply depots on the river and making Croghan a hero.

   On the Niagara front, American forces under Winfield Scott launched an amphibious assault against Fort George, capturing it. When the Americans planned to move deeper into the Niagara Peninsula, Laura Secord, a local resident who had been born in Massachusetts, walked 20 miles to warn the British defenders. This enabled the British and their Native American allies to stop the American force at the Battle of Beaver Dams. Further east, an American fleet under Commodore Isaac Chauncey crossed Lake Ontario and landed a force of US troops commanded by explorer and General Zebulon Pike at Toronto, then York, the capital of Upper Canada. The British defenders were outnumbered and in the ensuing battle, the city was captured; however, a magazine exploded, killing Pike. American troops sacked and plundered the city, which in part led to the actions of the British in Washington D.C. the following year. A British attack on Sacket's Harbor (in New York) was repulsed, yet an American advance on Montreal later in the year was beaten back as well.

   Late in 1813, the British made significant advances, occupying Fort Niagara and attacking Buffalo and Black Rock, New York. Perhaps the most notable American victory along the US-Canada border that year was when an American fleet on Lake Erie under Oliver Hazard Perry defeated its British counterpart under Robert Barclay, thus securing control of the lake for the United States and allowing General William Henry Harrison to re-occupy Detroit and enter Ontario, where he defeated General Procter and Tecumseh at the Battle of the Thames. This left part of Ontario in American hands for the rest of the war; Tecumseh's death in the battle broke the power of his pro-British native american confederacy.

   In the meantime, American commander Isaac Chauncey and British commander James Yeo failed to fight a decisive battle for control of Lake Ontario. The British, having been embarrassed by several naval defeats, tightened their blockade of the eastern seaboard, grouped their ships together, and took measures to prevent their frigates from going one-on-one against the biggest American frigates (USS Constitution, USS United States and USS President). The British won a victory when the HMS Shannon under Philip Broke captured the USS Chesapeake, which was commanded by James Lawrence, near Boston. The USS Essex, under the command of David Porter, sailed into the Pacific and attacked Britain's whaling fleet, causing considerable damage until being defeated by the British in the Battle of Valparaiso (1814).

   During the spring and summer of 1813, the British under Rear Admiral George Cockburn raided the Chesapeake Bay region, hitting small towns and fighting with local militia. Beaten at the Battle of Craney Island, the British did some more raiding before withdrawing, in part due to the summer heat. They would be back the following year.

   1814

    In 1814, the war was still largely stalemated, with neither side gaining the upper hand. However, Napoleon's defeat in Europe freed up British forces to be redeployed to North America. In the summer of 1814, the British would launch a multi-pronged invasion of the United States, with the hope of overwhelming the young nation. A British force struck Maine (then part of Massachussets); meeting only weak resistance, they had no trouble occupying the northern parts of the state.

   This was but a small part of Britain's grand offensive, as a force under General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral George Cockburn landed in the Chesapeake. Advancing on a poorly-defended Washington D.C., the veteran British defeated a larger American force of mostly militia at the Battle of Bladensburg. This enabled them to enter the nation's capital, where they torched the White House and Capitol Building, among others. Pushed out by a storm, the British marched on to Baltimore. A smaller American force delayed the British attack at the Battle of North Point (General Ross was killed here), while a British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry. To the joy of the Americans and to the dismay of the British, the fort didn't fall, and the sight of the raised American flag inspired a captive Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner", the American national anthem. The British withdrew from the region, never to return.

   Up north, the British invaded New York, with a force better than 10,000 troops. But on Lake Champlain, an American squadron under Thomas Macdonough overcame their British counterpart, led by George Downey. This forced the Britsh invasion force to retreat back to Canada.

   Until this event, the British had demanded substantial American cessions in exchange for peace, including a creation of a Native American buffer state, territorial gains for Canada and an American surrender of the Louisiana territory. However, the latest American victories, combined with British losses at Fort Erie in Canada and Fort Bowyer in the South, along with heavy economic losses for both sides, convinced the British to withdraw most of their demands in the peace negotiations at Ghent, in present-day Belgium. The resulting Treaty of Ghent was signed in December of 1814. Captured territories were returned to their rightful owners, and the war would end when both countries ratified the treaty. Yet, at that time, communication took much longer; therefore, the combat would continue into 1815.

   Final Battles

   Another British invasion, aimed at New Orleans, had been meant to give Britain an advantage in the peace negotiations. Neither the Americans nor the British in the region had gotten word that the war was over, therefore the British attack commenced as planned. However, General Andrew Jackson "Old Hickory", who had defeated the native Creek allies of the British, was waiting. In the January 1815 Battle of New Orleans, General Jackson's outnumbered and heterogeneously-mixed force crushed the redcoats, inflicting heavy casualties and a devastating defeat on the British and solidifying American control of the region.

   At sea, the USS President, under Stephen Decatur, attempted to break through the blockade. The plan failed, and Decatur was forced to surrender the ship to a British squadron. Finally, in the Indian Ocean, the British Nautilus was captured by USS Peacock.

   Analysis

   By no means have I mentioned all the battles of the War of 1812, on land or at sea. There are many more stories of heroism, courage and suspense from characters on both sides. However, this summary should be enough for us to judge the results.

   It appears as though both sides gained several different points of leverage over the other. For example, on land, the British held parts of Maine and the Old Northwest (such as Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin), yet the Americans held parts of Canada (for example, in southern Ontario) and controlled Lake Erie. The British imposed a blockade on the eastern seaboard which choked the US economy, yet, American raids and privateer attacks, such as those of USS Essex and USS Argus, inflicted heavy damage on British shipping.

   Though the Americans won some of the battles in Canadian territory, they never managed to capture any important cities such as Montreal or Kingston. On the other hand, the British never took any important American cities of the time, such as New Orleans or Baltimore. These facts present the truth: the war was a stalemate. Neither side won, and neither side lost. Both sides had great victories and suffered crushing defeats. Neither side got exactly what they wanted out of the war. Britain kept control of Canada, and America preserved its independence.

   It's sad and regrettable that so many Americans have forgotten about the importance of this war in the foundation of our country. The impact of the War of 1812 ranks up there with the Revolution and the Civil War because it was America's first big test as a nation. Several important questions were asked. Could the states of the United States, not yet fully united, work together? Was the United States strong enough to preserve its independence and repel a foreign invasion? Would the United States be able to muster heroes of courage and determination when they were needed? To sum it all up, could the United States press onward as a nation, with its independence intact, even when challenged by a powerful nation such as the British Empire?

   Imagine for a second that the United States did lose the War of 1812. What if the British had captured Baltimore? What if the British won the Battle of Lake Champlain, marched down through New York, and cut the country to pieces? Even if the United States had remained independent, it would have been forced to accept Britain's terms. The United States might've lost northern New York and Maine, perhaps even the vast territories of the Louisiana Purchase. The pro-British and federalist New England, far from being disgraced, would have been, politically, on the winning side. It would be the United States, the Democratic-Republican Party, and James Madison who would have been ashamed.

   The United States may have fragmented, with New England seceding to start its own country or perhaps even rejoin the British Empire. This would be seen as proof that the United States was a failure. With state sovereignty still a popular idea at the time, it is possible that the union would have dissolved into independent states. Without being united, America would have become an impoverished nation, dominated by rivalry, despotism and war. One of the founding fathers' greatest fears may have come to pass.

   On the other hand, a defeat for the United States in the War of 1812 might have had the same effect that defeat in World War I had on Germany. Defeated, Americans may have been easy converts for some demagogue who would have promised revenge and glory. Perhaps this demagogue would have taken over the government, destroyed our democratic institutions, and transformed the nation into a militant police state. The United States would not have become a land of opportunity, a place for which millions were willing to risk everything to come and start their lives anew. America's abundant resources might have been used instead to build up a powerful military. This demagogue-leader could've then launched a new war with the United Kingdom, a war for revenge and retribution, a war which might have brought devastation and tragedy to everyone involved.

   In conclusion, the War of 1812 was immensely important in creating an American identity. The fact that our national anthem comes from it is only a small part. Rather than accomplishing any of the goals that our leaders at the time sought to (for example, we failed to conquer Canada), the United States preserved its freedom, gained international respect, and was able to expand in its own right. Had the War of 1812 gone differently, our country would not be the same. Therefore, it would be a sincere sign of gratitude if more Americans would take the time to know at least the basic facts about this forgotten war.

Bibliography:

• The War of 1812, still seeking a little respect
• 10 Things You May Not Know About the War of 1812
• War of 1812 - History Channel
• Ships of Oak, Guns of Iron: The War of 1812 and the Forging of the American Navy, by Dr. Ronald Utt
• Wikipedia
• War of 1812 picture

Does the United States Military need to be reinvigorated?

   The United States Military is a constantly changing force: it's had a long road of ups and downs. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War era, in peacetime, the military was small (10,000 or so active army personnel at most) and very much volunteer-based. During the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War, the size of the army swelled, yet when peace returned, the military would shrink back down to a tiny size. This trend of having a small, volunteer force that would be expanded during wartime would persist all the way until World War II. Before that war, our military started out rather small (even smaller than Romania's), yet by the end of the war, over 16 million Americans had served in all branches of the armed forces. However, this time, our military did not shrink back down. The Cold War had started, and the United States, for the first time in history, had abandoned its isolationist stance. America was now a world superpower, and it would be hard to maintain that role if Romania's army was still larger than ours! Therefore, throughout the Cold War years, the United States Military was a much-bigger and full-time obligation (it was active and large in times of peace and in times of war). At the end of the Vietnam War, conscription ended and the United States has maintained an all-volunteer military ever since. And though the United States has not been involved in a major war since Vietnam (or possibly World War II depending on how you look at it), millions of Americans have proudly served their country, and some have died fighting not only for our security and freedom, but for that of others as well. All Americans owe them, big time.

   Throughout American society, respect for the military and for the flag has fallen. Many people have accepted what they hear in schools and from others - that the United States is an evil, imperialist nation, and that the military is America's way of exercising its power. In other words, some people have decided that our veterans are not honorable American citizens who risk their lives to protect the freedom of their country and that of other countries. Rather, they believe that our soldiers are part of an imperialist organization seeking to dominate the globe, starting with Afghanistan (supposedly because we want to steal their oil). This disrespect towards our country and its veterans is widespread not only throughout society, but also within our government, where some of our politicians are working hard, not to defend the United States, but to offend it.

   Right now, the United States Military is being downsized. If current plans move forward unimpeded, our army's size will fall to pre-World War II levels within the next few years (about 490,000 personnel in the army). Our navy, air force, and nuclear arsenal are also being downsized. Our military is not prepared to fight on a global scale; while we have bases and troops in a large portion of the world's countries, we do not have the manpower and readiness to fight wars in faraway regions. As a nation, we have failed to put sufficient emphasis in maintaining our military strength or in increasing our capabilities in cyber or space warfare. Instead of spending enough of our money on this country's and its citizens' safety and security, we are pouring vast amounts of taxpayers' money into failed government programs that have no satisfactory effect in relieving our nation's economy or the millions of Americans that live in poverty.

   Meanwhile, countries such as Russia and China have vastly improved their military capabilities. China, empowered by its growing economy, is building a very large and increasingly-more modern military. While our nuclear stockpile dwindles, slowly but surely growing outdated, Russia is continually creating newer and more powerful nuclear warheads. If this pattern continues, the Russians might eventually build up the nuclear superiority that will allow them to launch a successful first strike on us. As the United States Navy shrinks, the People's Liberation Army Navy (the PRC's navy) is growing. If nothing changes, then the Chinese will have a larger navy than the United States by 2020. And contrary to popular belief, China's strengths don't lie solely in the large numbers of people that they can put into the field. The Chinese are not building a huge fleet of canoes! They are creating a powerful, modern fleet that will include aircraft carriers. Already, their navy has made them powerful enough to essentially control the East China Sea, and they are aggressively moving to secure disputed islands around them, such as the Senkaku Islands (disputed by China and Japan). Our regional allies (Japan, South Korea, Philippines), which have failed to receive sufficient support and a credible guarantee of protection from the United States, would be wise to negotiate with China in order to try and get the best possible deal that they can. Right now, our allies have no reason to have any confidence in us; we have let them down.

   Here in America, I have been repeatedly assured that the United States is so much stronger than everyone else that we don't need to worry. This reasoning likely comes from the fact that Americans feel so safe and secure. The last time that a foreign power threatened our country's existence was about two centuries ago, during the War of 1812. During World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, the United States was secure not only because of its military might, but also due to the fact that America's enemies were usually on the other side of the world, not right next door. As an American, I feel that it is a blessing to live in a safe and secure place (a blessing which most other people don't have). This is why I believe that America needs a stronger military! We cannot assume that because we currently have the world's most powerful military, we have justification to be able to sleep and relax. The reason is obvious; other countries will catch up to us! Consider this example: let's say you are the coach of a college basketball team. You are in charge of a group of professional, highly-trained and skilled players. In a tournament, your team is unstoppable; you haven't lost a single game. Then, the season ends. You decide that because your team beat every other team, your team is the best and the strongest out there, and that's all there is to it. Your team is so much better than all the others that you don't need to worry. Because of this logic, your team doesn't practice at all in the off-season. You and your players go home, throw a party, and eat donuts. While you are partying and relaxing, your competition, players from the rival teams, spend the off-season training and practicing. As your team's skills and greatness falter, your enemies are working hard and improving. By the time the next season begins, do you think that your team will still be the best?

   After hearing of such a story on the radio, Americans would be likely to laugh about this team's unwise decisions. Yet, by deciding that we don't need to improve our military capabilities in order to maintain our lead, we are doing essentially the same thing (except with far worse consequences). Many of the people that we meet everyday are aware that China has a larger army than we do; yet, too many of these people dismiss this concern. They assume that because we are America, and we have the world's best technology, we would emerge victorious in a conflict. Such logic is ludicrous. Yes, the United States is the world's leader in technology - for now. Yet, China is quickly catching up. They are building a powerful and modern military that, within a few years, might be technologically equal to our own. Their economy is quickly growing, and by some estimates, their economy may surpass ours as soon as 2016! As Dinesh D'Souza notes, economic superiority leads to military and political dominance, which China ultimately wants to grab for itself at our expense. And the fact that the Chinese have four times our population makes their advantage in any future conflict undeniable. China has hundreds of millions of people to fill not only jobs that power the Chinese economy, but also the ranks of the People's Liberation Army. The cost to them of fielding an individual soldier is far less than it is to us. Because of this, China will have not only a huge manpower advantage over us, but they would be fighting us on equal technological terms and with a larger economy, which is key to waging war. Furthermore, an American war effort would be hampered by several facts. First, our likely-outnumbered navy is and would be split between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. By contrast, the Chinese can concentrate all their strength against us in the Pacific Ocean. Second, lots of Americans would be less-than-willing to fight; a draft would not be acceptable to them, whether we were invading China or the Chinese were invading us. Why? For the same reason behind the common belief that America's military does not need to be strengthened. Too many of us have this idea that we shouldn't need to fight, because, as members of this free and comfortable society, we have grown beyond these things. We feel entitled to have our defense provided for us; it's the government's job to protect us, right? On the contrary, most of the Russians and Chinese people don't have this entitlement issue: they are patriotic and proud to serve their country, whether or not the choice is theirs to make. Furthermore, while the mainland United States has been largely undisturbed by foreign attacks for 200 years, Russia has seen invasions by Germany (twice), and China had to fight off colonialism and the massive Japanese invasion during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-45); all of these events happened in this same 200-year period alone. All these wars have ultimately taken tens of millions of Russian and Chinese lives (not to mention, both countries suffered massive economic and infrastructural damage in World War II), while the War of 1812, by contrast, resulted in a few thousand American deaths. As such, it is no wonder that many Americans would be less willing and less prepared to fight than their potential foes (considering how current events are playing out) would be.

   America, though a strong nation, is not invincible. By staying on the same path, our government is going to jeopardize our national security and the aspirations of future generations. History has proven over and over that military disarmament does not work. Our enemies will seize upon our weakness, and we will be in a bad spot to respond. Ultimately, Americans might end up sacrificing their security, future happiness, and possibly even their freedom by doing nothing to stop our government's downsizing of the military. If we sit back, do nothing, and allow current trends to move forward unimpeded, we will lose our military superiority. Our influence around the world will crumble, and no one will be safe. Everyone in the world will be negatively affected by this. Without the assistance of a strong United States, there's a good chance that the citizens of our allies might wake up one morning to find, say, Iranian or North Korean paratroopers landing in their backyard. Even the country/ies that would replace the United States as the world's superpower/s would be worse off, as the citizens of these countries would likely be living under a constant state of war and destruction. In the last few years, while America has been sleeping, we've seen that our current rivals don't make the best babysitters. Our isolationism in recent years has only caused the world's hot spots to burn with fire and become more deadly. This goes to show why strong American leadership is needed. Only in a western-led world will the rights of an ordinary person to carve out an extraordinary life be respected. Such a goal is not a priority for our rivals.

   In conclusion, the United States Military needs re-invigoration. America is the world's only superpower, but we will need a powerful military in order to continue in this function. Other countries are rising, and if we continue to do nothing to stop our own decline, we will fall behind. And if that happens, our future may be destroyed.

Bibliography:

• World War II: The American Draft--Military Conscription
• The Equilibrium of East Asia
• Mitt Romney: The need for a mighty U.S. military
• America: Imagine the world without her, by Dinesh D'Souza

Why American Patriotism is important

Abraham Lincoln by Mathew Brady

   In the modern era, American patriotism appears to be on the decline. It is increasingly being replaced by a belief that critical thinking is needed to truly evaluate the impact that we have on the world and whether or not we are morally-led.  But is this true? Has American patriotism expired as an acceptable ideology in our politically-correct world? Does it promote a sense of unhealthy pride which inflates America's ego? Is it still important for Americans to be patriotic?

   What many of us have forgotten is that patriotism was essential for the creation of the United States today as we know it. The liberties, security, and rights which we possess today would not be possible were it not for such a force. In the early years of America's existence, patriotism played a key role in both the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States Constitution. During our Civil War, patriotism was, more than anything else, the essential motivation that led to the northern victory. Northern soldiers did not go to war to free the slaves. The reason that northern soldiers fought was to save the Union. The cause of the Union supported a common and popular interest in defending one's home, preserving freedoms, and promoting unity and the public welfare. These aspirations, regardless of who they belonged to or their specifics, all had one thing in common, and that was their common parent: patriotism.

   In fact, the North could not have won the Civil War without patriotism. No other ideological force of the time had a basis on common ground sufficient to unite a large section of the American populace, from merchants in the Northeast to settlers in California and pro-Union citizens of West Virginia. During the war, Abraham Lincoln headed a powerful but fragile coalition, consisting of people belonging to the Republican and Democratic parties, border and free states. All these people had different beliefs and agendas, but they all supported Lincoln and the Northern war effort. They all wanted the Union to succeed, and many of these people were willing to work together and cast aside conflicting issues to make sure this happened. Had it not been for the unifying force of patriotism, there would've been little to hold these people together. Lincoln would not have a coalition on his side, and he surely would've been bogged down and held back by strong political opposition.

   Though patriotism has allowed for the creation and preservation of this country, couldn't the same be said for everyone? Didn't nationalism and faith in one's nation help the United States to survive the Revolution, the Civil War, and the Second World War in the same way that it motivated communist partisans to liberate Yugoslavia from the Germans, or Vietnam from Western influence? After all, the fact that patriotism can win wars doesn't guarantee that it passes the moral test. For all we know, American patriotism could be a force which misleads us to fight for wrong causes.

   In order to answer such questions, we can look back to the time in which the United States gained independence from the British Empire. During the 18th century, the world was dominated by conflict, rivalry, turmoil, and social strife. Interests in military and economic dominance drove world powers during that time. Monarchs and despots controlled nearly all available power and wealth of the time, and the possibility of a true, functioning democracy had been dead for centuries. It was certainly a dark and unforgiving time.

   Yet, the American Revolution would eventually come to change much of this. Starting as loyal British subjects, the rebelling colonists soon changed their demands from simple autonomy to full independence. The Declaration of Independence challenged the traditional social and political order of the time in a way that dwarfed the impact of the Reformation and any other previous upheavals. The Americans' cause for freedom so inspired the world that it led wealthy statesmen and military masterminds alike to travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic to join in their cause. Just a few decades later, a similar wave of inspired revolutions swept Latin America and Europe, resulting in independence and freedom for many nations that are part of our modern world. American patriotism became part of a new kind of global patriotism which emphasizes self-determination, equal rights and opportunities instead of competition and rivalry.

   Like everyone, Americans have erred on numerous occasions, often with a patriotic fervor. Critics point out that we have often intervened abroad in the name of exporting democracy, while keeping out immigrants who have been seen as being "un-American". Such wrongs, and others like them, are not excusable; we should certainly strive not to repeat similar mistakes in the future. However, the answer is not to abandon the ideology of patriotism. In fact, being patriotic can help create a brighter future. Because American patriotism emphasizes a commitment to protecting the rights and liberties of all, along with the recognition and respect of the fact that we get to live in this country, we can teach our children to honor such blessings. By doing so, our descendants will be more likely to preserve the free world which we have inherited, and they may also strive to extend such freedoms and rights to those who do not yet enjoy them.

   Right now, America is facing a moral crisis not seen since the Civil War. We have heard cases that support American success and potential, along with our demonstrated fallibility. Yet, our imperfection should not cause us to lose hope and destroy ourselves in order to do the world a service. If we drop our commitment to maintaining our own freedoms and extending them to others, we will be eliminating our own country as a source of light and hope for billions of people around the world who are trapped behind walls of darkness. Rather than limiting our potential, we should focus on expanding it in order to make a better future possible.

Bibliography:

• Abraham Lincoln portrait