AMERICAN ARROGANCE HAS NO LIMITS
As a European my perspective on life and the world will always differ from American. However, as a Polish, growing up in a somewhat communist system, the American view of the world and its dynamics as well as their own part in it, will always seem a bit offensive.
I say “somewhat communist” because I didn’t experience the really bad part of it since most of my childhood fell into the 80s, when things had a slightly different character. Of course the 80s are the decade when huge changes occurred, and especially in Poland with the nearly civil war and the government’s implementing marshal law (pretty scary for a six year old kid) and all the movements that eventually led to abolishing this ‘evil’ system… But I’m not trying to give you a history lecture here…
As a Polish, I must admit we have a pretty good amount of national pride (which isn’t always the best of things; depending on the circumstances) and I’m pretty sure that if you asked anyone on the streets of Poland who was responsible for the fall of communism, the answer definitely won’t be ‘Americans’ (contrary to what some Americans may believe). And if you even suggest that these life altering changes occurred because of the American involvement, you may get some offensive reactions.
Somehow Americans do think they enabled many events all over the world in the course of history. They seem to think they won World War II, abolished communism in Europe, brought down the Berlin wall, reestablished the eastern European borders and defeated the Soviets (just to mention a few). And meanwhile all the European nations were just sitting back and allowing the mighty Americans to come and save the day. Please!
Americans turned their heads away while people were being killed during WWII for nearly three years before they decided to act. Don’t be fooled though! The only reason Americans got involved at that point was because it suddenly hit home (remember Pear Harbor?). So when I hear how Americans supposedly saved us (poor wretched people) from the Soviets, my blood starts boiling and I feel like screaming! If that is so, where the hell were you in the 50s and 60s when thousands of Polish citizens were killed or imprisoned for opposing communism?! Oh, yeah… I forgot… You were liberating the people of Korea and then Vietnam (even though nobody asked you to).
What I have a problem with is the fact that Americans seem to have appointed themselves saviors of the world, and this somehow gives them the right to meddle in everybody’s business? (which I fail to see)… And this conviction of theirs that if it wasn’t for the mighty Americans the world would be in shambles…Seriously! America really hardly ever does things out of goodness of its hearts (unless there’s something to be gained there, that is).
And this is why I say American arrogance has no limits and at times borders on offensive. But then again, I am Polish and, of course, my perspective on life is shadowed by my upbringing so what do I know, right?
Hello, I am writing a history paper on a similar topic about America’s arrogance on war. (specifically on WW2–how they were engaged after Pearl Harbor) However, I can not find any source about how much America was notified about holocaust and others. Can you share any sources that you may have found through my email. Thank you.
I am terribly sorry that I cannot be of much help on the topic but most of my thoughts for the article are just that. I have not based it on a historical research but mainly on my observations of the issues. And as far as this topic is concerned, i suppose most of it would simply be one’s observations and conclusions taken from the facts. Good luck on the paper. And thank you for reading my blog.