Obama and the republic

Johan Galtung argues that there are two faces to the United States — there’s the empire, and there’s the republic.

As a Latin American, I grew up listening to tales of the empire. The US government conspired to topple democratically-elected presidents, supported dictators, extracted resources and treated the region as its backyard. I was hardly impressed.

At the same time, the ideals on which the US was founded are noble. The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are at the core of US idealism, and it is an amazing set of beliefs.

George W. Bush brought out some of the nastier elements of the US empire. It reminded us that after the cold war, the US could act unilaterally, that it would behave in its own interest, and the rest of the world would have to adapt. It didn’t sound so different from tales of US interference in Latin America. No wonder we hesitated.

Obama stands as a reminder that there is more to the US than its imperial face. The republic lives on, and he’s proof of the best side of this country, its virtues and merits.

It’s impossible to expect Obama to govern without having to run the empire. He will certainly get his hands dirty, and engage with the less-appealing aspects of ruling the only super-power in the world.

But, yes, you did. You reminded the rest of us that the United States has multiple faces. Those of us who are used to seeing the empire saw the United States in this election for its humanity.