America today stands at a crossroads, one that questions the very legitimacy and longevity of its imperial hegemony. As a Korean American studying in the U.S., I worry that I am committing myself to a country that is now a falling order, an imploding structure.
Several questions must be asked. American scientists are some of the smartest, and its economy is unparalleled in size ― how is it, then, that it has failed so miserably in responding to this virus? The U.S. harbors some of the largest tech giants, too ― why is it, then, that even basic tech infrastructure for contact tracing is lacking?
What is really challenged here is American ideology. Consider how Congress paid for a $2.4 trillion stimulus package when it could not afford basic needs, such as testing and masks.
The priority here was placed not on public health, but on economic progress. Unfortunately, in this pursuit of economy over public health, the U.S. lost both, posing a great challenge of legitimacy to the American neoliberal ethic.
And why are Americans so uniquely against wearing masks? Consider, here, the importance of Black Lives Matter and "defund the police." The preaching for freedom by anti-mask conservatives is most confusing because many Americans are not guaranteed a fundamental freedom to live.
In no other first-world country is it imaginable that police can kill their detainees, regardless of how severe the crime committed. Of course, many police killings "unfortunately" represent a Freudian slip of the racist ego. Make no mistake: Freedom in America is two-faced, serving special interests.
The internal contradictions of America are now surfacing, for all the world to see. The legitimacy of an American order is challenged now more than ever before. It is just ironic that this is the result of an attempt to "Make America Great Again."
Jeffrey Park
Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley
Several questions must be asked. American scientists are some of the smartest, and its economy is unparalleled in size ― how is it, then, that it has failed so miserably in responding to this virus? The U.S. harbors some of the largest tech giants, too ― why is it, then, that even basic tech infrastructure for contact tracing is lacking?
What is really challenged here is American ideology. Consider how Congress paid for a $2.4 trillion stimulus package when it could not afford basic needs, such as testing and masks.
The priority here was placed not on public health, but on economic progress. Unfortunately, in this pursuit of economy over public health, the U.S. lost both, posing a great challenge of legitimacy to the American neoliberal ethic.
And why are Americans so uniquely against wearing masks? Consider, here, the importance of Black Lives Matter and "defund the police." The preaching for freedom by anti-mask conservatives is most confusing because many Americans are not guaranteed a fundamental freedom to live.
In no other first-world country is it imaginable that police can kill their detainees, regardless of how severe the crime committed. Of course, many police killings "unfortunately" represent a Freudian slip of the racist ego. Make no mistake: Freedom in America is two-faced, serving special interests.
The internal contradictions of America are now surfacing, for all the world to see. The legitimacy of an American order is challenged now more than ever before. It is just ironic that this is the result of an attempt to "Make America Great Again."
Jeffrey Park
Graduate of the University of California, Berkeley
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