Watching America has a superb article from the Le Monde Diplomatique, “Scheherazade in the White House”, inspired from a quote from a Presidential Adviser in 2002,
‘We’re an empire and when we act, we create our own reality’.
(Gulp.)
The piece covers the Bush Administration’s attempts to manage the appearance of things in a way that presents a “reality” that is not real.
It’s a great article on how image can be manipulated to tell a particular story, and is a colorful synopsis of such instances since 9/11. It gives such details as how the US army spokesman, General Tommy Franks, addressed journalists in front of a $200,000 background produced by a former Disney and Metro Goldwyn Mayer designer, and how the Pentagon recruited David Blaine, the famed illusionist, for interior design.
You couldn’t make it up.
But most interestingly, the article inadvertently reveals something that the USA must be very careful of as it approaches the Presidential elections.
In the light of failures in the last six or seven years, the phrase, “We’re an empire and when we act, we create our own reality”, now may seem arrogant and even threatening. But the latter part of the sentiment, “We create our own reality”, is true. And anyone of the caliber required to lead the World’s leading nation must know it in every cell of their body: the fact that this particular metaphysical claim may have been abused for a few years makes it neither false nor useless.
There is always a place – more, a need – for a vision of what reality should be, and for imprinting that vision, as responsibly as possible of course, upon the world, rather than just reacting to what is going on around us, however accurately and honestly we may observe it.
Indeed, being able to envision and implement in this way is almost a definition of political leadership. This will be especially true following the ’08 election when, according to polls, the new President will have plenty of damage to repair. It appears that Obama’s gospel of “audacious hope” is based on this idea; and Edwards has been strongly and consistently defining his brave all-people-first reality ever since his run with Kerry. Conversely, it is perhaps the very political, one might say overly-considered, tenor of Clinton, that plays out whenever she loses ground. Hilary: paint us a picture of America eight years from now.
A “bad” created reality must be answered by the creation of a better one – and not by the disclaiming of any power to create.
People liked Bush’s clarity and confidence simply because people like clarity and confidence – and not because the Republican wing of the Republican party has a particular penchant for these qualities. What of Bush’s character worked for him in ’00 and ’04 will work just as well for the winner in ’08 – however different his or her vision will be.
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Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.