American thread in the Latin American Patchwork

A man, a plan, a canal, Panama. In addition to being the title of a historical documentary on the construction of the Panama canal and one of the coolest character palindromes* discovered by man, this short phrase encapsulates an odd moment in history, in which the determination of a single enthusiastic man fueled a mighty revolution that led to the founding of an entire nation. Although this series of unfortunate events was one of a kind, the domineering attitude that lies at its core has characterized much of American foreign policy toward Latin America for the past hundred years.

Until the 1900s, the United States essentially followed a policy of isolationism under the Monroe Doctrine—foreign engagements were few and spread apart, as the nation followed in the footsteps of its non-interventionist founding father. In 1902, charismatic President Theodore Roosevelt put an end to this era when he boldly announced his vision for the United States as a military power exercising imperialistic control over the western hemisphere in the Roosevelt Corollary. This policy bluntly justified the U.S.’s military intervention in any Latin American state in order to prevent any other imperial power from gaining a foothold in America’s backyard.

This new and aggressive foreign policy quickly caused uneasy rumblings among the Latin American states when President Roosevelt demonstrated his willingness to prioritize American security interests over all else, even if it meant inciting a revolution and establishing an entirely new country. Following the Spanish-American war, many Americans perceived it to be in their nation’s best interest to construct an interoceanic canal through Latin America, thus establishing profitable trade routes that connected the Pacific and Atlantic and allowing the U.S. to more easily defend its Pacific holdings (i.e. Hawaii and the Philippines). When the Colombian government steadfastly refused to sell the rights to the requisite strip of land in present-day Panama, the administration, waving its metaphorical “big stick,” fomented political unrest within the state, and expediently appointed French canal investor (Bunau-Varilla) as American ambassador to the young nation. The need to fulfill U.S. security interests easily triumphed over the established regional order, as the young imperial state rampaged through its Latin American neighbors.

In the 1940s, the immense security threat posed by the rise of Hitler and other European dictators encouraged a temporary shift away from US dominance to collective security and reciprocal trade agreements. Yet this transition towards being a “good neighbor” gave away with the growing tension of the Cold War and global front against Communism. Under President Reagan, the U.S. became notorious for sending military support to revolutionary groups that sought to overthrow leftist governments. In El Salvador, America backed the military government, which became notorious for cases of human rights abuse against its citizens, in order to resist the build-up of guerrilla groups, backed by Cuba. Similar ideology-based foreign policy decisions thus perpetuated the political chaos that shook Central American states for the final decades of the 20th century.

Through the late 19th and 20th centuries, the U.S. left a mixed legacy in Latin America, one that remains in the consciousness of Latinos even in the modern era. As we observe furious calls for the construction of a “Mexican border wall” and similarly polarizing rhetoric arising from the presidential candidates, we must be wary of the painful history of aggression that such claims call to mind.

Why the US should contribute more troops to UN Peacekeeping

“More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together.”

From its inception following the devastation of the two world wars, the United Nations became the primary organization responsible for preserving international peace and security while encouraging constructive dialogue to avoid war. One of the principal tools through which the UN has sought to “keep the peace” is the international peacekeeping operation. Currently, the UN leads 16 peacekeeping missions with over 116,000 uniformed and civilian personnel on four different continents. However, the efforts of this international body continue to be hindered by the lack of military support from western developed nations, including the US.

In order to ensure that the United Nations possesses the capabilities necessary to respond to current and future crises, it is critical that the US deploy its high value military assets to provide support for international peacekeeping. For the world community, conflict-torn regions, and the United States, the potential benefits are vast. The increased military contributions of a world power such as the United States would immediately boost the legitimacy of the UN’s peacekeeping missions. Many of the current national troops originate from developing countries, and it is likely that provision of the US’s specialized military capacities and technology would allow for more effective operations tailored to the conditions in a particular conflict region. With such improved technological access and increasing peacekeeper efficiency, scholars have predicted that more developed nations are likely to increase their military support for the UN, liberating the organization from its current challenge of encouraging richer nations to contribute what is desperately needed in peacekeeping missions, instead of what countries “feel” is necessary. Finally, by expanding the number of highly-trained military personnel in the UN Peacekeeping Forces, the US can bolster the accountability of peacekeepers around the world. For several decades, the reputation of peacekeeping forces has been marred by frequent reports of sexual and behavioral misconduct among UN troops, many of whom remain in the UN Command, unpunished, due to the desperate need for troops in peace operations. Greater US involvement in peacekeeping will therefore place more pressure on troop contributing countries to recall any of their own offending soldiers, and institute stricter criteria for potential peacekeepers.

Yet the major question remains as to how the US and other developed nations might be encouraged to expand their military contributions to the UN Peacekeeping Forces. The stunning tragedy at Mogadishu, Somalia, in which the corpses of 18 American peacekeepers were dragged through the streets, (an incident forever captured by the movie Black Hawk Down) remains fresh in the consciousness of American leaders. If the UN truly desires increased support from the US, it will have to establish more efficient exit strategies and communication channels with peacekeeping missions. It will also have to limit its involvement to regions in which a peace accord has been reached, providing an added level of security for troops and ensuring that the UN peacekeepers will be able to serve as a non-aggressive peacekeeping force.

Until these steps have been fulfilled, it will be our role, as students in the US, to remain conscious of the issue and remind national leaders that the US must continue to strive to build peace, defend peace, and keep the peace that exists around the world.

"Jammin'" with Alexander Hamilton

     “I’m working on a hip hop album… it’s about the life of somebody who I think embodies hip hop, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton.” In 2009, these words rang out from the mouth of a young Puerto Rican American playwright performing at the White House. Six years later, when Alexander Hamilton made its Broadway debut, it would become one of the most successful productions on the live stage. The musical incorporates hip-hop, R&B, and jazz to introduce the life of the youngest Founding Father. Through rap and and pop music, the play follows the ascension of the poor, “bastard orphan,” who after publishing an essay that depicted the carnage of a hurricane in his home town, is invited to New York to further his education. Through a multi-racial cast, the musical highlights the young immigrant’s interaction with some of the most familiar figures in American history—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette—in his rapid rise to power. The entire play is narrated by Vice President Aaron Burr, the man who ultimately kills Hamilton in a duel.

     Yet the production is truly fascinating for the empowering effect it has on readers.  According to biographer Ron Chernow, whose work inspired the development of the musical, Hamilton lived every day from the age of 14 as if the future was uncertain, leading to his incredible work ethic and political ascension. This ambition was also apparent in his political activism; he was responsible for the creation of the first fiscal system, monetary system, customs service, and central bank. Hamilton’s legacy struck an especially powerful note with immigrant Lin-Manuel Miranda, the playwright and title actor of the show. Like Hamilton, Miranda was recognized early in his career, when he performed the first version of “Hamilton Mixtapes” at a White House reception in front of the president and vice-president. There are two lessons that I drew from this unique story.

     First, life is short, so make the most of today while you have the chance. From the moment he stepped onto America’s shores, Hamilton participated actively in national politics, quickly becoming a leader in the Revolutionary War. In high school, Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t think he fit in with the other students at his school and he struggled to compete academically with his classmates. But this struggle only made Miranda more determined to find his passion quickly and focus his efforts in the field that best suited him. After deciding on theater in his high school years, he began to take leading roles in every school performance. Though his family was not wealthy, he purchased as many Broadway albums as he could find and began to memorize them in his free time. All of his efforts converged in college, when far before any of his peers were achieving their dreams, Miranda completed his first musical production, In the Heights, which was turned into a Broadway musical and won the Tony Award in 2008.

     Lin-Manuel Miranda’s merging of modern forms of music with American history has led to a ground-breaking work in which this famous Secretary of the Treasury is seen in the context of American culture and dynamics in the present. This play redirects the eyes of contemporary American audiences to historic figures like Alexander Hamilton. In addition to being on the $10 bill, Hamilton has played a critical role in constructing American society  as we know it today, and we must continue to study and recognize historical figures in order gain a deeper understanding  of the society that surrounds us today. As any viewer of the musical Alexander Hamilton can attest, Miranda’s work has brought new meaning to the age-old idea that “those who do not remember their history, have no future.”

The Cross in Human Rights (10.5.15)

The year is 1870. Bullets whiz dangerously through the air as French and German troops fire viciously at one another from behind tall barricades. Among the wounded soldiers, a determined young woman known as the “Angel of the Battlefield” flies back and forth between the moaning men. Affixed to her white collar is a bold red cross. On June 26, 2015, a throng of lobbyists crowded the steps to the Supreme Court building. An expectant hush reigned over the group, which was waiting for the final decision to be announced.  Many of the signs, reading “Rainbows reign!” and “Equality in marriage,” proudly depicted the image of two crossed lines topped with a circle. Again and again throughout history, the symbols of the cross and its various manifestations have appeared as proud representations of the movement for human rights.

                When one speaks of human rights around the world, it is impossible to overlook the International Red Cross, whose mission statement of “providing compassionate care to those in need” directly addresses its goal of fulfilling the basic human rights of the most deprived individuals. The organization’s trademark symbol (a red cross on a plain white background) was first used by the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, who devised the emblem while serving troops in the Franco-Prussian War. In the modern human rights sphere, the humanitarian work of the Red Cross has been critical in supporting those displaced by the Syrian Refugee Crisis and struggling to find daily sustenance and shelter.

                The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, arguably the most authoritative international text on the subject, clearly states that the guarantee of human rights cannot be based upon “distinction[s] of any kind” including gender-based categories. This fundamental promise to a gender-blind application of rights has become an especially contentious issue in the past decade, as more and more countries have legally accepted the rights of homosexual individuals to engage in the equal right to marriage. (As of 2015, twenty-two countries have legalized same-sex marriage, with the first being the Netherlands in 2000.) Activists in the movement for LGBTQ rights have adopted the standard gender symbols (denoting males and females) as icons for their campaign.

                Regardless of how one chooses to interpret the cross, one will always be reminded of its most prevalent usage as the Christian Cross, recalling both Jesus’s crucifixion and the Holy Trinity. Since around 1200, when Saint Francis and his companions began living in solidarity with the poor, preaching about the holiness of a simple life, the Christian religion and orders such as the Brothers of Holy Cross have become associated with acts of goodwill and the delivery of aid to the disadvantaged. In the New Testament, alms-giving is cited as a key tenant in the Christian life.

                Yet the close association between religion and the delivery of human rights has been repudiated in several situations around the world. In North Korea, Christian missionaries attempting to provide refugees with protection have been accused of prioritizing their own religious agenda, making the victims’ conversion to Christianity a perquisite for their ability to receive aid. Other religions and indigenous belief systems that perpetuate gender discriminatory behaviors have been seen as conflicting with the fulfillment of universal human rights.

While the cross has had a long history in the campaign for human rights, several notable controversies have forced some to question its place in the movement and its ability to serve as a true champion for our fundamental rights.

Life-Hacking: Small Steps toward a Successful Schedule and Career (4.16.14)

“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” But, “those that sleep now can dream, while those that do not can achieve their dreams.” Whether it is from parents, teachers, our peers, or idols in history, we live in a world of increasing pressure to be productive and successful in life. Especially with the continual rise of brilliant new entrepreneurs in the Bay Area, the expectation that we follow in their footsteps surfaces every day. In spite of this, we are never told how to succeed, and the words of role models such as Benjamin Franklin and Ban Ki Moon often deliver contradictory messages. Could there be a secret step-by-step guide to becoming a noteworthy name in history? As author Brian Tracy once stated, “Successful people are simply those with successful habits.” Take a look at the habits of five famous figures, and what it took for them to be revered.

            President Obama has inspired many Americans with his dedication to a daily workout at 6:45 A.M, but the First Lady, Michelle Obama, normally leaves the gym at this time, returning home to pack lunch for her daughters. Her workout includes forty-five minutes of cardio and forty-five minutes of strength training, and she has yet to miss more than a single day at a time. What else can we expect from the founder of the “Let’s Move!” campaign?

Adopting the lifestyle of his mother, a full-time novelist and mother of six children, Anthony Trollope believed firmly in the power of early morning inspiration, and would wake up at 5:30 A.M. to write. During this time, Trollope would sit with a watch in front of his paper, and demand of himself 3000 words by 8:30 A.M. or 250 words every fifteen minutes. At the end of his morning, he would immediately head off to a job in the postal service. Although work under such stressful conditions may seem difficult, Trollope managed to publish forty-nine novels in a period of thirty-five years, with his more famous works such as The Chronicles of Barsetshire making him the most celebrated English writer in the Victorian era.

Most heads of state keep up with the height of technology in their country: not Park Geun-hye. The South Korean president is jokingly called “the notebook princess” for her adoration of the quickly-disappearing art of note taking. From meetings with high-profile leaders, to banquets with other Korean politicians, President Park is never seen without a notepad to jot down points that arise in discussion. This habit has both pleased and annoyed fellow officials, but it allows her to be prepared to deliver remarks at all times.

Many artists will attest to the saving power of a daily cup of coffee, and composer Ludwig Van Beethoven was no different. The first order of business every morning was to make breakfast, consisting of a large jug of coffee with exactly sixty coffee beans. (He often counted out the beans one-by-one himself.) Afterwards, he would pour in an incredible amount of sugar, near filling the cup to the rim, and mix it together with a concoction of very strong, black coffee. Perhaps it was such breakfast habits that contributed to Beethoven’s brilliance at the piano, conducting, and composing, even as a deaf musician.

            Neurologist and psychologist Sigmund Freud is famous for his discoveries on the power of human dreams, but he is also known for his well-groomed appearance. After waking up promptly at 7:00 A.M. each morning, the researcher would eat a light breakfast, and spend an hour at the barber shop, trimming his beard. It was once said of him that, “[Freud possessed] a commanding air… an air of power disciplined. Even Freud’s mustache and beard were subdued to order by a barber’s daily attention.” Freud worked hard to cultivate an image that appeased his patients, and through the daily routine, he created a ritual that eventually became an essential part of this incredible life.

From artists, politicians, and writers, each of these giants possessed completely different habits, personalities, and working attitudes. So what was the secret to their success? Each of them lived strictly by a daily routine that allowed them to leave a unique imprint on the world. In order to make our contribution to society, perhaps it’s time each of us re-evaluate our lifestyles, and organize work and leisure around an unvarying time frame. 

Face to face with the Ebola Virus (10.10.14)

The latest villain of news media has begun to penetrate the deepest fears of Americans. Is it Ronan? Kim Jong-un? No, it’s the ebola virus. The highly contagious disease that infected almost 6,000 and killed over 2,000 in Western Africa has left America terrified for its health. But perhaps these fears are not justified; could it be that our tendency to misread international events has made us into parochial frogs in a well?

            According to statisticians, the answer, surprisingly, is “no.” The outbreak that first struck Guinea in December of last year has exploded into the most serious case of the disease to date; the current number of cases triples that of the first outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, or the brief scare in Uganda at the turn of the century. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported two weeks ago that the total civilian death rate by January 2015 will reach 11,000 at the very least, and 1.4 million in the worst case scenario.

            However, as researchers are not the ones directly exposed to the virus, it is critical to consider the perspective of Africans. For those living in the disease-ravaged African coast, ebola has disrupted every aspect of daily life. Not only has the under-staffed and under-funded health care system refused to treat all but ebola cases, but public services, including schools in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Senegal have closed out of fear of spreading the contagion. Local residents commented to BBC on their frustration at the situation: “I’m against the government decision to [close all schools]… would you ask students to stop going to churches and mosques as well?” Though the government cannot prevent locals from gathering, it has every power to deny them access to basic medical aid. Stories of first-time mothers dying from pregnancy complications, or seniors battling desperately with the common flu have horrified Americans. In each of these situations, the victim died alone, as their suffering was deemed “not as important” as that from the ebola virus.

Even from the view of the medics themselves, the epidemic is a worst nightmare come true. Many of the workers are volunteers who raced to answer the world-wide plea for medical personnel. What the job description did not address though, was the fact that there is no cure or vaccine, or that most hospitals are ill-equipped to treat ebola. Volunteers are in contact with victims for far more than the recommended number of hours, and easily contract this fluid-borne illness. However, most infected volunteers do not have to worry about being refused medical aid. Dr. Rick Sacra contracted the disease in Liberia last month, but six days later, he was receiving expert care in the United States. For Americans at least, “the care [is] so excellent, so speedy,” and a world apart from the situation that faces African victims.

            Then do we have any reason to fear an ebola outbreak in the US? Unless otherwise noted, our insurance money can more than easily contain any outbreak, in the case that one does occur in the United States. The real concern, though, is our blatant ignorance of the African health care. Why did it take a reoccurrence of the ebola epidemic for us to take our eyes off our own health care system? Before more deaths can take place, it is high time that we paid more attention to lacking medical facilities around the world, and fulfilled our obligation to improve international health. Perhaps then we will be less inclined to believe exaggerated news reports, and disperse the self-absorbed mist that clouds our perception of the world. Until then, Americans can be said only to be frogs in a well, unaware of the reality of the ebola virus in Africa, or most any other conflict beyond our country borders.

An Interview with Malala Yousfazi (11.6.14)

In 2012, a “mockingjay” entered the international stage. When the Taliban shot and critically injured this 15-year old girl, her voice was immediately amplified across the world as a powerful call for youth education. Her name is Malala Yousafzai. One afternoon, I was sitting in my room, surrounded by recent magazine clippings of Malala, when she paid me a visit. As if her passion and strong will had risen out of all of the articles, I envisioned her spirit standing in front of me, determinedly sharing her life’s message. Here is our interview.

Me: Malala, you’ve received the Noble Peace Prize, met with Obama, the Queen of England, and are talked about throughout the world. How does it feel to be looked up to by so many girls & children around the world?

Malala: It’s a real honor, but a strange feeling for me, because I’m really just like all of you. Even after being shot by the Taliban, I am still the same girl I was before; a teenager from Pakistan that wanted to go to school to be with her friends and receive an education.

Me: Are you scared of being targeted by the Taliban again?

Malala: Now, I only desire for all youth, even the children of the Taliban to have equal opportunities & the right to education. So you can say that, even though my view has not changed, I am thankful as the Taliban boy that shot me raised my voice, which is only one of the many for unprejudiced education, to the international community.

Me: What motivates you to continually speak out on human rights?

Malala: Ever since I was young, my dad has always encouraged me to speak out about my rights. I’m sure all of you, even as Americans, learn one key thing from our parents. Mine was that I had the right to be educated, and to have as many opportunities as my two younger brothers did. When I began blogging for the BBC Urdu, I was determined to receive an education despite all of the violence that surrounded me, and that desire has been with me even after I was shot. Now, I am receiving an excellent education in the United Kingdom, but whenever I think that another girl or another boy may be suffering from the same unequal opportunities I faced, I am filled with a burning desire to help them, and to make their voice heard to the international community.

Me: Do you have any advice for how members of the Saint Francis High school community can work to make a change for girls’ and boys’ education?

Malala: I greatly admire the environment in which many of you have grown and received an education. But let me ask you this: what are your plans for the future? My dream is for all children to be able to ask themselves that question without criticism or attack. If you have school clubs that allow you to stand up & speak out on the fight for children’s rights, join them to strengthen the campaign for equal education of all children. One child, one teacher, one pen, one paper can change the world. If we really want world peace, education will spark the revolution.

                With her last words ringing in the air, Malala’s spirit faded away from my room. But where she had just been standing, I could still sense a beacon of life, and I felt the intensity of her life’s dream welling up inside of me. Seeing in person a teenager, just like us, that had changed the world, I thought she had the power to make anyone see beyond the well.

Why We Need to Know about East Asia (4.20.15)

East Asia. The home of k-pop, j-pop, and Asian idols. The promised land of milk tea and kimchi. The region in which our ipads are manufactured and shipped, along with thousands of other “Made-in-China” goods. From the era of Western expansion in the 19th century, East Asian exports and orientalism have influenced the culture of the US. But while our counterparts in the region are well-versed in American history and politics, how many of us can name the current Japanese emperor, or identify the reasons for the continuing division of Korea? As statistics frequently point to this region as the future powerhouse of the 21st century (often called the “Asian century”), it’s time we looked beyond our borders, to our rising neighbors across the Pacific.

            Politicians most commonly group China, Taiwan, Japan, and the two Koreas under the broad term “East Asia.” This label encompasses three of the “Asian Tigers”—nations and metropolitan areas where meteoric industrialization have made them paragons of economic success. In the past year, however, President Obama has commonly referenced the East Asian countries, not for their economic rise, but as a model for youth education.

            Despite the US’s global superpower status, it has consistently and quite publicly scored poorly in international student assessments, like the PISA. While cities like Shanghai or Seoul have come out at the top, the US has scraped by in the mid-20s, low-30s mark. Acknowledging this shortcoming, President Obama has frequently cited the need to copy East Asian education methods: “if they can do that in South Korea, we can do it here.” But what exactly is happening in Chinese and Korean schools? The most obvious disparity between East Asian and American education is the degree of invested time and money. In Korea, all students attend afterschool academic classes, called “hagwon,” from the time they get out of school, late into the evening. Different hagwon are dedicated to teaching math, science, reading, and English, before the material is taught in schools. While the government spends relatively little on education, the ratio of private to public expenditures is higher in South Korea and Japan than in any other nation in the world. The secret to their academic excellence is not money or time, but culture. East Asia possesses a history of academic rigor that distinguishes it from the US. Ingrained within Asian cultures are Confucian beliefs concerning the personal returns on education. Especially in Korea, this heralds back to the days when one’s marks on an annual government exam dictated one’s career. Without a similar background of academic rigor, the US will find it challenging to compete with the academic dragons of the East.

            East Asia also poses an important consideration to the US in the context of global security. Though mostly ignored by American news outlets, cultural and territorial disputes are still raising tensions in Asia. Many of these conflicts stem from the legacy of imperial Japan in WWII, and the claims of the current government to islands along the Eastern and Southern coast of Korea and China, respectively. The Chinese government has also entered into frequent clashes with Koreans over cultural monuments and heritage sites near the Korea-China border, which were erected by ethnic Koreans during Korea’s expansionist “Three Kingdoms” era. And despite optimistic speeches concerning reunification and an end to armed conflict, North Korea continues to express its concern over military exercises conducted between the US and South Korea, leading to its pursuit of nuclear capabilities. Our nation depends heavily on diplomatic relations and trade with its allies in East Asia; unless we learn to pay attention to the situation across the sea and acknowledge the historical and cultural background, we may be left behind by the most dynamic region in the world.

            The idea of broadening one’s perspective and “looking outside the walls of a well” (hence the title of this column), also comes from Chinese and Korea folklore, a tribute to the oft overlooked influence that East Asia has had in American culture.