March, 2002

Reliving the Good Old Days of American Triumphalism
Alex Lubin, American Studies Program

American triumphalism is back. Since the tragedy of September 11 the United States has gained a renewed mission to fight bad-guys with a fervor inspired by cowboy and Indian westerns, captivity narratives, and more recently, terror/tragedy films like The Siege. In his response to September 11, President Bush has rekindled an old narrative that Americans relate about themselves, a story in which Americans must stand at ready for ambushes and general evil from abroad. Yet Bush has been careful to caste this struggle in terms of World War Two, and not the more complex battles of Korea and Vietnam. For in speaking of a new "axis of evil" Bush is able to relive the seemingly good old days when the enemy - the original "axis" - was clearly Nazi storm-troopers and Japanese suicide bombers. To invoke America's other wars would be to show the futility of military operations and to question who is an enemy and who is evil.

This new war rhetoric shapes domestic policy as well as foreign policy. The administration can silence dissent at home by invoking the noble struggle abroad. This kind of politics has lead some to monitor what academicians write and say about American foreign policy. Moreover, the general lack of regard for immigrants' civil rights is justified as a foreign policy necessity. And finally, non-profit organizations who have done humanitarian work in the Middle East have had their operations censored and at times, shut down.

Even more frightening is what the new "war" means for the peace process in the Middle East. Americans have been preparing for war against "Arab" enemies for over a decade through films and television shows that represent Arabs as backward, evil, and un-American. American foreign policy toward the Middle East has changed considerably over the last two decades. Those whom we have supported with military and monetary support, like Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin-Laden, are now the leaders of the "Axis of Evil." Those who just a few years ago were viewed a peacemakers, such as Yasser Arafat, are now caste as terrorists. And those who were once enemies, like the military leader of Pakistan, is now an ally. It is clear what this means for Arabs; they have been painted as "bad guys" and hence as immortal enemies of the American way.

It is my contention that because Palestinians and other Arabs are racialized in ways that constructs them beyond the pale of "civilized", western norms, Israel and the United States feel justified in denying Palestinians and other Arabs human rights. One can justify the longest military occupation of the Twentieth century, if he only views Palestinians as always corrupt, less rational, and in need of western education.

So when Bush - often donning the style of a western-film superstar - speaks of "smoking the enemy out his cave" or proclaims his will to "whoop 'em" he is trading on popular American imagery that has historically been used to assert American superiority, and to caste racial others as immortal enemies. In this new good/bad flick, however, those with an Arab or Asian face portray the "Indian savage" role. If Arab people enter American consciousness only as racial others and dangerous enemies, it is unlikely that Americans will be capable of responding to humanitarian appeals to protect Palestinian and Arab sovereignty and human rights.

IN THIS ISSUE:

The opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors, and do not represent those of the Boulder Faculty Assembly, CU faculty at large, or the University of Colorado.

Submissions are requested and responses to these articles are welcome. Click here to provide an online response. Submissions may be sent via e-mail to Thomas.Mayer@Colorado.edu.

Click here for the names and contact information of the membership of the BFA Communications Committee.