Unfair to Napoleon. (Letters to the Editor).In the months since the Bush Administration began its new doctrine of unilateral American imperialism imperialism, broadly, the extension of rule or influence by one government, nation, or society over another. Early Empires Evidence of the existence of empires dates back to the dawn of written history in Egypt and in Mesopotamia, where local , it has been tempting to think of George W. as a little Napoleon Bonaparte. The cover of the November issue was yet another example of what, at least psychologically, is a very fitting historical analogy. Yet, to be fair to Napoleon, this comparison is much too flattering flat·ter 1 v. flat·tered, flat·ter·ing, flat·ters v.tr. 1. To compliment excessively and often insincerely, especially in order to win favor. 2. for George W., who is certainly no great man of history despite what his handlers handlers persons involved in the handling of, for example, circus animals. Includes grooms, milkers, herdsmen, strappers. Used mostly in referring to persons handling animals for show or auction. keep telling the public. There was another Napoleon a little closer in stature to George W. who can provide us with a more helpful example for thinking through the implications of the new American imperialism and the buildup build·up also build-up n. 1. The act or process of amassing or increasing: a military buildup; a buildup of tension during the strike. 2. to Gulf War II: Louis Napoleon Louis Napoleon: see Napoleon III. Bonaparte, a.k.a., "the little Napoleon," head of France's Second Empire. Like Bush, Louis Napoleon was adept at conjuring conjuring Art of entertaining by giving the illusion of performing impossible feats. The conjurer is an actor who combines psychology, manual dexterity, and mechanical aids to effect the desired illusion. up the spirits of the past--of his family and nation's legacy--and using them for his own purposes. After sweeping into power by way of a coup d'etat in 1851, he was accused of standing on his uncle's shoulders to disguise his own lack of stature, and of drugging the people with language borrowed from history to compensate for a lack of ideas. By 1870, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was in exile, and the Second Empire was over. Back in 1852, an acute observer of history wrote in regard to Louis Napoleon's ascension Ascension, in Christianity Ascension, name usually given to the departure of Jesus from earth as related in the Gospels according to Mark (16) and Luke (24) and in Acts 1.1–11. that the facts and people of history occur twice: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce. It is for us, in the present, to decide whether we want to test this theory when there are so many other pressing issues that demand our attention. It is for us to determine if we will be distracted by ghosts of past national triumphs and evil phantom menaces or if we will see through the strategic domestic rhetoric, examine what is truly at stake, and avoid the fate of so many other nations whose leaders led them needlessly into war. If we do not, Gulf War II will likely be viewed by history as a farce. But no one will be laughing. Matt Jordan Lemont, Pennsylvania |
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