I hope so too Jake, but I have my doubts. This whole mode of production and living–basically at the expense of others–is not some modern invention, as we all know. I think that even if people hear where all of the products they enjoy come from, and what the effects of their production are, they will find ways to ignore it. Even worse, they’ll find ways to rationalize it, like how an earlier generation of Americans rationalized western expansion with the whole “manifest destiny” line. When all else fails, pretend that god is on your side. I love that one.

The thing is you gotta keep writing and working to open up minds and try to convince people, even against the flood of denial and ignorance…and maybe slowly some people will wake up and think about some of this.

I have a hard time characterizing Americans as the enemies of humanity, since I certainly don’t think we have a monopoly on greed, power hunger, corruption, etc. I think that we are currently able to do things that others cannot…but that doesnt mean they wouldn’t. The U.S. is the product of a line of colonial empires that began in the 15th century…we didnt invent the mould but we certainly adopted the methods.

I do have a problem with essentializing this whole thing though…I mean I wouldn’t just automatically assume that so-called “third world” nations are full of people who are peace loving and who want to save the world. It’s just not black and white, good vs. evil.

The Inca ruler Atahualpa had planned to capture Pizarro, castrate some of his men, and make them his servants. Characterizing him as the innocent native figure would be a big mistake, and history is full of these kinds of complications. That’s not to downplay the Spanish atrocities in the Americas…my point is that I’m not so sure things would have been much prettier if the Inca, for example, were running the show.