The Future

The Future1

Americans, almost by definition, try to influence the world. And as we try to influence the world, we are at the same time trying to rule the world, trying to take over the world. No, it doesn't obviously appear that way. It's not advertised ("United States the mongrels! United States -- land of the fat, home of the power-hungry!"). But the takeover is apparent enough, if you think about, if you read a history book, if you listen to current events.2

There, have I hooked you?3

I want to write about something a little more tender, a little deeper, a little scarier.4

I haven't yet written anything too provocative, have I? I am an opinionated person, yet all of my pieces have been purely reminiscent, or just slightly questioning of myself and my world.5

Well, I'm ready for something a little more scary... just a little more scary.6

And you know what scares me?7

The future scares me.8

I'm not talking about tomorrow. I'm not talking about what I eat for lunch, or whether we have band practice or not, or who does or doesn't want to talk to me after school. 9

I'm not even talking about my college or my career or my future family. 10

I'm talking about the larger scale -- the larger scale of the next ten years, the next fifty years, the next century. I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about humanity. (Yeah, I know, I sound cheesy. "Oh, Annye's worldly, Annye's worried about all of humanity now." But can't I worry about people? They are people, after all.)11

The way I see our country, our world, progressing: that scares me. 12

For some reason we, as a country, as a culture, find it necessary to meddle in other people's affairs. (Am I being hypocritical now? Is my asking us to care about people in itself meddling?) We see something we don't agree with, and we instantly jump to the defense of the "innocent"; the "innocent" being those who most agree with our own, Americanized, ideals.13

We defend those who agree with us, we champion those who are like us, and we suppress those who dare to think otherwise.14

So the logical conclusion, the logical future world, is either a huge United States, or a bunch of little United Stateses (it's my column, I'll make up words if I want to!). 15

Is that really what we want -- do we really desire just a bunch of clones of ourselves?16

I don't think so.17

Because are we anything without something to compare ourselves to? Would our self-interest and self-indulgence and self-centeredness continue to entertain us if we were surrounded by those who are exactly like us? If we could no longer say, "Oh, aren't you glad we don't live in Iraq?" or, "Oh, aren't you glad we aren't all communists like the Chinese?" -- would we still be "good" if everyone were "good"? 18

No, I don't think so. 19

I think we would realize (shockingly quickly) that the United States and those like us (those corrupted by us? those who follow us?) have some major flaws as well. When we look around and see nothing but United Stateses battling for independence from other United Stateses; that's when the mistake will become most obvious.20

And yet we still try to change everyone, try to convince everyone that America, in her infinite wisdom, awesome power, and irrefutable perfection, is exactly what everyone wants (or should want) to be.21

We tell ourselves that everyone looks up to the United States, envying our "freedom" and our "wealth" and our "democracy". "We should try to help this country be more like us," we tell ourselves, "It's really what they want in the long run."22

But do other countries just see us as just an immature collection of patriots, a state without her own culture or own history? I'm afraid so (though I don't know so). 23

I think that, in reality, we aren't looked up to at all. Instead, others look sideways at us, peaking out of the corners of their eyes, pretending not to see us as they convince themselves that they are not like us.24

Yes, we are a good country; an awesome country, actually. We, here in the United States, have opportunities that are far beyond what some other countries and cultures could even dream of. (Could I emphasize this point really quickly? I AM GRATEFUL THAT I LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES! I am happy to live here; however, that does not mean I cannot question some of the aspects of my home.)25

We're a good country, founded on good ideas, inspired by meaningful happenings.26

But are we perfect?27

No, most certainly not. I don't pretend us to be; I don't expect us to be.28

We have our problems: obvious problems, debates, inequalities that are obvious and very needing of attention. 29

(Would you like a few? You know what they are: gay rights, racism, violence; heck, even the fact that we're all getting fat.)30

So shouldn't we be focusing on our own imperfections instead of trying to force those same imperfections on other cultures -- other cultures that have no desire to inherit our flaws?31

Why should we shove our mistakes and our issues down the throats of our fellow humans, even if they aren't our fellow Americans? We shouldn't. We should turns inwards firstly; we should look at ourselves, pinpoint our own mistakes and our own wrongs and our own flaws. We should make sure that we, as a country culture people state whatever, are the best we can be before we try to influence others. 32

The future scares me, because I feel like we (as a nation, and as a world) are spreading tainted goodness while not trying to progress. We multiply, but we don't improve.33

So in 2039, when I'm 50 years old, or in 2089, when I'm 100 years old, the entire world will be stuck in the United States of 2007. 34

And that future scares me.35