In the aftermath of World War II, an ironic term arose in Germany – ‘Good Germans’; it was used to refer to those German citizens who claimed they did not support the Nazis and knew nothing about the Jewish Holocaust.
At the same time, those ‘Good Germans’ did nothing to resist or speak up against the Nazis.
Given the long bloody history of the U.S. empire in the eight decades since WWII, I wonder if it’s finally time to use a similar term – ‘Good Americans’.
It is difficult to accept that anyone could have been unaware of at least some of what was happening through period of those decades in which they lived.
Perhaps a brief reminder is in order of the foreign policy of the U.S. – and these are only the approximate civilian deaths.
Vietnam: 2 million
Cambodian genocide (U.S. bombing led to rise of Khmer Rouge): 1.5 to 2 million
Nigerian war in Biafra (U.S. claimed neutrality): 2 million
Nicaraguan Revolution and Contra war: 10,000 – 43,000
Iraq war: 200,000
Gaza: 50,000 official estimates; others go well above 200,000
Even with the government-approved news narratives to which most are exposed, one has to wonder how someone could not have seen or heard something at odds with what they’ve been told.
Maybe it would be appropriate to ask if ‘Good Americans’ are completely asleep.
It is tragic in that ‘Good Americans’ are supposedly the model citizens.
They are good parents; they support their families; they work regular jobs; they attend church; they are good neighbors; they are involved in their community; and they stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem.
Most ‘Good Americans’ support one of the two major corporate political parties – believing their party supports ‘American values’, while believing the other political party has hopelessly lost its way. They listen to news channels that align with their views.
And they say they believe in the law and the U.S. Constitution.
So, where in the Constitution does it state that a foreign apartheid state has control of the Mideast foreign policy of the United?
What law allows that foreign apartheid state to conduct a genocide in violation of war-crimes laws, including violence against civilians – with financial and materiel support from the United States?
What civilized society claims a “right to self-defense” that includes using high-performance jet aircraft carrying 2,000-pound bombs against civilian and a small number of fighters armed with AK-47s?
How much does the First Amendment mean when free speech is abridged and peaceful assembly outlawed when either is related to protests of that foreign apartheid state?
It would seem most ‘Good Americans’ are fine with all that – or at best choose to ignore it all as they feel they can do nothing.
And it’s true – most ‘Good Americans’ are suffering. Job Insecurity. High food prices. Social tensions. Wars. And the big one – fear for the future.
Here’s a thought – maybe those fears and issues are intentional to keep people distracted.
But not being outraged at what’s happening in our name is not acceptable.
Or, how can we identify ourselves as moral individuals?
It’s vital to be aware of what’s being done; it’s vital to understand an entire race of people are being harassed, run out of their homes and communities, and in many cases targeted for killing.
As a human being, one has to bear witness to the crimes of the United States and the apartheid state in the Palestinian genocide.
Once the killing is complete, the world will move on – and the supporters of the apartheid state will ensure it is forgotten.
But our role must be to remember if only for the souls of the tens to hundreds of thousands murdered because they were in the way of some ancient biblical tale.
Perhaps then ‘Good Americans’ can be good Americans.
