In the past, the term Anglo-American Empire was commonly associated with the British Empire. Today, it is known as the US Superpower. Now, these two worlds seem to have great differences. However, it also seems that they are guided by the same underlying world view but more than just a common language.
So, has the Anglo-American Empire been a blessing or a curse on the world?
This question occurred when a very gifted speaker named Tony Campolo have spoken about all good Christian preachers and challenged everyone to have more than what they have. Tony Campolo is also known to be very entertaining, insightful and challenging. His ideas could be uncomfortable in process but infinitely rewarding.
Tony's topic focused on loving your neighbor. There is an anecdote that he used to demonstrate this thought. He was deeply affected by this and developed his passion to love the poor. When he was in a third world country, he was approached by three girls who are minor. These girls were earning a living as street prostitutes. He gave them money, allowed them to sleep in his hotel room, and gave them ice cream while watching Disney movies. But his prayer to God was that he's concerned that he is only alleviating their suffering for only one night. This prayer stayed with him for many years.
He was pushed for World Vision child sponsorship, no doubt for its worthy goal.
Basically, some people who lived in US and UK would say that, they are not virtuous or wealthy enough, but compared to other countries where child prostitution is the norm, they are lucky and must be contented. By simply giving money from a spare change, it would be a good thing for extending their help to transform the lives of people living in the third world countries.
Where did this money come from? And where did the will to use it to make the world a better place come from?
We tend to knock on the British Empire and sometimes criticize the US attempts of intervening with international affairs. But this seems politically correct to do.
Yet it remains an historical fact that the average man in the street has never been better educated, better fed, wealthier, healthier or freer in the history of the world, than right now, in an English speaking nation.
In the writings of the likes of Nietsche, society and humanity will climb higher and higher with every passing generation. And it was as false when G.K.Chesterton and C.S.Lewis debunked it in the 1900s and 1950s as it is now. Empires rise and empires fall. Some people attribute this thought to some mythical force of social evolution.
Today, we could not achieve today what our ancestors achieved in, for example, the settling of the west (USA), the industrial revolution (China), or the Second World War. This is because we have lost much of what made us great. The Anglo - American Empire is teetering on the edge. But if people rediscover and re-embrace what made the Anglo-American Empire great, it may yet rise to new heights of greatness as yet undreamed of. If not, this empire, like every other empire before it, and there were many, will decline to be a footnote in history.
That is why, it is very important to identify some of the beliefs that shaped our ancestors lives, where most of them are lost by now.
So, has the Anglo-American Empire been a blessing or a curse on the world?
This question occurred when a very gifted speaker named Tony Campolo have spoken about all good Christian preachers and challenged everyone to have more than what they have. Tony Campolo is also known to be very entertaining, insightful and challenging. His ideas could be uncomfortable in process but infinitely rewarding.
Tony's topic focused on loving your neighbor. There is an anecdote that he used to demonstrate this thought. He was deeply affected by this and developed his passion to love the poor. When he was in a third world country, he was approached by three girls who are minor. These girls were earning a living as street prostitutes. He gave them money, allowed them to sleep in his hotel room, and gave them ice cream while watching Disney movies. But his prayer to God was that he's concerned that he is only alleviating their suffering for only one night. This prayer stayed with him for many years.
He was pushed for World Vision child sponsorship, no doubt for its worthy goal.
Basically, some people who lived in US and UK would say that, they are not virtuous or wealthy enough, but compared to other countries where child prostitution is the norm, they are lucky and must be contented. By simply giving money from a spare change, it would be a good thing for extending their help to transform the lives of people living in the third world countries.
Where did this money come from? And where did the will to use it to make the world a better place come from?
We tend to knock on the British Empire and sometimes criticize the US attempts of intervening with international affairs. But this seems politically correct to do.
Yet it remains an historical fact that the average man in the street has never been better educated, better fed, wealthier, healthier or freer in the history of the world, than right now, in an English speaking nation.
In the writings of the likes of Nietsche, society and humanity will climb higher and higher with every passing generation. And it was as false when G.K.Chesterton and C.S.Lewis debunked it in the 1900s and 1950s as it is now. Empires rise and empires fall. Some people attribute this thought to some mythical force of social evolution.
Today, we could not achieve today what our ancestors achieved in, for example, the settling of the west (USA), the industrial revolution (China), or the Second World War. This is because we have lost much of what made us great. The Anglo - American Empire is teetering on the edge. But if people rediscover and re-embrace what made the Anglo-American Empire great, it may yet rise to new heights of greatness as yet undreamed of. If not, this empire, like every other empire before it, and there were many, will decline to be a footnote in history.
That is why, it is very important to identify some of the beliefs that shaped our ancestors lives, where most of them are lost by now.
About the Author:
Interested in hunting and social issues? Why not try David Greentree's new book, 'Tom Grafton Vs The Environmentalists'.. Free reprint available from: Is This The End Of The Anglo-American Empire?.
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