New Age Imperialism

The word imperialism is defined by Britannica as "a policy, practice, or advocacy of extending power and dominion, by gaining political and economic control of other areas." It always involves the use of power and is considered morally reprehensible because of its historically violent and selfish nature. It's always been interesting to me that the United States as a nation has always been in everyone's business. It's never for a random reason like our government giving France a pat on the back just to say “we see you guys over there…good job…and we still like you just because”. It's always political and most times good 'ole Politics has its "life partner", Capitalism, straggling close behind.

Honestly I'm not really big on politics but recently I was in a Dollar General and passed the magazine rack only to see Katherine Heigl on the cover with her brand new baby daughter. Believe me; I am not trying to blast Katherine Heigl for adopting. The fact that she adopted a special needs child is particularly endearing; however, it struck me as odd that once again, an American celebrity is doing the Brangelina Twist and dancing their way over to some other country to "liberate" the poor inhabitants. When I pointed it out to my boyfriend, he simply replied, “It’s because [we] are imperialistic by nature.” But are we really that determined to rule the world that we on some level of consciousness are buying up its children and imposing our own systems on them?

Every year Americans make the trek to Asia, Africa, and South America...anywhere but the USA to find an exotic new pet (excuse me....child). I just don't understand why our own people skip all the orphaned children in America to adopt elsewhere. The words are I'm helping these poor people who haven't got a cent. All they need in exchange for this precious life is a few bucks." Sure the going rate for a kid is pretty steep but it's a drop in the bucket for many of our Celebs. Ultimately the hidden perception is, “I give you the bucks [because I can] and you keep handing me your babies." It’s sad but you see television specials and all the older children have this look that reads, “I hope I’m not too old;” You know the age that most adopting families treat as personal cut-offs to avoid those that may be too damaged by society. Is the problem one in which we are too self- loathing and believe our own American children to be too polluted to bring into our homes or is the issue one of pity for those living in places abroad? Either way the practice is becoming a bit insulting when I see children in the USA that are under-privileged a just need a chance to survive.

In college, I read an article that asked the question: Are people in positions of power, who were previously lower to middle class, use their new money and power to liberate or dominate? Well, it seems to me that we are still making promises and exchanging them for a piece of the world's pie...only now the filling is cute little Hispanic, African and Asian children. We take these children from their native culture and replace it with our own superficial nonsense. Even when we do try to supplement the child's life with aspects of the child's original culture, we covet the child's acceptance of our own culture until it's all that matters. What we do in these seemingly harmless practices is imperialistic in nature; controlling to say the least. The unfortunately part is that we do it at the expense of our own abandoned children. Nothing is wrong with exploring the world and helping the masses; but when your own flock is left in the pasture it's time to do a little personal inventory.

♥ God Bless Katherine Heigl and family, this is no slight to you at all; but Brangelina...you are on my list!