Friedrich Nietzsche

I have just begun to think of this oft cited passage in a new way. Nietzsche expressed the paradox that currently faces the United States in terms of our foreign and domestic policy. As the original vision of this country is eroded more and more—this erosion fueled by fear-mongering—the question that worries me is: what are we “defending?”

The United States was supposed to be an individualistic nation that respected the rights and autonomy of every human being. We have become a nation of irrational, scared collectivists that occupy countries around the world and pass legislation like the Patriot Act. We force our citizens to purchase things they may or may not want to (Obamacare). We bomb other countries, and torture their citizens. We even assassinate our own citizens (Awlaki) without considering whether they deserve the rights that used to characterize our nation, or whether there is an issue with denying them due process. More and more we are becoming strangers to ourselves; we are betraying the spirit of America.

All of these atrocities are committed in the name of defense, in the name of protection. But just what in the Hell are we protecting at this point?