Project a Dominant Image
Many people have attempted to offer an explanation for why America's image has suffered over the last few decades. Although jealousy and envy seem logical suspects, something else is overshadowing the great deeds that America has performed over the past 70 years.
After all, America has twice saved the world in two world wars, held communism at bay, defeated rogue dictators, discouraged many would-be aggressors, formed and financed the United Nations, and has continually policed the world at our own expense for decades.
America's scientists are responsible for curing dozens of diseases and researchers have developed countless medicines. Over the years, only America has supported struggling nations. Only America can be counted on to come to the rescue in time of natural disaster. Only America has consistently been the most generous nation the world has ever known.
So what's the problem? How can it be that "Half the world hates America?" Previously, without a theory of human nature from which to work, there simply is no way to know what has gone wrong and what Americans should do about it, if anything.
Happily, with the advent of Humanology®, these questions (and many more) can be answered with certainty. Moreover, we now know exactly what we must do to change the way the world feels about America. In doing so, we will gain greater cooperation from our allies and a newfound respect from our enemies.
The following analysis is deduced from a new understanding of human nature. The theory behind this new understanding is explained in the book The Essence of Man. (The Essence of Man is Volume 1 in the Humanology® series). What follows is the application of this theory as it applies to America's image and how human beings can be expected to respond to it. A More Perfect Union (Volume 5 in the series) thoroughly addresses this issue. More information on understanding human nature and these books can be found by following the "Supplies" link.
Why So Many People Feel Disdain for America
Several facts must be recognized before we can proceed.
As demonstrated throughout nature, competition before mating is the preferred means of adopting a species to its environment. The purpose of the practice of competition before mating is to insure only the best specimens mate.
The tendencies to compete and demonstrate dominance is in human beings as well. If we are not personally competing, we know who is and who among us is dominant.
Because nations are comprised of human beings, each nation has a social image within the community of nations. Yes, the nations of the world are much like any social group, where each nation has a social image.
Social groups of human beings are comprised of nurturers, protectors, enticers, contenders, innovators, and those who are dominant. In the group of nations, America is the dominant nation of the world (analogous to the dominate male of the group).
This is textbook Humanology®.
Our role as "dominant nation" was assumed inadvertently and quite naturally because of three sets of circumstances and characteristics.
World wars twice destroyed the infrastructures of Europe and Asia during the last century. Although America lost close to 500,000 troops (citizens), we escaped with only minor setbacks to our way of life. In fact, our economy increased significantly because of the "war machine" that was developed in rescuing the world from tyranny.
America has been blessed with an abundance of land and resources and a perfect geographic location. America is easily accessible from anywhere in the world and has warm-water ports up and down both coastlines.
In contrast (as an example), with most of its coastline along the Arctic Ocean, Russia is essentially landlocked with few warm-water ports.
The founders and early Americans settled on four important systems in their construction of America — (1) a republican form of government (as opposed to a democracy), (2) a "fair-market economy" (as opposed to a "shared wealth economy"), (3) one set of just laws that are fairly applied (as opposed to multiple sets of laws that are applied unequally), and (4) an expectation that citizens are self-reliant (as opposed to citizens being dependent on government).
This unique set of circumstances and characteristics positioned America as the "best genetic specimen of the group," propelling America to the position of "dominant male."
It's easy to discard this analysis and hold onto the belief that human beings are not like the animals with regard to assuming and projecting a social image. Surely, it is much more comfortable to believe that human beings are elevated and not influenced by such lowly animalistic characteristics. Yet, if we hope to remedy our social problems, we must lose our arrogance and face reality.
In the animal world, the best genetic specimen in a social group is recognized as "the dominant male." Because of his position within the group, the dominant male is regarded appropriately. However, suppose the dominant male walked around doubting himself, biting his nails and pulling his hair; nervous and unsure of what he should do. How would we expect the other animals in the group to respond?
As nature would have it, the other animals in the group would feel disdain for the "impostor," and they would be uncomfortable until the troubled dominant male (1) demonstrates environmental cues of dominance or (2) abdicates his position of dominance to make room for the "real" dominant male.
When the dominant male of a species (called the Buck) loses his physical and mental superiority, he is quickly challenged by one or more Contenders. Again, this is Humanology® 101.
We see this same process of "tearing down" happen to celebrity figures. Because people (all social animals) are inclined to adulate the one who appears to be dominant, the public often gives celebrities more credit than they deserve (elevating them to a level of unmistakable dominance). However, the public will quickly tear down the same celebrities if (1) the celebrities demonstrate behavior not befitting the one that is dominant (in their respective field) or (2) a better alternative arrives on the scene.
This explains "the new kid in town" syndrome.
Of course, their feelings would come from the subconscious and, if interviewed, the people feeling the disdain would not speak in terms specific to Humanology®. Rather, they would reach for a more familiar explanation such as, "he is too old," or "too fat," or "not cool enough." However, what they mean to say is, "he no longer appears to be the dominant male of the group."
As is the case with so many other mysteries of life, understanding human nature (Humanology®) reveals the answer. In this case, we now understand the relationship between dominance, projected image, and feeling disdain.
Over the past few decades, America's image has steadily declined to where it is no longer that of a strong and confident dominant male. Besides our enormous debt, political turmoil, racial discord, immigration problem, poor academic performance, problem with drug use, violent gangs, and growing prison population, citizens are divided over two opposing and competing views of human nature.
These opposing views of human nature (Spring Theory versus Gravity Theory) has resulted in a "culture war" in which society is wrestling over issues such as abortion, the role of God in society, the way to punish criminals, how to help the needy, what to do about militant Islam, and so on. Unfortunately, the resulting image projected by America is that of an emotionally distraught (wounded) dominant male.
Solution
The way to remedy America's faltering image is to demonstrate environmental cues that indicate we are in fact the dominant male of the group. The alternative of fully abdicating our position as leader of the free world will also elevate our world image. However, to do so would prove disastrous for the world.
Just as it is with every species on Earth, some nation will be dominant. If we announce officially that we are no longer dominant and will henceforth perform as just a member nation, the Contenders will rise up and compete for the position of "dominant male." As such, to surrender our leadership position in the world is to invite (initiate) another world war.
Utopian theorists (advocates of Spring Theory) claim that the world would be better off if America would abdicate its position of dominance; that all nations would be inclined to lay down their weapons and get along as one big happy family. Who is more dangerous to America: the enemy that says they're coming to get us, or citizens singing songs about peace, love, and letting down our defenses? One thing we know for certain — our enemies are hoping the lyrics of the wishful thinkers lull us to sleep?
For the sake of all the world, our society must project images that America is unquestionably the "dominant male" among nations. To do so, we will need to make several policy changes, beginning with the following measures:
We must project images of confidence, purpose, and solidarity. Essentially, America must perform as a quiet, smooth, efficient corporation. As such, we must balance the budget, begin to pay down the debt, and solve our social problems.
We must gain the lead in academic performance, eradicate violent gangs from our cities, and begin to solve our problem prison population.
We must fix our immigration problem at once and defend our one American cuture.
We must end the abortion debate, embrace all citizens regardless of their sexuality and preferences, and retire all policies and practices that discriminate, separate, or hinder progress of minority groups.
Politicians, the media, and especially teachers need to understand the difference between a republic and a democracy, and they need to clarify the difference for their respective audiences.
In a republic, representatives represent their district, not the majority. Only in a democracy do those in the majority have more power than those in the minority.
Everyone should henceforth refer to America as a republic, not as a democracy.
Citizens must honor our republican form of government. Rather than show their displeasure in the streets, they must work instead through the channels expressly created by the founders and embedded within the U.S. Constitution for just that purpose. They must protest only in the voting booth, vote only if they are politically informed, and allow their elected representatives to do their job without interference.
Not surprisingly, the people who habitually protest in the streets are the same ones who say, "Half the world hates us."
Our elected representatives must honor our republican form of government. They must be sure to represent their District or State rather than the citizen majority or noisy minority.
Congress must not use the media in an attempt to win a lost debate. Members must refrain from bringing issues lost in the halls of Congress to the streets, even though doing so might further their respective careers. Regardless of their sincerity or importance of an issue, taking the debate to the streets after the fact is contrary to the workings of a republic. Such behavior undermines our republican form of government.
The respective floors of the House and Senate are the place for debate and any expressions of displeasure. Members of Congress must realize they cannot possibly win every debate. As such, they must adopt a sense of humility and honor the democratic process by which they make decisions as established in and by the U.S. Constitution.
We must ask members of Congress to refrain from speaking derogatorily about the opposition in public. Though the right to disagree is an essential characteristic of a free society, the way representatives conduct themselves is important in the way America is perceived by others.
The world is listening, and it is human nature to interpret messages of division and dissension as evidence that the one who is dominant is weak. If members of Congress truly love their country, they will honor the system. They must remain civil and dissent in the appropriate manner at the appropriate time (in the halls of Congress).
If we are to elevate America's image internationally, this information must be taught in our high schools nationwide. If we do, within ten years, every citizen through the age of 28 will know these important and largely forgotten truths.
The book A More Perfect Union explains the difference between a republic and a democracy. It makes the argument that America is a republic, and it explains why this distinction is important.
Promoting world peace
Our new understanding of human nature makes these goals essential if we hope for world peace. All nations have a social role in the world. America is regarded as the "dominant male" (among nations).
In animals, the more the dominant male appears to be elevated, the less likely it is for Contenders to become restless and compete for the position of dominant male. The rules of nature are universal. As such, we can expect the same response in all social groups, including the world group of nations.
Only a republic can be the dominant nation of the world because only a republic can project the environmental cues of dominance. This is why public protest destroys America's reputation in the world.
When America appears to perform as a democracy (through messages of public protest, including regular derogatory remarks against the sitting president and his executive team), the world loses its confidence in America as the dominant male. In contrast, performing as a republic and not a democracy (no projected messages of public protest) confirms our position of dominance.
The images of protest continually projected to the world are the reason why America has had trouble gaining the cooperation of other nations when confronting a common enemy. Moreover, those same images inspire aggressor nations to challenge America for supremacy.
In other words, public protest (in all its forms) in America will surely incite aggression in the world. For the sake of international peace, America must project unshakable dominance through the appearance of a united public (republic).
If citizens can come to honor our republican form of government as outlined in the U.S. Constitution, America will project an image of unity, confidence, and therefore dominance, discouraging aggressive behavior from the Contender nations in the world while gaining greater cooperation from our friends.
The Patriot Party intends to strengthen America's rightful role as the dominant nation of the world. Besides enjoying the pride and prestige of being regarded as the best in so many ways, maintaining our dominant position is the only way to maintain peace. With the advanced weapons technologies at everyone's disposal today, a change in the world's dominate nation would result in a global conflict with unimaginable consequences.