America's role in international affairs

America's Role In World Humanity

Since the days of the Founding Fathers, the United States has always seen itself as an example for the rest of the world, politically, culturally, and economically. And indeed throughout the decades the United States has been seen by the rest of the world as a pillar of strength, might, and mercy. One would be hard pressed to name another country that has offered more financial and humanitarian aid to other countries than the United States.

Just this past week, a deadly earthquake hit Iran, leaving the ancient two thousand year old city of Bam, as well as hundreds of miles of towns and villages in rubble. The death toll is expected to exceed 50,000 or more. Although, the United States has not had diplomatic relations with Iran since 1979, when revolutionaries overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah took American Embassy workers hostage, the U.S. is sending search-and-rescue teams, food, and medical supplies (Savage 2003). More than 200 civilian disaster response specialists and a team of fifty-four doctors and other medical specialists were flown to Iran, along with more than 150,000 pounds of medical supplies delivered by the U.S. military bases in Kuwait (Savage 2003). Even though Iran is one of the countries listed as part of President Bush's 'axis of evil,' the severity and urgency of the situation led the United States to offer humanitarian aid (Savage 2003). State Department spokesman, Lou Fintor, responded by saying, "There is a human catastrophe in Iran and our only mission is to alleviate the human suffering ... these efforts will not alter the tone or intensity of our dialogue with the Iranians on other matters of grave concern" (Savage 2003).

Perhaps at no other time in history has the United States been seen as a savior more than it was during World War II. William Styron's "Sophie's Choice" is one of the most intimate stories centering on the Holocaust and the effects left on countless individuals. There have been numerous books written about the Holocaust as well as volumes of personal accounts and documentaries, however, Styron created such a heart-wrenching portrayal of a Holocaust survivor trying to come to terms with the terror she experienced and the choices she was forced to make during those horrific years, that once read it is difficult to forget (Styron 1992). For those in the concentration camps, the liberating troops must have seemed like angels direct from God.