The power of the Eagle

The past week's edition of The New York Times Magazine carries the cover story "The Burden." This week's U.S. News & World Report has a story called "The New American Empire?" Both articles deal with one concept: the ambitions of being the "world's only superpower." \nAs the blue-and-red Eagle flies vulture-like over Iraq, U.S. attitudes regarding this planet are now in focus.\nNot many human beings dispute the idea that the United States is the mightiest country on Earth. It is also the wealthiest. But some people -- myself included -- question the goodwill of America in its relations to other nations. \nAccording to the 2002 United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report, in 2000 the United States disbursed $9.9 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA). That is a lot of money -- about $35 per American citizen. \nBut let's look at other nations. According to the same report, Japan disbursed about $13.5 billion in ODA, or $102 per capita. France chipped in with about $80 per capita, adding up to $4.1 billion. The Netherlands gave $221 per capita (total $3.1 billion); Norway gave $276 per head ($1.2 billion) and Denmark, $348 per capita ($1.6 billion).\nI find it amazing that while being the wealthiest and the mightiest, the United States contributes only .1 percent of its Gross National Product. The other countries aforementioned hand out at least three times that percentage, and Denmark kicks in with a full one percent of its GNP.\nBut what is really disturbing in all this is I have the impression that U.S. citizens fail to realize that, as a natural consequence of their nation's supremacy, they are the most powerful citizens on Earth. \nAs citizens of the only world superpower, Americans have the actual power of influencing and maybe even deciding the fate of billions of people. \nThe fact that it doesn't happen does not derive from selfishness. As a guest in this country for the past five months I learned it would be a huge mistake to say that Americans are selfish people. I saw the solidarity in helping the victims of the tornado that devastated neighboring towns last year. I learned that business students are encouraged to serve as volunteers while in college -- and that it counts positively towards their chances of employment. \nAnd almost $10 billion spent in development assistance in one year is definitely not selfish.\nIt is just not enough.\nIf other countries can contribute with a larger share of their wealth to help other nations on this planet, why can't the United States? I don't think that the path to making the world a better place winds through waging wars. I don't think the war on terrorism will be won by killing people. \nI do think that investing in an efficient structure of development, actually helping nations that have good projects will be much more efficient. It will not solve all the problems of the world, but it will definitely make it more just.\nAnd I am aware that there are thousands of organizations providing aid in place already. However, given all the inequalities of our planet, there is not only room for more, but a need for more.\nI fiercely believe if the citizens of this country would care more about the world they live in and cease being so preoccupied with their own comfort, if the citizens of this country would express their opinion and their will by actually voting -- with or without Corvettes -- and writing their representatives in Congress, then changes could happen … for the better! \nAmericans have the power. It is just painful to me to observe that most of them are oblivious of this power or merely wasting it.