The United States of America.

The United States of America.

From my childhood days, I have always loved and cherished the government and the good people of USA. Both the America of the past and the present. I watched a whole lot of American movies, even though back then I never understood one word from their communications, because of the way words were pronounced (oral English) yet I still enjoyed it.

As a son of a newspaper vendor, I was exposed to reading great foreign newspapers and magazines like the Time magazine, The economist, Newsweek amongst others. I followed the happenings in the USA, its entertainment, sports, economy, healthcare system, politics, international relations and most especially its military prowess.   Sometimes then, I wished I was born an American or if I did acquired a United States citizenship.

I sat down today to look again at the USA, and I must say that I am not too happy with them anymore; I don’t fancy them much as I did in the past when I was a kid and growing up, or is it because am grown up now and have read a lot or is it because some, if not most of those American values are speedily fading away. I know my opinion as regards to the USA does not count, but I think writing this piece gives me great joy that my mind is shared out to anyone that cares.  I will be highlighting some of the changes I have witnessed and if an explanation will be made to me. I did be very glad, as I remain an admirer of the USA.

ENTERTAINMENT: looking at the entertainment industry of the US, it has changed, before as a kid, my parents have no worries me watching the movies, as the only headache they have then were just excessive gun shootings. But now it’s not just gun shootings, it has extended to pornography, nudity, drug peddling, heinous crime promotions and religious blasphemies. The musical industry is the same and even worst. Now parents can no longer allow kids watch American movies alone without supervisions! Back in the days musicals were healthy and inspiring, but now musicals are sensual and leave negative images in our minds. What have become of the censor board? Even comedies are not left out. I would have loved to mention names of such movies, but for security reasons, I will not.

POLITICS: some of the recent policies of the US are totally unacceptable to some of us from this part of the world. How on earth will an American supreme court approve gay marriage? Why did the founding fathers not enshrine that into the constitution, why did it have to take this long to realize that gay right was part of the American human right? Yes the people of America want it and have gotten it, but we the admirer’s of the US are not comfortable with it.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: before now I used to see America as the father in a home. That fatherly role is to cherish his wife (The Group of Eight (G8) refers to the group of eight highly industrialized nations—France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, Canada and Russia—that hold an annual meeting to foster consensus on global issues like economic growth and crisis management, global security, energy, and terrorism) and then cares, teaches and supports his children (the rest of the world).

But the US is really not leaving up to that anymore. They have allowed the American interest to override their true role. Nations that have nothing to offer them are less cared for and those with high interest and offers are most cherished and loved. It’s not the America I used to know that stood up to end a lot of abnormalities in several parts of the world.

MILITARY: I once wished I could find my way to join the American army, I even applied for it, but because I was not resident in the US soil, I was not enrolled, this goes to show my love and respect for the US army. But now it has really dropped, the army has become bullies, tortures and abuses human right in the name of war on terror. Most wars it fought then were justified but recently, some of its war are personal and self interest of few powerful individuals.

   Small arms proliferation's have become the order of the day amongst them. How do most terrorist groups get such heavy equipment's and armories they use to torment their fellow humanity?  How is it that the USA we know and believed in cannot defeat these bastards and end these horrors? Well I think the army has to have a re-think and become what I have known them for.

CRIME RATE: I used to admire the way the police in the US carry themselves and how they fight crime in movies, crime wasn’t that much read or heard about. But now, what we read or hear is just the direct opposite of the past crime rate. Is it that the police morale has dropped? Is it that they are not motivated properly again? Is it that some people somewhere are stopping them from carrying out their function? Or that the criminals are now very powerful for the police force to curtail?

  Like I said earlier my opinion does not really count in these matters mentioned above. But why I am concerned is because like myself here, there are several people who love and admire the USA and are closely watching whatever they do. Our various sectors here in Nigeria both entertainment, (movies and Music) are copying from the USA, our military, government are all learning from you. So please whatever policies you may introduce, remember that millions of us here will be affected. The humorous saying that when America sneezes, the world will catch cold is true. I love the United States of America and I want them to realize how much they mean to us down here. Some people like me here may have not been privileged to come to your soil, but we follow your progress and policies. Please don’t forget you remain the father figure of the world and don’t disappoint us. Teach us morale; raise the stake for transparency and good governance. Our countries last election success is all traced and dedicated to you.

Let me use this medium to wish President Barrack Obama, a Happy Birthday!!

God Bless the United States of America,

God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

God continue to bless the rest of the world.