America is genocidal, sure, but so is every single other society in the history of civilization. America is exceptional because of the technology and the art it contributed to genocide, which is the goal of every civiliztion, remember. Pointing out the difference in scale of US atrocities just prevents us working together for greater justice.

https://lemmy.ml/comment/6343679 https://hexbear.net/comment/4329347

  • ChairmanSpongebob [he/him]@hexbear.netEnglish
    41·
    7 months ago

    drinking with co-workers once the topic of US vs China competition for hegemony comes up- the “smartest” and most well traveled person in the room argued with me that he’d prefer the US be on top of the world because they prefer the cultural products (marvel movies) of the US.

    I asked, " is it really worth all that bloodshed for another remake of a movie you’ve already seen?!" and the guy actually hesitated with that one so idk

    edit: I should mention we don’t even live with the great satan itself, but adjacent to it

    • Frogmanfromlake [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
      21·
      7 months ago

      People severely underestimate US soft power and think most of the world wants to live there to avoid imperialism. The sad truth is that most want to live there because of the power of Hollywood.

      Soft power has the ability to completely shift public opinion in favor of your country no matter what you do after a few generations. Just look at Vietnam with the US or Taiwan with Japan.

      • CindyTheSkull [she/her, comrade/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
        13·
        7 months ago

        My god that’s depressing, but I think you’re 100% correct. I think about this every time I watch another piece of media where yet another rich, beautiful, tv/movie star (even when they’re coded as being plain and poor) is completely consumed with solving their SUPER important in-universe problem, a problem which if thought about for more than 3 seconds is actually the most trivial, mundane, and ultimately inconsequential “problem,” one that is easily solved when you consider the star’s exceptionally privileged material conditions at their disposal, yet is still totally a universally relatable problem of course.

        People watch that over and over and think “so that’s what American’s problems are like! Those lucky bastards! The culture I live in should be more like theirs, and then my problems would be more like theirs too.” even if it’s all subconscious. I mean, I know it happens to me way more than I like to admit even though I try to be aware of it and fight it off in my own mind. The soft power of hegemony as propagated through entertainment mediums is deep as fuck, insidious, tenacious, and overwhelmingly effective. One of the main reasons it works so well is that people like to think they’re immune to propaganda and are just having fun consuming some treats. (trying to channel @UlyssesT with that last sentence, he knew what I’m talking about.)