Introduction
The power of the United States has not been achieved by virtue or by the superiority of its ideas; its power has been achieved through brutal, savage violence, both military and economic.
This quote speaks to a fundamental truth that is often overlooked in the narrative surrounding American exceptionalism. The mythology surrounding the United States paints it as a beacon of freedom, justice, and democracy. However, the historical record and personal experiences tell a different story—a story of brutality, coercion, and violence that has been systematically used to establish and maintain power.
The Roots of Brutality: From Colonization to Empire
The foundation of the United States was laid in blood and violence. The land that became the United States was forcefully taken from Indigenous peoples, whose societies were systematically destroyed through military conquest, deceit, and genocide. The so-called “Manifest Destiny” was not a divine mission but a justification for expansion through brutality. Estimates suggest that between 1492 and 1900, the Indigenous population of North America declined by approximately 90%, a staggering fact that underscores the savagery behind the growth of American power.
The expansion didn’t stop at the borders of the continental U.S. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States embarked on a path of imperialism, extending its reach into Latin America, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. The Spanish-American War of 1898, which resulted in the colonization of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines, was a classic example of military might being used to assert dominance. The brutal suppression of Filipino resistance during the Philippine-American War (1899–1902) resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.
These acts of violence were not about spreading freedom or democracy; they were about power, control, and economic exploitation. And this has been a consistent pattern throughout the history of the United States.
Economic Imperialism: Exploitation Disguised as Trade
The violence wasn’t just military; economic brutality has been a cornerstone of U.S. dominance. The so-called “banana republics” of Central America—where American corporations like the United Fruit Company essentially controlled governments for decades—serve as prime examples of how economic power was used to subjugate entire nations. In Guatemala, for instance, the democratically elected government of Jacobo Árbenz was overthrown in 1954 in a CIA-orchestrated coup because he dared to challenge the economic interests of American corporations by implementing land reforms.
This was economic violence on a global scale. It wasn’t just about trade or free markets; it was about ensuring that the wealth and resources of weaker nations were funneled to the United States. The Monroe Doctrine and its later iterations, such as the Roosevelt Corollary, weren’t about defending democracy; they were about defending U.S. economic interests, often at the expense of the very people whose lands and resources were being exploited.
Military Force as a Tool for Economic Gain
The Vietnam War, often framed as a conflict to stop the spread of communism, was, at its core, about maintaining U.S. economic and geopolitical dominance in Southeast Asia. The war claimed the lives of over 58,000 Americans and an estimated 2 million Vietnamese civilians, all in the name of preserving American interests in the region. The war didn’t just ravage Vietnam; it tore apart neighboring Cambodia and Laos, leaving long-term scars that still affect those nations today.
Similarly, the Gulf War in 1991 and the subsequent invasion of Iraq in 2003 were framed as missions to “liberate” oppressed peoples and bring democracy to the Middle East. In reality, they were about securing U.S. economic interests, particularly access to oil. The devastation wrought on Iraq, which continues to this day, is a brutal testament to the lengths the United States will go to in order to preserve its dominance.
My Personal Experience: A Case Study in Systemic Brutality
While the United States’ brutal tactics have been global, they also operate at a more personal, systemic level. My own experience within the U.S. justice system reflects the country’s willingness to use violence—both physical and institutional—against individuals. I was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated, enduring a system designed not to uphold justice but to maintain control through fear and coercion.
The Arizona Department of Corrections, where I spent over six years, is emblematic of a broader culture of institutional violence. The prison system in the United States has become a for-profit enterprise, driven by the economic interests of private prison companies. Much like the military-industrial complex, the prison-industrial complex feeds off the exploitation and dehumanization of marginalized communities.
In my case, the state of Arizona was willing to destroy my life based on falsehoods, manipulated evidence, and systemic bias. My wrongful conviction is not an isolated incident but part of a larger pattern of state violence aimed at controlling people, particularly those of color, through legal and economic coercion.
“The state of Arizona was willing to destroy my life based on falsehoods, manipulated evidence, and systemic bias.”
– Ewing Redmond Samuels III
The Global Impact of U.S. Policies
It’s not just individuals like me who have experienced the brutality of the United States’ system of power; entire nations have been crippled by its policies. Take the case of Latin American countries like El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, where U.S. foreign policy has propped up dictators, sponsored death squads, and destroyed economies—all in the name of U.S. interests. The result? Mass migration, extreme poverty, and violence—issues that the United States itself now grapples with at its borders.
The war on drugs, another form of economic and military violence, has also wreaked havoc on countries like Mexico, Colombia, and my home country of Belize. Rather than addressing the root causes of drug addiction and trade, the U.S. has exported violence to these nations, leading to thousands of deaths and destabilized regions.
Conclusion: The Need for a Reckoning
The myth that the United States has risen to global dominance through virtue or superior ideas must be dismantled. The historical and contemporary reality is one of violence—military, economic, and institutional—used to build and sustain power. Whether it’s the devastation of Indigenous populations, the suppression of foreign governments, or the incarceration of millions within its borders, the U.S. has consistently chosen brutality over justice.
As someone who has lived through the violence of the American system, I stand as a testament to its failure to uphold the principles it claims to represent. The world—and especially those who have been on the receiving end of this violence—deserves a full reckoning. Only by acknowledging and addressing this brutal history can we move forward toward a more just and equitable world.
This reckoning must come from both within and outside the United States. It’s time for international bodies to hold the U.S. accountable for its violations of human rights and for individuals and nations alike to recognize that true power does not come from the barrel of a gun or the manipulation of economies—it comes from justice, equity, and respect for all human life.
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
