You're Either With Us Or Against Us by chimera46
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is a remake of a very rough image I posted back in 2002. At the time I was inspired by that old Cold War propaganda poster of the Soviet octopus reaching it's tentacles across the globe. Aside from it being fun to turn propaganda on it's head, the image as a metaphor for US military power today isn't all that off.
As it stands today there's a string of US military bases that span the globe, and that list is growing. The best sites i've found on this are as follows:
http://www.topsy.org/MilArWorld.html (links to the others)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/WARROOM_front.asp?cp1=1
http://www.ppu.org.uk/pm/usbases.html
Note that it's hard to get good informaiton, each source is a little different (what's up with that?) but in either case US facilities dot the globe.
Also, please consider the 2002 US Naitonal Security Strategy that, in a nutshell, says "the US should do everything possible to maintain its position as the sole Superpower by maintaining a military capability that [is] so far ahead of potential rivals that those states would not seek to compete"
Now don't get me wrong, there's compelling arguments for a hegemon as opposed to several competing great powers (safer sea lanes, less chance of a massive total war, etc). That said, for anyone who's not an American (like me), the ability for any one nation to be able to project megadeath abroad like this is a scary thought.
One more thing: Before you comment please see those sites, and remember that i'm a Canadian, so I don't really care about being "un-american" or un-patriotic. Besides, where I'm from you can still love your country and hate the policies the governtment commits to. Hell, where i'm from excessive patriotism can be viewed as suspect, it can cause more problems than it solves.
Comments (22)
Very true your words... though i love the idea to be the world one nation, it should not happen with military power. ~Uwe
Hehe, like the old joke by Jack Handy goes, "I'm all for world peace, but at what cost?"
Wonderful. Checkout www.prisonplanet.com The sites alot wierd but dose seem to get things right for the most part.
This is nicely done. And I love the reversal of the propaganda image. It also says to me that we have become the thing we were fighting. It is an odd paradox. Much like my experience within and without the United States where people love Americans or America but hate our government. I often hear people say they are proud to be Americans but are appalled by our government. I have often been told but non US citizens that they like America and love the American People but absolutely hate our government. How strange that the government has become so separated from the people who are supposed to have elected (created) that government.
Excellent visual statement!
Great idea! Hey, I think I saw the 'axis of evil'...oh no, it's gone thanks to octopussy :)
As an American, I tire of other countries who depend on us acting as if we are always the bad guys. As for your statement "the ability for any one nation to be able to project megadeath abroad like this is a scary thought", consider Iran. How about if Canada steps up to the plate and handles this one? Oh, Canada can't because of defunding the Canadian military in favor of a failed national health care coverage. Have your doctors and nurses take care of Iranian nuclear threats. Interesting art work, but tainted by a skewed world view, no doubt caused by deep rooted socialism.
Tim: "I tire of other countries who depend on us" depend on you for what exactly? Last time I checked it was Canadian and Nato troops who were increasingly doing the footwork in Afghanastan because SOMEONE ran out of troops when they decided to make Iraq "Bush Country". As for Iran, If a vastly superior nation (militarily) invaded 2 countries on either side of me, you'd bet I'd start some saber rattling, and you'd bet i'd get my hands on the biggest baddest weapons possible.
Tim: you say "socialist" like it's a bad thing.:) Do you still cling to the myth of the "self-made man"? Did you drive to your private school on privately-owned roads, or were you just born in a privately-owned hospital? As for Canada: How dare they short-change that pauper military-industrial complex to look after the health of their citizens.THEY MUST BE PUNISHED.What a bunch of second-raters. Have you noticed that we have the most expensive, AND WORST health care among the industrialized nations? But the spendiest military by a factor of forty. God Bless America.
jangled, you're talking to someone who arrogantly believes that every other country in the world is supposed to put our interests ahead of their own.
Hmmm, Wizartim's response is at least....consistant! Love the image! And agree with the sentiment, though I would point out, 100 years ago, the flag would have been Britsh..and Canada still served the crown back then? 2,000 years ago it would have been Roman....100 years from now? Probably Chinese.....
Charlemagne: You make some good points, although I should clear up some misconceptions. Canada WAS really good at peacekeeping, but since the Cold War our capabilities have shrunk and with it the troops we do send out, having to go back for multiple tours wears out the troops (the peacekeeping mission on cyprus lasted some 30 years). As for healthcare, no idea how that got into the conversation, this image was only about two things, 1.how people can get irked when propaganda techniques so accepted when used against 'the other' is reviled when used against your own, and 2. An octopus as a metaphor for US global military reach. I don't believe any of the above comments refute any of that, In fact I'd say they confirm it.
Interesting job:)
Interesting picture. I still think the US should invade Canada, tho. You people are just too quiet up there, and I have yet to forgive you for sending us Howie Mandel.
LOL, I thought we made up for that by giving up Pamela Anderson?
But did you also send us Brian Adams? Don't even THINK about going tit-for-tat; we'd bury you (in ill-conceived and meaningless schlock, that is)
Kool work! Excellent! "V"
We're number 1! We're number #1! Hooray USA!
so i am against the usa leaders ,and thare stupid followers,, i have lurnt not to trust people,hou have prisseners?so cold terrorist? in other country's and flay them (cia) to ,eu,poland,turky.middeleast irak.guantanamo.
A very interesting subject. Great image Chimera.
Great picture and message! Extremism is never good!
AMERICA F*CK YEA !!! No Irony intended