Looked West, Looking East,Headed to Look Upwards

Theodore Roosevelt had advocated the famed "Big Stick Policy" during his political tenure."Talk softly and carry a big stick,and you'll go far".How many of us actually know that this, is in fact a West African proverb? It is a splendid example of how an interpretation can completely change the destiny of a man,a nation, for centuries to follow.

The present day USA is but a culmination of migrant population from various colonies. They were sent to US as exile measures or slave trading. Then it wasn't even the USA.It was simply America. The America of the Native Americans,the Aboriginals and Indians(Disambiguated by Columbus's mistake,for he believed he had arrived at the East Indies).

It is the migrants from various regions and colonies who actually migrated to America over the centuries,developed a collective consciousness and sense of National Identity.The overcame the colonial power excercised by Spain,France ,England and many other countries.On July 4th, 1776 – The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the 13 colony states of the United States Of America, separating it from Great Britain and its king. There has been speculations about whether July 4 was the actual day the Declaration of independence was signed.Indeed,it is thought that although July 4 was the said date,the actual declaration was signed on August 2,1776.

There is an important geographic fact about July 4th.Earth is said to be at the perihelion,i.e,the farthest point from the sun on this particular day based on its revolutionary orbit.If that is true,light falling on the earth on its perihelion should be limited,considering the distance from the sun.But then,why is July midsummer in the West? Simply because,the seasons are determined by the 23.5 degree tilt of the earth's axis.Hence,the Northern hemisphere,tilting towards the sun,receives maximum sunlight.(The Southern hemisphere experiences winter during this time).Hence,July 4th receives maximum sunlight in the year.

The Sun is the primordial and powerful source of energy,and hence all life processes on the Earth. A nation that declares its independence on the day with maximum sunlight,harnessing maximum "power"(pun very much intended), is obviously expected to utilize it! I am not an astrologer.I don't even claim to be one.But certain facts stare us in the face,even when we try to deny it.

The US is unique in the fact that they never follow.When the whole world had right-sight driven cars,the US drives left.They follow the pound system,while the "Standard" says Kilogram.They follow Miles, and we scream "Kilometre".And the fun part,is that they are not different in a "mad-scientist" sort of way.They respect (or so it seems) the ways of other countries. But the message comes very quietly- "When you are on my turf,you follow my rules".It is not loud,but crystal clear(The Big Stick Policy applied and how!).They always chart out a different path,and ensure everyone else toes that line.Infuriating as this is to its allies(no one is openly hostile to the US!),they are forced to respect it,even if grudgingly so.

The only few occasions where US complacence was shaken was during the dreaded Pearl Harbour episode,or the 9/11 attack on the WTC.But,the US reacted,and how! Somehow,the superpower, showed everyone, who the boss really is(Big Stick Policy again!),equivalent to breaking the bones of the offenders in what could be construed as revenge,sweet revenge

Like all the planets orbit around the sun,somehow,all the countries in the unipolar world revolved around policy decisions made in the US.Unfortunately,the withering of its only serious rival for a very long time,the USSR,somehow sealed this fact. But like the cosmic truth that even a long day ultimately comes to an end, the focus is slowly shifting to the East.The Chinese making huge technological and economic advents(India is not far behind either).Japan had made its presence felt very long back with the amount of destruction it caused and underwent(Pearl Harbor,Hiroshima,Nagasaki,nuclear attack).

Japan is a splendid example of resilience in the east.Braving earthquakes and volcanoes,they,along with the US,brave the Pacific Ring of Fire,and letting nothing deter it from being among the most developed countries in the world.It has braved a Tsunami recently,and is once again facing a serious nuclear situation due to the overheating of reactors in Fukushima,an aftermath of the recent dreaded Tsunami and earthquake.But nothing deters them.They move on and rebuild.

The US tendency to play Big brother a host of nations, while resented,is actually obliged by economically weaker nations. Perhaps money does rule after all.But that's not it.The US makes native goodness look cool.It is the perfect Global ambassador. From Sushi(Japanese cuisine) to Yoga(Very very Indian),everything becomes cool once it is Americanized.Hell,even Swami Vivekananda was recognized once he went to America!!

Perhaps that's the lure of this land.You can love them,hate them but just can't ignore them.Probably China is in the fray to topple the US complacence once again.The world will have to wait and watch if the US is atits twilight or rises once again like the proverbial phoenix.

Or perhaps,like Japan, will all of them just realize that, all this one-up manship falls flat in the face of something above them all,Nature's fury unleashed?For then,man is truly humbled,and has to bow until nature has had her say.And start again....all over again.