Americans

I have traveled a lot.

I enjoyed my travels. I was treated well everywhere.

I found that Americans were generally well liked, but that the America government was not.

I am not surprised that I am well liked. I'm a likable guy. For a time I was surprised that my government was not well liked.

As I traveled, I not only talked a lot, I also listened a lot, and learned to keep my eyes open. I began to learn. I began to understand that even though most people wanted to like the United States, they could not.

I remember being taught that one of the strengths of democracy was its stability. I saw my government supporting anti-democratic government everywhere. We supported those who trusted the people least and who were trusted least by the people. We supported killers, despots, dictators, and cruel exploiters. We supported those interested in the greatest good for the very special few.

My travels began in the days when Americans still referred to the government as 'we' and 'us.' I went to Embassies and Consulates and asked, "Why are we supporting these guys?" When they found that I was serious they explained that it was done in the name of stability! At first I asked, "What about my teachers?" "What about democracy?" I said that I talked to many people who wanted their own democratic government. I said that the people found it confusing that Americans supported their actual point of teaching that government how to suppress them. When I noted How I was being asked, "What people?" and "Which people?" I began to think that I was talking too much.

I began to make my observations a bit more discreetly. My earliest inquiries were mostly in Latin America. I continued observations in Europe, the East and wider.

The major change over these years is that Americans began to refer to their government as they and them.

Tyranny

People Know when they are being tyrannized. They see where that tyranny is coming from. The know about the process of tyranny even when they don't know the word. 

You can know the meaning: It feels arbitrary and despotic. To the majority it appears random and without reason. The thoughtful and those directly hurt know that it is abusive and oppressive. The people don't like it.

The American people of the United States support tyranny over the people of other countries. I have seen it first hand in Latin America and have been told of its activity elsewhere. When asking about it at our embassies and else, I  was told that it was done in the name of 'stability,' and knew that meant 'comfort to American business.' When I mentioned that I was taught that one of the principle advantages of democracy is stability, I met blank stares.

Now I hear American officialdom using the term democracy a bit more. But when questioned one finds that what they mean by democracy is 'like us.' By 'like us' they mean comfortable to American trade. To them it seems to have nothing to do with governance of the people, by the people, and for the people.

There meaning seems pervasive and sinister.