America: An empire to rival Rome?

[Droppyale]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3430199.stm

Interesting Article.

"an empire in denial."

[ClubMed]

The word Empire comes from the Latin 'imperium' which means absolute power.

The USA is a political, economic and military entity that exerts control on a majority of the worlds countries and blocks. It exerts this control through politics, economic measures and the use of military force.

Many people think the term ‘empire’ to be wrong simply because it evokes images of British and French colonial powers that today do not reflect completely what happens in the political theatre.

However as time passes, empires will change in appearance and behavior, yet fundamentally they remain powerful entities that all must take into account, and, that are in a controlling and dominating position.

If the USA is not an empire in the old sense of the world, then it is an empire in a new and current sense.

No matter what you wish to call the USA as an entity, it would be hard to deny that America has ‘imperium’.

[Epidemic]

Well I do not make a distinction as to the definition of empire changing.

If you want to use a different word then I might agree.

But an empire as far as I am concerned directly controls the nations.

Main Entry: em·pire
Pronunciation: 'em-"pIr
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French empire, empirie, from Latin imperium absolute authority, empire, from imperare
1 a (1) : a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority; especially : one having an emperor as chief of state

we fail on most tests for empire. AFAIAC.

We do not have a single sovereign authority, nor have an emperor, we have no territories which remain habitually under our control. We also do not maintain imperium (Latin imperium absolute authority)

One might be able to argue the term political empire but that is an exaggerated use of the word empire in that respect. As we do not have absolute power over the politics. We are able to pressure, not force.

[J-Excel]

The US does not have absolute power. Not even in our neighboring countries. The US has a strong economic influence in the world. As does GB, France, Germany, Japan, China, OPEC, etc.

[Chuckiechan]

" If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank an American soldier!"

[BettaBuy]

Thank You American soldier for enabling me to read in English.

sure...whatever

[Epidemic]

bettabuy, You dont need to read it in german. we helped ya out there a bit.

[vass0922]

Originally posted by Chuckiechan
" If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank an American soldier!"

Why is it necessary to throw that in the face of europeans on every possible opportunity?!

Cripes, I'd probably hate americans if I was a brit and that constantly being thrown into my face.

[BettaBuy]

Originally posted by Epidemic
we helped ya out there a bit.

You sure did. So did the Russian Red Army, the French Resistance, the Serbian partisans, the Australians, the Poles...etc..etc...

Therefore I thank all of the above

and not just one

[Chuckiechan]

It was not meant as an insult.

If the pacifists in the USA would have won out in WW2, Europe and Great Britian would have been German colonies. German U boats would have sunk everything entering or leaving Britan by boat and the starving population would have sued for peace. There was no Untied Nations to stop them...

I guess some people just don't appreciate their freedom to purchase and read unabridged history books.

BTW: the resistance was enougraged by the fact that the "Yanks are coming"... They only had to keep alive until reinforcements from the USA arrived.

BTW2: The Russians wanted to give your the "Bear Hug" ala Berlin.