Week 5 - Do Won Lee

Do Won Lee

Section 2

Week 5

            The two readings for this week are “Imperial University” by Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira and “Empire of Death and the Plague of Civic Violence” by Darrel Hamamoto. In “Imperial University” Chatterjee and Maira discuss the relationship between United Sates universities and the country itself. How their special relationship formed during the wartimes of the 20^th century. The United States benefited from universities in their research in weaponry amongst other fields that would give the United States advantages against other countries in times of conflict. As a result, universities needed to maintain order against oppositions to this symbiotic relationship. Protest of the representatives of the allies of United States was not tolerated, no matter the ethics nor morality that they may have. In addition to this, protest of the U.S.’s interests in imperialistic acts are not tolerable as well. Hamamoto’s “Empire of Death” dives further into the effects of U.S. imperialism, specifically the domestic side. Hamamoto lists murders that happened to people living in the United States, caused people, particularly men, that have relations to the U.S. military. Hamamoto’s piece describes the violence embedded into the minds of those with military experience, or those impressioned by people with military experience. The wars in Asia that the U.S. were involved in due to the Cold War left many veterans with burning passion to cause violence against the people they fought and also protected.

            Imperial University is a university that is not allowed to speak out against the imperialistic intentions of the United States. If anyone were to protest against such intentions, they would be met with violence and militarized retaliation. Despite the U.S. military being a factor for such protest, it is used on the civilians that they so claim to protect. This domestic violence will continue to exist as long as the United States remains intent on imperializing and controlling foreign affairs. 

My question is, what would go on inside your own head if you were in the positions of the politicians and higher ups and have to make a decision that would affects both other countries and also the universities of your country?

Acharlton@santamariatimes.com, A. C. (2014, February 10). Vets court becomes lifesaver. Retrieved April 30, 2017, from http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/vets-court-becomes-lifesaver/article_cfd0b0e4-9211-11e3-9788-001a4bcf887a.html