Bonus Blog #2

  I have always been told about imperialism in school, but its actual definition never really made sense to me.  I did not understand the definition nor its background.  However, I definitely understand it now by being in this class.  Just last week, we read a remarkable story about the Queen of Hawai’i, and how she was overthrown by the United States so they could annex the state.  “Why haven’t I heard of this before,” is what I thought, and then the next day when we were discussing in class, I realized that I was not the only one who had never heard of this story.  The United States’s history of imperialism disturbs me and, what disturbs me more is that they kept the real history of the annexation of Hawai’i a secret from many people, especially its own citizens. 

     I believe the element of imperialism in the United States towards Hawai’i that disturbs me the most is that the United States believed Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoning her people in a ruthless empire.  However, that could not have been more false.  The people of Hawai’i loved their queen and, as she states in her story, “My people constitute four-fifths of the legally qualified voters of Hawaii,” (Chapter LV) furthermore proving that she valued their opinion and valued Hawai’i making decisions together.  She was not an overruling monarch that made all the decisions.  She did not oppress her people; her people loved her and valued her.  Unfortunately, her rule did not last her whole life.

     The United States came to Hawai’i and removed Queen Liliuokalani from her throne.  What disappoints me about the United States even more is that she states in Chapter LV, “I yielded my authority to the forces of the United States in order to avoid bloodshed, and because I recognized the futility of a conflict with so formidable a power.”  The Queen was scared of the United States and did not want to put up a fight.  Even though one would think you would fight for your country’s well-being, she saw the United States so intimidating and threatening that she simply complied with their orders.  Hawai’i’s people were devastated and the country they had had for many years was no longer its own.  It was the United States’s.  

     I understand that imperialism occurs all over this world.  I don’t believe it is an act that can be abolished.  However, I do believe it should be abolished in the United States.  Being a country that practices imperialism seems hypocritical to me because imperialism goes against our belief of freedom and the pursuit of happiness.  The people of Hawai’i were completely content with their Queen.  We took that happiness away.  I am so glad I read this story so that I can be aware of our country’s past and hopefully look for change from this in our country’s future.