For years I’ve studied the histories of empires, especially their rise and their fall.
Europe’s most illustrious example, Rome, grew from a city to a state and finally a world empire. When their men tired of fighting, they trained non-Romans in their war tactics, and when they were treated with contempt by Romans, they responded by sacking the city and stealing their treasure before leaving. It wasn’t the end of Rome, but it was a signal of the beginning of the end.
Empires rise and empires fall. That is a lesson of history.
A century ago, Britain boasted that the Sun would never set on the British Empire. A few world
wars later, and after decolonization struggles, it is an empire no more. Its recent Brexit episode
has cleaved its economic strength, and most foreign observers see it as a self-inflicted wound. It
shows us that great empires can succumb to a kind of suicide.
Now what of the American Empire? Is it immune to the lessons of history? Half a century ago it
lost a war to a poor, Asian nation after it inflicted millions of casualties upon it. The country that
won the war was called Vietnam.
Just days ago it elected an immoral man whose only real claim to fame was his bank account.
Because of this election, America has no voice to tell other countries how to elect their leaders. It
has no voice in questions of morality. It has great power, yes. But that didn’t win in Vietnam, nor in
Afghanistan, where they simply outwaited the Americans.
Empires are not immortal. They may last for centuries, yes, but ultimately they rise and they fall.
With love, not fear, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.