The United States of America, for a number of practical and mythological reasons — technological, industrial, commercial, religious, and political — has got to where it is today.

But, America has a predicament that reminds me of Shakespeare’s Henry IV’s lament: “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

America, like Henry IV, does what it takes to get top-dog status. Now, for doing that, all Henry gets are sleepless and tormented nights. In contrast, America’s torment is caused by the fact, or the perception, of its grandiosity; its economic and military might, and its trumpeting of democratic values and human rights.

These realities and myths are believed and embraced by struggling peoples of the world. But, ironically, these latter Jeffersonian ideals of democracy, except in theory, may not yet even exist in the United States.

Arab spring

So, because of America’s publicity machinery, everybody takes America seriously and wants the US to help them fight their battles and solve their problems. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown indeed.

So when Iraq was run by Saddam Hussein, the Shias wanted the USA to help them get rid of him. The US then found a pretext to overthrow Saddam: The bogus claim of weapons of mass destruction and we now see the results — the beheaders and psychopaths of the so-called caliphate have taken centre stage

Also, when Moammar Gadhafi was in power in Libya, people who heard about America’s much-heralded species of democracy wanted America, and its Western allies, to help them overthrow Gadhafi, who they said was torturing them. He was, at best, a madman and, at worst, a sadist. But that’s my opinion.

The same goes for Egypt.

Egyptians wanted to get rid of Hosni Mubarak. They did, and with America’s support for elections they installed President Mohamed Morsi of the Muslin Brotherhood. But this democratic experiment encouraged by the USA proved short-lived and became a disaster for countless Egyptians. For General Sisi, in a military coup, seized power, killed thousands of Egyptians, locked up thousands more, and to this day Morsi languishes in a prison cell with at least 10 death sentences imposed on him.

Rich uncle

So here you have this rich uncle, AKA Uncle Sam, who everybody is looking to for help, whether or not these people are in need of help. Now, when Uncle Sam gets involved, he is criticised, even denounced, for interfering in other countries’ affairs. And, if on the other hand, he does nothing, he is chastened and accused of betraying his democratic credentials by not supporting the ‘oppressed’. He is cynically taunted with statements like, “thought you believed in democracy”, etc. Even rich Europe and North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries look to America for help.

Blame Obama

In Syria, had US President Barack Obama got in there when his self-declared ‘red line’ had been crossed by Assad, some of his critics and supporters say that Syria would not have become the bloodbath it is today. Since he failed to get militarily involved in a big way (the Russians have), millions of Syrians have fled and are fleeing to unwelcoming Europe, except for Germany. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel has since suffered political blowback because her once open-door policy is now out of favour.

Refugees

Fleeing migrants have sought refuge in other Middle East countries, which themselves have become overwhelmed by refugees. The United Nations says that not since World War II has there been such a massive displacement of people from their countries. In this massive exodus, countless hundreds, perhaps thousands, have perished in the deserts of Africa and in the Mediterranean Sea.

Fool’s gold

So, America, indeed, is in an unenviable position of ‘damn if you do, damn if you don’t’.

I’m no apologist for the USA, but I understand and sympathise with its predicament. Its head is breaking from the weight of the ‘golden crown’.

What is the way out, then, for America, if it wants to divest itself of its imperialistic mantle? Get rid of the crown, for it’s fool’s gold, you might say. That might be the ultimate solution, but right now that isn’t going to happen. For everybody, including the USA, is mesmerised by gold, which everyone wants burnished even more.

George S Garwood, PhD, is a Jamaican educator and author who resides in Florida. Send comments to the Observer or to merleneg@yahoo.com.