Land of the free and home of the brave. These words define American culture and evoke patriotism among its citizens. But, if one were to look beyond the shining sentimentality and apply these words to the U.S.’s cruel history, it conjures a different feeling. In 1893, Hawaii was colonized by the United States and has since become the epitome of these famous words. Paradistic freedom balanced with brave militaristic guardians make Hawaii the perfect vacation spot, surrounded by the safety of countless military personnel. The islands are the land of freedom, providing an escape for the average American, and the military are the brave guardians protecting paradise. What goes unseen, however, is the vicious exploitation of the land and people and
…show more content…
It appears to tourists as a nostalgic memorial and a worthwhile attraction, but was initially an unwelcome invasion of Hawaiian land. “The Pearl harbor military-tourism complex succeeds because it manages the difficult balancing act of emphasizing serious historical and emotional content with the expectations of tourism in a tropical place” (p.135). By obscuring the truth about Hawaiian colonization, the military has developed a trustworthy reputation and hypocritically plays the role of Hawaii’s caretaker. “The sheer array of military equipment on display for tourists demonstrates the efforts of securing paradise” (p. 117). By evading the truth behind colonization, the U.S. is able to also steal the credit for preserving the beautiful …show more content…
military feels safe and familiar. “On the geopolitical stage, this exoticization of Hawaii’s islandness and culture fits into the romance of the US security in the region” (p.37). U.S. citizens are conditioned to disregards the detrimental effects the militarization of Hawaii had on its culture. Instead, the soldiers are praised for protecting the citizens and providing a sense of security. “American imperialism in effect substitutes a narrative of benevolent paternalism for a history of expansion, dispossession and genocide.” (p. 25). Unfortunately, as the appeal of Hawaii is further promoted, the more the military is associated with “securing
It appears to tourists as a nostalgic memorial and a worthwhile attraction, but was initially an unwelcome invasion of Hawaiian land. “The Pearl harbor military-tourism complex succeeds because it manages the difficult balancing act of emphasizing serious historical and emotional content with the expectations of tourism in a tropical place” (p.135). By obscuring the truth about Hawaiian colonization, the military has developed a trustworthy reputation and hypocritically plays the role of Hawaii’s caretaker. “The sheer array of military equipment on display for tourists demonstrates the efforts of securing paradise” (p. 117). By evading the truth behind colonization, the U.S. is able to also steal the credit for preserving the beautiful …show more content…
military feels safe and familiar. “On the geopolitical stage, this exoticization of Hawaii’s islandness and culture fits into the romance of the US security in the region” (p.37). U.S. citizens are conditioned to disregards the detrimental effects the militarization of Hawaii had on its culture. Instead, the soldiers are praised for protecting the citizens and providing a sense of security. “American imperialism in effect substitutes a narrative of benevolent paternalism for a history of expansion, dispossession and genocide.” (p. 25). Unfortunately, as the appeal of Hawaii is further promoted, the more the military is associated with “securing