America's Original Sin

I'm not really sure what this means. You sometimes hear of slavery or racism referred to as "America's Original Sin." I've been reading a lot of Cornel West lately and I'm beginning to wonder if either "manifest destiny" or imperialism/colonialism/mercantilism aren't our "forbidden fruit," we fought for our independence from Brittan, but couldn't wait for those opportunities to be the big man on campus- Mexican War, Spanish-American War, WWI, oil and influence. 

Of course, being a bleeding-heart  liberal, I could believe that any of Martin Luther King's big 3 evils are our corporate sins- Materialism, Militarism, and Racism. 

I believe it was Republican President Calvin Coolidge who said that the chief business of America is business and that "The man who builds a factory builds a temple." Too bad manufacturing is pretty much dead now days, I suppose if Cool Cal were around today he'd consider Goldman Sacs a temple. Conservatives like to go on about our Christian heritage, but they forget to mention that the Pilgrims were working for the London Virginia Company or that the Jamestown settlers were working for the London Company. It would be great if America were really founded on Biblical morals and religious freedom, but let's face it, gold, tobacco, competition for global trade, cotton, and slavery all played pretty hefty roles.

Anyway- just trying to provoke critical thinking. It's been a long time since I either drew a cartoon or collaged a piece of satire like this. Have fun being provoked. Happy National Cartoonist Day.

MAY 5, Every Year