Freedom for Prosperity ( ´ ω ` )

      This week's module is discussing changes in American power (specifically the executive branch), democracy v. communism, and new American policies and acts that were put in place. For this post, I will be focusing on the topic of the fight between democracy and communism. To provide some background knowledge, two main 'players' in this fight are the US, representing democracy, and the Soviet Union, representing communism. A very real fear at the time, for both parties, was that one of the two political ideologies would spread and get rid of the other one, thus weakening it's power. On the side of democracy and the US, the spread of communism would rid freedom, individuality, and quality of life for all. As a result, the strategy of 'containment' was created in order to help prevent communism from spreading to other unaffected nations. In doing so, the US would be able to spread democracy and peace to other nations by preventing them from falling under the USSR's control.

     To relate this module to the current age, one could look at the case of the US fight in Afghanistan. The reasoning behind this war was to overthrow the Taliban government and ensure freedom and democracy for those in Afghanistan. The Taliban wanted to enforce their own ideas and control over the citizens of Afghanistan, such as ridding one's expression and liberties to education. During this war, the US would not go without it's own attacks by the other side and 9/11 would occur which devastated and traumatized the nation. The fight for freedom and democracy to be protected was hard and without the reminders of the reason the US wanted to keep fighting (to keep peace for all) it would be difficult to stay motivated. In regards to the module, this fight is similar to the fight between democracy and communism as the US is fighting to maintain peace and freedom for all on the basis of democracy, by overthrowing the Taliban who are aiming to maintain control over the country and rid freedoms. In order to maintain freedom for all, all nations must be free or else obstacles to humanity's goals as a society will be prevented.

      One detail of key note is that the Taliban were not a Communist faction, but ultraconservative. Even though they were not exactly like the USSR, that was also against the US' idea of democracy, in that manner they were, however, similar in the ideas of total control over their citizens and restricting freedom. The US was against these ideas of tyrannical freedoms that prevented peace for the world in exchange for their own benefits as humanity was being held back because of these restrictive governments. Meaning, that the goal of containing such a toxic ideology, and even overthrowing it, was important in ensuring democracy and freedom for all.

(n.d.). The U.S. War in Afghanistan. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/timeline/us-war-afghanistan