Flashpost: "America First" and the Right Side of History

I am sure you all are aware that Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday and it was....well not great.

I have been reflecting on this meeting and after hearing/reading people's response to the Ukraine-Russian War, I wanted to provide some perspective on a so-called "America First" foreign relations policy - by returning, you guessed it, to the past. Particularly, revisiting 1939 and America's response to what was happening in Europe pre-our involvement in WW2. One of the things that has forever stood out for me at the U.S. Holocaust museum is the room they have on American Media during the War (if you have never been to the Holocaust Museum in D.C. you should go). I think because eventually America joins on the side of the allies against Germany, our collective memory of the U.S. role in WW2 is often positive. The U.S. gets to be the hero of that story, when the truth is a little more complicated.

Prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the U.S. mostly took an "America First" position to the War, essentially being of the belief that what is happening over there does not really concern us. This was our position, even though reports of what was happening to the Jews was already publicly available. Yes, the full extent of their treatment was not uncovered until after the war, but it was known that N*zis where fascist and bigots and willing to harm the subjects of their bigotry. Not only was it known, but sections of the American population actually agreed with the N*zis. The article that I have attached to this post discusses the 1939 gathering in New York of 20,000 American N*zi supporters. How does this all relate to the modern Ukraine/Russia conversation?

Well, it demonstrates that being on the "right" side of history is not as straightforward or linear as we like to believe. It also suggests that since the 20th century (and arguably before), America has never been able to be an island - separated from our allies and from the problems of the world. Lastly, it suggests that an "America First" philosophy often leads to actual harm on American soil, not protection. Yes, our alliance with Ukraine has cost a lot of money during the war and I am sure that both Putin and Zelensky would like to end the war, but to sacrifice our commitment to democracy via alienating our democratic allies and rewarding less than democratic regimes - cannot be the answer.

Why and how a war ends has consequences. Consequences that will likely extend to us, bullying Ukraine to submit to Russia might save us money, but it will likely cost us much more.