Sometimes it is really thrilling to listen to Teaching Company courses. Right now, I am listening to a history of the US diplomacy and foreign affairs. Boring, right? How nerdy! Maybe not.
When the American revolution was over, a group of scattered colonists had defeated the most powerful nation on earth. Everything was smooth sailing from then on, right? Maybe not.
Prof. Mark Stoler of the University of Vermont makes it clear that our baby nation was in grave peril from the start. Not only did Britain have lots of power, precedent and motivation to return to the fight but the tired little baby was also eyed by France and Spain, both organized, powerful, rested and wealthy.
I think of Barack taking over the top job and facing internal criticism and daunting questions and issues. But in addition to all that, he and Hilary and advisors and scholars and colleagues have to digest all the goings and comings of all the nations and of the world. Listening to the work done to put France in the balance against the power of Britain in the early years, to communicate effectively with Spain during the efforts to expand westward, I realize that our nation is always trying to be in touch with, to know and to represent itself to all the other countries. F.D.R. and Truman and Eisenhower had to know what they wanted, what their internal opposition wanted and what all the allies and enemies of US wanted. Once you get the full picture, you want to take a nap or crawl under the bed.
