Search - Speaking Freely, Vol. 4: Chalmers Johnson on American Hegemony on DVD

American Hegemony with Chalmers Johnson

CinemActivist | Los Angeles, CA | 01/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was going to write an article on American Hegemony for my blog. I researched the subject my best and then started to write the article. What I found online assumed I knew quite a bit about American Hegemony already. I read multiple articles and understood very little by the end of my research. So I decided to watch "Speaking Freely Volume 4: American Hegemony with Chalmers Johnson".

Chalmers Johnson earned his PH.D at the University of California, Berkeley in 1961. Johnson then served in the Korean War as a naval officer in Japan. He has written numerous books including, American Empire, Blowback, The Sorrows of Empire, and Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic. He is also president and co-founder of the Japan Policy Research Institute, an organization promoting public education about Japan and Asia.

In one segment of Speaking Freely Volume 4, Johnson compares the current infrastructure of the United States to the British empire in World War II. He explains that you can't have foreign Imperialism and domestic Democracy at the same time. The British found this out in 1945 when they realized they could not rule the jewel of the crown (mainly India) through their traditional means administrative massacres. "Having just defeated the Nazi's, they could not continue to behave like Nazi's," Johnson clarifies. Therefore, they made the decision to give up the empire, because if there is anything that doesn't mix, it is foreign Imperialism and domestic Democracy. "You can be a domestic Democracy, you're empire will fall apart." He then proceeds on saying that if you want the empire, you will lose the domestic Democracy and this just becomes a Tyranny. This is what happened to Rome. The British gave up their empire at the end of World War II to their cousins, the Americans. And this is where the American Empire began.

I sincerely recommend this DVD to everyone interested in learning about American Hegemony and the American Empire, politics, and the history of this country in general. Watching the DVD is like having Johnson in your living room explaining everything you wanted to know about the American Empire."

Is it too late?

P. Gravis | Panama City Beach, FL, USA | 04/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I very highly recommend this film for anyone that wants to understand whats going on in America and where we are heading. If you want a taste you can find portions of it on U-tube, etc. The facts presented are easily verifiable and jive with what I have witnessed while working for the government for 20 years. A companion film I recommend is "Why we Fight", released in about 2003. I guarantee it will change your perception of our country and leave you in thought.

Most people however, do not want to understand whats going on and prefer to do the old ostrich head in the sand thing, and to then act surprised later. If this is you, stay away, you'll have nightmares later."