America's apartheid mentality toward the world

Let's start treating the world's 6 billion non-Americans as equals.

from the April 25, 2008 edition

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Climate change is an area in which we urgently need to adopt this approach. The current Bali conference negotiations give us a window to reach a fair international agreement on reducing climate-wrecking emissions. But what does "fairness" entail?

We cannot ask emerging countries such as China or India simply to forgo the economic growth that has brought such benefit to Americans and Europeans for 150 years now. Chinese and Indian leaders have already declared that unacceptable. Instead, we must work together to negotiate emissions caps that may be painful in the short run, but give us all the time and the tools we need to transform our economies into ones the Earth can sustain.

Treating the peoples of other countries as our true equals is the American way. In the Declaration of Independence, the Founders held it self-evident that "all men" (meaning "all men and women") were created equal – not just "all US citizens." Then, in the 1940s, American leaders were visionary in creating the United Nations and the bodies associated with it. These institutions embody the values of human equality and nonviolent problem solving. Yes, they're flawed. But they can be reformed. And they stand today as a supreme achievement of their American creators.

In a world built more truly on principles of equality, might US interests get swamped by the hostile and dictatorial tendencies of China or other emerging nations? Such a fear is exaggerated (and harmful). The US has several important protections for its independence: its geographical sturdiness; the UN's principles of non-aggression and respect for state sovereignty; and, at the military level, its continuing deterrent power.

Consider, too, what happened in the cases of the British Empire and South Africa. After decades of colonial bloodshed, all those once-fearful leaders finally realized that if you offer respect and equality to other people, then they will accord it back to you. There is certainly a lesson there!

Today, America's relationship with the world's 6 billion non-Americans is more vital to our wellbeing than ever before. Let's work on making it the most constructive relationship we can.

• Helena Cobban, a former Monitor correspondent, is a "Friend in Washington" with the Friends Committee on National Legislation. Her latest book is "Re-engage: America and the World After Bush."

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