I. Images of American Ideals and Challenging American Ideals

American Ideals

This image depicts a small section of the Central Pacific Railroad in Cape Horn, CA. This railroad was built Eastwards from California towards Utah between 1863-1869 in order to link up with previously constructed railways to complete the country's first transcontinental railroad. The way in which this image links to 'American ideals' is multifaceted and in order to fully explore these links, it is critical for us to acknowledge both the historical context that we might associate with the photo as well as any metaphorical symbolism that we feel may be illustrated, either directly or indirectly by the photograph.

Historically, it is important that we first understand the significance of the CPR as a true union between the West and Eastern portions of the United States. It could be argued that this union in the form of a transport link, can be seen as even more poignant when we consider that the railroad was fully opened after 4 years of civil war which had essentially seen the country divided into two halves. Overall, this rail link was essential for the safe movement of mail, goods and people in what was essentially still a volatile time for the country as they were still plagued with innumerable conflicts with remaining Indian groups, tension with Mexico and the immediate aftermath of a bloody civil war. Given the scope of these historical events, we can therefore see the successful construction of the CPR as a vast physical manifestation of the United States beginning to move on from such times and show their progressive nature through hard labor and modernisation, two traits with which the country has now long been synonymous.

Furthermore, the railroad and more specifically, its construction, is inextricably linked with one of the most significant aspects of American society and culture: diversity. After the conclusion of the civil war in 1865 saw the nationwide abolition of slavery, many newly-liberated black workers were contracted to work on the railroad along with many Chinese immigrants, most of whom were fleeing poverty and terror from the Taiping rebellion in Guangdong province, China to the West Coast of the United States. Metaphorically, it seems that the CPR can consequently be considered as a physical testimony to the success of America as a result of its diversity and an example of what is possible when multiple cultures come together to create something wondrous, essentially the narrative of America itself given its historical origins and importance as a haven for immigrants since its inception as a nation.

Finally, although this image chooses to focus on the railroad and the locomotive itself, it remains difficult, if not impossible to ignore the dramatic background of the Sierra Nevada with its rugged mountains and pine forests. It is landscapes such as these that have come to characterise the United States for many as a land which is still very much wild and untouched, perhaps giving the country some of its appeal as a place within which all things are possible, as is consistent with the 'American Dream' and the hopes of the earliest European settlers who referred to it as the 'New World'. In light of this, the railroad can be seen as symbolic of the way in which America has conducted itself throughout its entire history as a nation in reference to the way in which it has consistently had to tame these wild spaces, both literally and metaphorically in order to ensure its continued survival and success as a nation. This concept has been a staple of American society, from Jamestown with its fortified walls protecting the settlers from the wilderness to this railroad, carved through the mountains in an effort to manipulate, conquer and modernise this land for human gain. Ultimately, instead of the human inhabitants overpowering the landscape, I view this image as a fusion of the two which I believe to be representative of America as a whole in regards to both its history and its current state in the 21st century.

Challenging American Ideals

This image shows the treatment of an Iraqi prisoner known as 'Gus' at the hands of his captors in the U.S. military at the Abu Ghraib military prison located 30 km outside of Baghdad. This image was released by CBS news in April 2004 along with a full press-release on what was labelled as the institutionalised and systematic abuse of Iraqi detainees at this prison throughout the war there beginning in 2003. Abuses included sexual abuse, beating, torture, rape, sodomy and murder.

The incidents depicted in these images received worldwide condemnation as well as significant condemnation within the United States itself, though were was some support for the conduct by more conservative Americans and their associated media. The Bush administration responded by prosecuting several soldiers and officers who served sentences in military prisons, although this response has largely been labelled as insufficient due to its small scope and failure to address the underlying problems of authorised and institutionalised maltreatment of military prisoners (such incidents were not isolated and have been reported at numerous U.S. military bases, the most notable of which is Cuba's Guantanamo Bay).

The way in which this image challenges American ideals seems relatively evident due to its visceral portrayal of a lack of freedom and explicit dehumanisation. This demonstrates a certain dark irony as America is a nation that has long identified itself as the leader of the free world and a champion for liberty around the world, as is evidenced by its numerous conflicts within which it sought to liberate a certain people, notably from Fascism in World War II and from Communism in the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Such liberty underpins the foundations of America itself and has been written into their legislature since they themselves overcame British oppression during their revolution which sought to oppose the kind of control and mistreatment that they felt they experienced and is arguably mirrored in the above photograph.

Finally, on a similar train of thought, we can argue that this image becomes considerably more shocking when we consider that the stated objective of the U.S. military's involvement in Iraq was to liberate the nation from the rule of Saddam Hussein and restore freedom to them through showing to them their own Western values of democracy and equality, the likes of which are clearly countered by  the evidence in these photographs. Logically then, if we can question the integrity of the U.S. military (an organisation we have usually considered as a force for good throughout history) and expose it as cruel or 'anti-american ideals', we may then begin to follow suit with other aspects of America. This alludes to a further series of broad and deep questions, which, should they be fully explored, may throw up many questions about the truth of American ideals; whether they even exist at all, or if they do, to what extent are they corrupt, or indeed romanticised in order to conceal a potential rotten core to America and its fabled 'dream'.