>>Bingo - you win! :)
>>
>>The Monroe Doctrine was a statement to Russia, England and the rest of Europe “that the American continents, be the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers”.
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>>This includes all of North and South America, and not just "Latin America". Be sure to add Canada and the Yukon! So I guess it is alright for us to &^$ everyone in the Americas, but no damn European had better try anything! Or else!
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>>Who controls the Panama Cannel today? China! That is alright as they are not yet a part of Europe. But just you wait! :)
>>
>>Tom
>
>One anti-U.S. (1) comment defines the "free World" as all those countries that are under the control of the U.S. ...
>
>
>(1) I strongly dislike the use of the word "American" here, since "America" is technically the entire continent(s).

Hilmar;

I agree with you! There is nothing "free" about the "free world". Talk about taxes! Or was that Texas? :)

There are many people who are ignorant in one way or another. I always like to point out that Mexico is a North American country. That gets some people mad and makes me laugh. You cannot change reality and some ignorant people “know everything”.

This goes for United States citizens as well as people from Mexico. Some Mexicans use the term “Norte Americano”, as freely as “gringo”, in a derogatory manner.

One thing I could never figure out is why the United States of the 19th century created the term “Manifest Destiny”, and then took only specific lands from Mexico. We defeated Mexico in the Mexican – American War, and only took a part of Mexico when the war was concluded. Why not the entire country? Are we greedy to a point? What is that point and why?

Why did the United States assist Mexico in the 1860’s, to fight the French? That seems easy – to keep European influence out of the Americas.

I recall reading how the United States Navy went to Central America when the British had built a fort. We leveled the fort. No more British. There was no war over this incident. Strange!

The French attempted to build a cannel across what today is Panama. We let malaria stop the project and “bought out the French”, to continue the project.

Tom