(7) The Progressive Era

Why does the Government hide Anti-War Voices?

When doing a quick search on Google Scholar, "Why does the government hide anti-war voices from the public?", my search was filled with PDFs that referenced the same thing. They want to HIDE the reality. Why should important things like anti-war movements be hidden from the public? We see it every day with our local news broadcasts. They are very one-dimensional and always seem to look past important details from multiple sources.

With a world constantly evolving around political conflict, these voices that support peace and diplomacy often get pushed aside. Before this class, I never knew there were websites like Antiwar.com and The American Conservative that called for non-intervention, diplomacy, and peace movements in these harsh times. If these websites were published more, I feel like there wouldn't be as much conflict with politics, and hopefully, it would be for the better when it comes to making new ties.

Founded in 1995 by Eric Garris and Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com's mission was to challenge U.S. foreign policy and advocate for a non-interventionist approach to international relations. Their publishers, interviewers, and analysts critique military intervention, questioning the key details that conflict with American taxpayers. Their focus is not to say that war is wrong but to emphasize the economic and strategic implications it has on us as Americans.

With The American Conservative website standing as another platform for antiwar content, it is known for the broader critique of U.S. foreign policy. Founded in 2002 by Patrick Joseph Buchanan and a group of conservatives, the site was made as an outlet for more restrained, non-interventionist foreign policy. Similar to Antiwar.com, The American Conservative website focuses on the interventions primarily serving the elite and not the American people.

In Pat's book "Will America Survive to 2025? Suicide of a Power," he warns us that the U.S. is on a dangerous path to political mishaps, economic instability, and moral decay. He argues that without our foundation of values and principles that are established, the country risks a catastrophic decline by 2025. Now being in 2025, in my opinion, I can agree with him. Our president isn't doing what he says, and in return, he is harming individuals and future generations.

Why is it Hard to Mainstream?

Both cultural and institutional reasons affect why these websites aren't widely known. The first major reason is mainstream media bias. Major news networks and newspaper companies often rely on government officials, military leaders, and defense contractors to aid their reports. In return, we get narratives that are in favor of military interventionism. Along with that, these mainstream media companies build their customer base by fueling corporate interests and what is popular in the industry, often hiding antiwar voices.

It's annoying to see how politically polarized the discussion has become as a college student trying to understand U.S. foreign policy. Sometimes it seems like you have to choose between being a dove, who is viewed as idealistic or naive, or a hawk, who favors military actions. This bipolar mentality restricts real discussions and oversimplifies complicated global challenges. Despite the historical existence of antiwar voices on both sides, both main political parties tend to support interventionist measures, which is depressing. Americans like me find it more difficult to hear other viewpoints that place a higher priority on diplomacy, diligence, and lasting peace when polarization grows because such complex, antiwar viewpoints are covered behind big headlines.

Final Thoughts

It is prevalent that these two websites provide a valuable source of antiwar activists, helping us gain another perspective on how we should consider foreign policies. But its issue relies on the lack of prominence in mainstream media. Until the public demands more diversity in the stories we hear and the policies we support, voices calling for peace and diplomacy will be hidden and silenced. It is up to us as Americans to seek justice and change the narrative, supporting those voices who offer different perspectives on foreign policies.