The coming December 2nd marks two centuries of the Monroe Doctrine, in particular the publication of a message from this American president to Congress, probably prepared by his then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams: the “ripe fruit”.
This message says: The emerging American empire declared the “Western Hemisphere” to be its exclusive sphere of influence. “America for the Americans”: Other powers, the European ones, had nothing to do here anymore because we were already free, we deserved independence as long as we behaved well and didn’t bother Uncle Sam.
What the Monroe Doctrine was, what it is today, what the Empire continues to be, and how that affects us – even if it involves manipulation and denial – was discussed this Thursday on Con Filo.