Gang Of America
What Is A Nation?
….That’s all good, but let’s not fool ourselves, this is a gang, I told him.
He ignored my remark. I eyed the delicious smelling steak in front of me.
This is a true steak, not the fancy breaded version. Good meat with a butterfly cut, he said, still not returning to the topic of why we met in this camp.
Where did this meat come from? I asked.
Let us not talk business while we eat, he responded.
Join us-
No thanks, I interrupted.
May I ask you why? His expression calm.
This is a gang, a bunch of bad guys. I got enough trouble as it is. Plus, I must earn an honest keep, by the gun or otherwise. I started to blabber.
So you want to join the biggest gang?
Huh? I answered confused. Language barrier? I thought to myself
You are young, so let me explain how this world works. His voice now carried a bittersweet undertone, more serious — yet it had remained calm, slow, and deep.
Gangs, nations, and monopoly corporations are the same in concept. A country has it’s own lands — in other words, territories — and citizens. Invasions are not tolerated and neither is breaking any of its laws. The nation will collect tax from its citizens and enforce it’s self-made rules with violence if it so must.
I dared not to interrupt again.
Laws, taxes, and territories are common points. A country is thought of as strong because of its history and size. Its rule considered natural by its citizens. However, when conflicts break out, the true character of a nation is revealed. Think of countries in their early state. What came before America?
The colonies, I answered.
Before, he asked again.
The natives? I answered once more.
He nodded, his expression hinting towards the disasters that had befallen the former rulers of these lands.
Don’t get me wrong, he continued, I am not against nations…though some do say I have the eyes of an anarchist.
Odd remark, I thought.
I want them to acknowledge our “business”. We aren’t trying to be trash by bullying the weak. Laws, taxes, violence — he repeated — if a country is a gang, a gang should be able to become a country. That’s what we are trying to do.
A country you say? I noticed a painful smirk in his expression, ever so confident. This Washington fellow’s expression.
