There's Nothing American About America First

The phrase, "America First" was first used in 1940 by the anti-war group, the America First Committee. It lobbied to keep the country out of World War II and its membership consisted of many well-known Americans including Sinclair Lewis, Walt Disney, Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Lindbergh. Six days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 the AFC disbanded and many of its leaders supported the war effort.

In his inauguration speech, Donald Trump invoked a similar isolationist sentiment when he stated, "We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America first, America first."

Donald Trump's "America First" policy is a short-sighted political move to placate those workers who have lost their jobs to technology and globalization shifts in the last few decades. But our isolation will create a vacuum that China, Russia, and even Iran, will be quick to fill. "America First" obfuscates the challenges the United States faces at this time. It goes against the very reason our country was created. And, it will end up haunting future generations of Americans.