March of the Flag

In The March of the Flag, the idea is given forth that the Philippines should be taken for a multitude of reasons. This includes the fact that it is a God given ideal that the United States should spread its influence as far as possible (manifest destiny) and that the United States should force its government on the Philippines because the Filipinos are incapable of governing themselves, just as a child is incapable of truly controlling himself. One of the primary reasons, however, is purely economical. He wants the natural resources the Philippines have to offer. These ideals would not sit well with Joe because, while he has the idea that nothing is truly worth dying for, these ideas are purely material. While I believe that there are some things worth dying for, none of these material reasons fall into that category, and Joe would find this idea even more repulsive and would view the author as one of the “them” who sent his generation off to die for mere money.