The Philippine–American War: An Empire’s Shadow w/ Fernando Nacionales

It starts like any good story, with a promise. America, the liberator, the shining beacon. But behind that gleaming façade? The ugly truth of an empire trying to carve out a piece of the world’s pie, by any means necessary. The Philippines, caught in the middle, their fate decided by powers thousands of miles away.

The Philippine American War, 1899-1902. What started as a fight for freedom quickly spiraled into a bloody nightmare. Casualties? Over 200,000, many of them civilians. What does that sound like to you? The Indian wars, Vietnam? Iraq? Afghanistan? Sure, but it’s not just history repeating itself. It’s the same scheme, one that’s been used, rewritten, and repurposed for centuries.

But here’s the kicker: if America didn’t do it, someone else would have. Germany, Japan, or maybe Spain would have continued. The world was an empire-building machine, and we were all just cogs in the gears. So, does that matter? Is it enough to say, ‘Well, someone else would’ve done it’ and shrug it off? That question echoes into today.

If you came for a clean, heroic tale, you won’t find it here. But if you want to understand what empire looks like up close, if you’re willing to sit with the blood, the noise, and the voices we’ve tried to forget, then pull up a chair.

Because the Philippine-American War has stories it needs to tell you.

Links to further reading

The Philippine War, 1899-1902 (Modern War Studies) https://a.co/d/aYiobxx

American Soldiers Write Home https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/58/

The Philippine American War: America’s First Vietnam https://www.thecollector.com/philippine-american-war-us-first-vietnam/

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