The Lonely Business of Defending America
America can be hard to love these days. And persuading non-Americans even to like it can seem an impossible task.
Believe me, for I have tried.
Last week, in the run-up to the Fourth of July, I was invited to participate in a radio discussion in my native Ireland. The subject was the United States. I wanted to talk about the aspects of the nation that I have grown to admire in the four years I have lived here.
I didn’t get a chance. The discussion revolved around President Bush, America’s myriad social and political problems and its plummeting standing in the world.
I ended up on defense for the duration.
I am getting used to this kind of experience. To mark last year’s Independence Day, I wrote an article for an Irish newspaper headlined “50 Reasons To Love America.” I listed everything from the Gettysburg Address to Seinfeld, hoping, just once, to undercut the hostile assumptions implicit in so much European media coverage. I got a slew of responses from my compatriots deriding me as a Bush apologist.
On one recent New Year’s Eve, back in Ireland, I found myself on the receiving end of a verbal assault from a woman after merely telling her I lived in New York. She delivered a lengthy harangue about American foreign policy, then moved on to condemn Mr. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and various other people of whom she was less than enamored. “And I’m surprised at somebody from Belfast choosing to live among that shite!” she concluded.
Conversation rather dried up after that.
Personal anecdotes only prove so much, but hard statistics tell a similar story.
The latest Pew Global Attitudes survey was released two weeks ago. The news was grim.
Since 2002, favorability ratings for the U.S. have fallen in 26 of the 33 countries for which trends are available.
An estimated 78 percent of Germans held a positive view of the U.S. in 1999-2000. Today, that figure is 30 percent. In Turkey, the drop was from 52 percent to 9 percent. In Argentina, 50 to 16 percent. Even in the U.S.’s leading ally, the United Kingdom, America’s favorability rating has fallen precipitously, from 83 to 51 percent.
Among some figures on the liberal-left in Europe, especially those long motivated by a visceral dislike of all things American, that data is a source of perverse glee.
To me, though, it swells with sadness. The promise of America, a precious thing, has become cankered.
When my friends and I were growing up in Ireland in the 80’s and 90’s, the nation on the far side of the Atlantic was an object of desire. We vested such hope and even excitement in the idea of America. We did so to an extent that now seems absurdly naïve.
Back then, in teen years or young adulthood, our understanding of America was primarily rooted in popular culture rather than politics. But the two often become woven together into one epic narrative. That narrative then stretched back, drawing in charismatic figures from the U.S.’s recent and not-so-recent past.
To think of America was to think not just of, say, Bill Clinton and Kurt Cobain, but of John Kennedy and Marlon Brando, of Martin Luther King and Muhammad Ali, of Franklin Roosevelt and Aretha Franklin.
That America is fading from memory. Its glory has been extinguished by this administration.
I doubt whether the adolescents of Ireland or anywhere else now grow up feeling affection for a nation that has grown synonymous with its bull-headed president and his sepulchral deputy.
When I go back to Ireland these days, every assertion of American good intentions is met with a sneer; every attempt to talk about America’s role in the world is beaten back by the example of Iraq; every effort to draw attention to the injustices perpetrated by America’s enemies is met with one of two responses: one involves the word “Guantanamo,” the other the words “Abu Ghraib.” Next Page >
Niall:
Considering your liberal slant from a liberal "pink" newspaper, I'm not surprised at your "sadness" at the so called demise of the U.S. in the world's eyes.
Personally, I don't give a rat's ass what you, as a "foreigner", or the rest of the world thinks about the U.S.
You "people" of the world are always ready for a helping hand from the U.S. when you need it.
Bridget Kohtz
President Bush possesses what Mr. Stanage does not--courage. That means saying and doing what one thinks is right--even in the face of relentless opposition.
The poor opinion of the United States in the world is due partly to vicious media coverage, and partly to ignorance. I prefer the opinion of a shop owner in Ramadi, quoted by the New York Times: "Al Qaeda--bad. United States--good." He's smarter than Mr. Stanage's pals; indeed, smarter than most of Europe. Strange, how opinions can change when one's life is on the line.
Quote from your article:
"When I go back to Ireland these days, every assertion of American good intentions is met with a sneer; every attempt to talk about America’s role in the world is beaten back by the example of Iraq; every effort to draw attention to the injustices perpetrated by America’s enemies is met with one of two responses: one involves the word “Guantanamo,” the other the words “Abu Ghraib.”"
Most of this can be attributed to the appalling "sound byte" mentality of the modern world, fed by a media more interested in controversy than deep understanding. Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib are remarkable in how little they characterize America, so unlike how "Gulag" characterized the Soviet Union. Senator Biden desires America's military intervention in the Darfur crisis because it might "mean there will be 10, a 100, 500, a 1000, 2,000, 5,000, 15,000 women who will not be raped, children who will not
die, and people who will not just be murdered indiscriminately." Did the families of the hundreds of thousands in mass graves in Iraq deserve the same consideration? Doesn't the conclusion of the Dueffler Report, that Saddam intended to revitalize all of his WMD programs, including nuclear, once his European and Russian allies succeeded in lifting those pesky sanctions, chill you to the bones? America has lost nearly 4,000 brave soldiers in Iraq - a few hundred bringing down the imperial megalomaniac - the rest fighting against terrorists that will come to Europe and America unless they are defeated. The world will have to determine whether Islamic terrorism is enough of an existential threat to fight it to the death or not. In the West's last fight to the death, WW2, America alone lost over 400,000 soldiers, including 7,000 in one battle, Iwo Jima. Sadly, America's stature in a short-sighted world may only rise again when the world calls out to it again for rescue, following a coming Islamic nuclear holocaust.
Europeans hate us indeed. On a recent visit to Europe I realized how sad and angry Europeans are because they see their countries becoming increasingly irrelevant in the world stage. Their cities are beautiful but musty, with shrines to the powers they used to be. People don't smile and they seem terribly unhappy. The contrast when I got home was stark: people here are HAPPY. They know that whatever their circumstances there's a great deal of hope and excitement. Europeans know too well (and it irks them) that this is the greatest country in the history of the world. BAR NONE. So, go ahead, feel sorry for us as we hum to ourselves, "yes, I live in the greatest country in the whole wide world".
And, one more thing: President Bush will be known as one of the greatest presidents this country ever had. It's just a matter of time. Mr. Bush is a great man of integrity, who loves his wife and his country; a true patriot. God bless him and the U.S.of A.
(I am foreign born and a proud U.S. citizen for 25 years.)
Europeans hate us indeed. On a recent visit to Europe I realized how sad and angry Europeans are because they see their countries becoming increasingly irrelevant in the world stage. Their cities are beautiful but musty, with shrines to the powers they used to be. People don't smile and they seem terribly unhappy. The contrast when I got home was stark: people here are HAPPY. They know that whatever their circumstances there's a great deal of hope and excitement. Europeans know too well (and it irks them) that this is the greatest country in the history of the world. BAR NONE. So, go ahead, feel sorry for us as we hum to ourselves, "yes, I live in the greatest country in the whole wide world".
And, one more thing: President Bush will be known as one of the greatest presidents this country ever had. It's just a matter of time. Mr. Bush is a great man of integrity, who loves his wife and his country; a true patriot. God bless him and the U.S.of A.
(I am foreign born and a proud U.S. citizen for 25 years.)
Europeans hate us indeed. On a recent visit to Europe I realized how sad and angry Europeans are because they see their countries becoming increasingly irrelevant in the world stage. Their cities are beautiful but musty, with shrines to the powers they used to be. People don't smile and they seem terribly unhappy. The contrast when I got home was stark: people here are HAPPY. They know that whatever their circumstances there's a great deal of hope and excitement. Europeans know too well (and it irks them) that this is the greatest country in the history of the world. BAR NONE. So, go ahead, feel sorry for us as we hum to ourselves, "yes, I live in the greatest country in the whole wide world".
And, one more thing: President Bush will be known as one of the greatest presidents this country ever had. It's just a matter of time. Mr. Bush is a great man of integrity, who loves his wife and his country; a true patriot. God bless him and the U.S.of A.
(I am foreign born and a proud U.S. citizen for 25 years.)
The reason they resent us is that we asked them to help. It's human nature to find fault with a project when you're asked to participate and you prefer to sit back and have someone else do it. Withdraw from Nato and leave the Europeans to provide for their own defense; they'll be our new best friends.
Europeans hate us indeed. On a recent visit to Europe I realized how sad and angry Europeans are because they see their countries becoming increasingly irrelevant in the world stage. Their cities are beautiful but musty, with shrines to the powers they used to be. People don't smile and they seem terribly unhappy. The contrast when I got home was stark: people here are HAPPY. They know that whatever their circumstances there's a great deal of hope and excitement. Europeans know too well (and it irks them) that this is the greatest country in the history of the world. BAR NONE. So, go ahead, feel sorry for us as we hum to ourselves, "yes, I live in the greatest country in the whole wide world".
And, one more thing: President Bush will be known as one of the greatest presidents this country ever had. It's just a matter of time. Mr. Bush is a great man of integrity, who loves his wife and his country; a true patriot. God bless him and the U.S.of A.
(I am foreign born and a proud U.S. citizen for 25 years.)
Please recite the last verse of "Tommy" by Kipling before addressing any member of the military.
Sir, speaking as a military man I do not need your defense. The current crop of politicians and bureaucrats who infest D.C. will shortly be retired or dying. Once the baby boomers have left this world, for worse I might add, my generation will be cleaning the mess. I and my fellows really do not care what you think. You whine ceaselessly about this nation, yet you buy our products in staggering quantities. So tell you fellow countryman the next generation will not be as nice and gentle as the boomers. You see, we have thorns as you have never before seen and we have no problems helping the other guy die for his country or ideology. Please tell them that so there are no suprises later on for them.
I served in Abu Ghraib last year, I can tell you the real Abu and the Abu of popular imagination are on different worlds. That is besides the point. Calm down and drink a beer, your an American, be proud of it. Go ahead let a women curse you out, in the real world Ireland is more linked with the United States then ever before. In the real world we have seen more pro-american governments elected in Europe then not. Its a free world for some of us, due in thanks to the sacrifice courage of millions, be they Lech Walesa, Martin Luther King, about 30-40 million United States and allied soldiers, be they Iraqi, Free French, German, Polish, Israeli, Japanese, South Korean, I could go on. Don't lose heart, be proud, be happy, be American. Are we all saints? NO, but we have made the world a good place and we are moving forward into a new century. Sgt Robert Verdi
Who cares if the effete, economically backward, militarily weak Europeans don't like us? Anyway, Europe is a civilization in steep decline, well on its way to oblivion.
In most instances its nations are 1)committing demographic suicide, 2) except for a few of the smaller nations on its permeter, Ireland (with a tiny population), Finland (also with a tiny population)& Spain, for example, unwilling(too lazy)or unable(too committed to socialism)to compete successfully in the global economy, 3) too weak willed to resist a flood of 3rd World illegal immigrants, who're rapidly supplanting their native populations & cultures.
In another century, if Europe survives it'll be as a Moslem operated museum, Saint Sophia written large.
Europe can be hard to love these days, especially after you read dishonest drivel like this. Our author's forced sincerity masks deep resentment and jealousy over American successes in the fields of art, science, technology, the military, and everything else. How European.
callmelordjim
A few observations.
1)The fact that Mr. Stanage's Europals are so worked up about America demonstrates at least one thing: whether they care to admit it or not, people the world over orient their lives to the polar star that is America. Don't believe me? When was the last time anybody asked anybody how they feel about Ireland's foreign policy?
2)Where Europe is inflexible and in constant denial, America has tremendous self awareness and capacity for rapid change. In fact, the place never stays the same. Nearly 80% of Americans recognize that we've got a goofy guy running things. But America is bigger and better than Bush. This too shall pass. And when it does, Europe will still be in decline.
3)You say Gitmo, I say Kosovo.
What do you mean we're no longer the Greatest Nation on Earth?*
Why, it says so right here on the label.
Sour defensiveness, stung insularity, knee jerk reactionary broadsides, and sputtering hubris - exemplars of the age of Bush. So ironic that this article attracted comments that display the very narrowness of focus that the author is lamenting.
Is this congress going to impeach Bush/Cheney or not? It is funny to listen to speeches of Nancy Pelosi about reestablishing of American middle class and/or economic prosperity when all money are pulled out by these wars on permanent basis.
Bakohtz, you can give no demm of what people outside of the USA are thinking about USA, though to be American tourist isn't safe any more now, but living inside of the USA and watching the steady increase of health care costs, education's costs, etc., ets. isn't nice anyway, or is it for you?
We are one x-cabal away from a respected democracy again.
The Republican Party now supports a dictatorship. And they are not listening.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/ann_hannity.html
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Niall, as a childhood friend of yours I applaud your thoughts on America and the positive elements of a progressive nation. Contact me at stephen.dobbin@btopenworld.com
Best Regards
Stephen (Dobz).
For the People, defending against the Bush cabal and it's militant corporatist machine will require sacrifices. More than giving up the i-Pod, and much more than simply turning off Murdoch's militant corporate propaganda machine.
Should Informed America not get a Sixty-vote majority in the Senate, it will be clear the fix is in and the action must move to other venues. The Republican senators involved in the Republic's disintegration act as if they are untouchable. Apparently, they don't even care about the '08 response, or their constituents. Perhaps for the moment. Make no mistake, most of these are die-hard corporatists who would not raise a pinky at the burning the Constitution. They act as if they were promised something.
And that something should be of great concern this Summer.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/trust_me.html
First things first: I would suggest that Bush's private SS be reigned in with strong legislation designed specifically to protect the citizenry from the "final stage" policing by the Blackwater-type rebots. While much of our National Guard is out of country we are quite vulnerable to Bush subversive elements. That needs to be fixed now.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/blackwater_jesus_at_republican_mecca.html
It may boil down to a couple of things the Corporation cannot tolerate: Seccession, economic collapse, education, and martyrs (anyone for a citizen's arrest?).
Yes, defending America is not a lonely business in the trenches. It depends on which side of the ideological divide one stands. I prefer the Constitutional side.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/cut_n_run.html
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