I watched a show on PBS tonight that was about the feelings and perceptions that European countries have towards the United States. It shouldn’t have come as any surprise that about 90% of the people who were interviewed were extremely negative. But I have to admit that I was shocked at the sheer vitriol that so many people had to spew about my country and countrymen.
I think that the worst part of it is that most of the speakers’ views seemed to stem from one of two things: a dislike of American politicians, or images of “our culture” from American television. How can you judge the intellect, morals, and lifestyle of an entire country as being inferior just because you don’t like Bush’s policies? How can you say that Americans as a whole are conceited and lazy, when in the next breath you admit that you’ve never actually met an American or been to America? I just don’t get it.
The overwhelming majority of those interviewed seemed to have the point of view that, as a whole, we are ignorant, uncultured, politically obtuse, and crass. And the really odd thing was that on one hand we were being criticised for the way that our horrible culture is “invading” the rest of the world, while on the other hand we were being criticized for not having wide open loving arms that extended to help everyone who needs it. Huh?
The United States of America, despite its relative strength in global affairs, is a mere infant at 231 years old. How can you expect an infant to have no flaws? How did we become responsible for bearing the burden of expectations of political, economic, and moral perfection for the world? I’m not defending all US actions, history, politicians, or anything like that. We’ve made horrendous mistakes as a country, there is no denying that.
I am, however, defending the American people. We are more than our politicians. We are more than Mickey D and KFC. We are more than Nikes and Britney Spears. We cannot be quantified on the basis of “Friends” any more than we can quantify the British by “Hotel Babylon”. We are a nation of individuals, and judging an entire nation on the basis of political actions is asinine.
I know that this was a television show, and as such, cannot and did not convey the opinions of the entire nation… because of course, 20 people cannot speak for an entire population. But it was a really disturbing show nonetheless. I think the most disturbing bit was in a French elementary school, where young children—perhaps 9 or 10 years old—were asked to draw a picture portraying what they think of when they think of America. A few images were innocent enough, showing people eating hamburgers. The majority, though, were negative images involving things like Bush & oil, US soldiers slaughtering people, and other such acts.
It is a rare child who watches the news, or reads a newspaper. So this showed, even better than the interviews, what kind of opinions many Europeans have about America. Because if their young children associate such negative ideas and images with the US, where do you think they learned them?
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4 comments:
Here, here to almost everything you posted in your article!
I almost watched that show last night but opted towards something on my brand new HBO instead. Now I'd like to look for it in the program schedule just so I can get all hot and bothered at other peoples' narrow-minded view of us 'Mericans.
Sounds to me just like you said - the bitter, angry and perhaps jealous parents are telling their children what to think. We all know what this will do, right? Raise an entirely new generation of US hatemongers.
Americans conceited, maybe a little. Lazy, definately not. Unware of the world around them, somewhat. A majority of Americans voted for Bush, so sorry, can't explain away that. I think what people of other nations resent is the American media, not so much the American people. It's just sometimes a little difficult to seperate the two.
Hey Kim! Visiting from FF. I like your blog! Your insights are very good, and often what I think. Although I do regret that much of our media/politics creates such a strong impression. And the fact that we do produce that stuff is somewhat of a reflection on us. But I COMPLETELY agree that it's not us as a people or as individuals. My husband is Canadian, and I've heard it from some of his friends many times. Funny thing is, most of them don't even realize I'm American right away. Seems I'm too "educated," and "polite." hmm.. The few crass boars out there garner all the attention when they go overseas.
I think other countries are ignorant of us as a people for the same reason we as a people often don't know much about specific nations. It's because we are VERY geographically and culturally removed from one another in many ways. Just my 2 cents though.
It was a complete delight to prove all these things to a friend of mine's boyfriend when he visited the US for the first time. They were both completely astounded at how much and how hard we work, and at our work ethic. Maybe it's just that we work SO much, we seem lazy b/c we don't want to get off the couch when we finally get some home time!!!!
Enough ranting. :)
Barb (BARL5)
P.S. For the above post.. it's very arguable whether the majority of American's actually voted for Bush. He won according to the electoral college and the supreme court. Who knows if he won by popular vote. And notice.. we often vote split down the middle when it's a choice b/n 2 candidates no one is very sure of. Of course I still think it was the wrong decision to vote for him, but do give us our credit for having some brains. ;-)
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