Across a great divide
16 March 2004 18:59![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mandragoraThere's an interesting article in the New York Times here written by a German novelist and essayist about the ever widening difference in attitude between Europe and the US. Or, perhaps more accurately, the ever widening difference between Europe and the Bush administration.
The author is obviously by no means unsympathetic to the US but expresses the same concerns that I see reflected by my American friends time and again - that the rhetoric espoused by the present US administration is succeeding in alienating those people who are otherwise admirers of America's past generosity and assistance to other nations in times of trouble.
It's a great pity that Bush has failed to learn that the best motto to adopt when one is the greatest power on earth is, "speak softly and carry a big stick".
The author is obviously by no means unsympathetic to the US but expresses the same concerns that I see reflected by my American friends time and again - that the rhetoric espoused by the present US administration is succeeding in alienating those people who are otherwise admirers of America's past generosity and assistance to other nations in times of trouble.
It's a great pity that Bush has failed to learn that the best motto to adopt when one is the greatest power on earth is, "speak softly and carry a big stick".
