Across a great divide

[mandragora]

There'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".

Comments

Re: Americans waking up?

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

we Americans are often very stupid

I think you're being a bit unfair on your fellow Americans there. My observation of Americans are that they aren't any more stupid than the denizens of any other country but that compared to the citizens of most other western countries they are relatively uninformed. I base this on my experience of spending some time in the mid-west of the US and being amazed at how little news there was about anything outside the relevant state, let alone the rest of the US. As for the 'rest of the world', there was practically nothing. Naturally the news of any country is skewed towards coverage of the country in question but in Britain and other European countries world news gets a lot more coverage than in the US.

So, it's really not easy for your average US citizen to know anything outside their immediate surroundings because the media doesn't assist in allowing them to obtain any understanding.

in fandom, you get a disproportionate number of relatively intelligent and socially liberal people, and that gives a false impression of the rest of the U.S.

No disagreement about the liberal attitudes in fandom, and I agree that if this was the only source of information about attitudes in the US it would produce a false impression. But we get a lot of news about the US here in Britain so are aware that American attitudes are usually more conservative than in Europe. In my case I've been to the US a fair few times over a period of 23 years so have some idea of how diverse a country it is and how attitudes differ enormously from state to state or city to city.

I also realise how difficult it is for the challenger to win against an incumbent president but a few months ago Bush was riding a lot higher in the opinion polls than now so there is hope. But it is very sad that I am becoming frightened for my friends in the US under Bush's regime. I never thought that I would think of the US as a country with less civil liberties than most countries in Europe.

And aren't I just the most tolerant person you've ever seen?

*g* I think I'd be ranting along side you if I was American. It must be incredibly frustrating to have Bush as your president. Even Thatcher wasn't as disliked as Bush.

Re: Americans waking up?

[maisierita.livejournal.com]

I never thought that I would think of the US as a country with less civil liberties than most countries in Europe.

::sigh::

This just in:

DAYTON, Tenn. (AP) - The county that was the site of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" over the teaching of evolution is asking lawmakers to amend state law so the county can charge homosexuals with crimes against nature.

The Rhea County commissioners approved the request 8-0 Tuesday.

Commissioner J.C. Fugate, who introduced the measure, also asked the county attorney to find a way to enact an ordinance banning homosexuals from living in the county.

"We need to keep them out of here," Fugate said.

Sometimes I think the only thing to do is to move out of the country. It's downright oppressive here.


*g* I think I'd be ranting along side you if I was American. It must be incredibly frustrating to have Bush as your president. Even Thatcher wasn't as disliked as Bush.

It is the most frustrating thing in the world having Bush as president. I loathe him. I'm so frightened he'll be re-elected. He's a scary, scary man.