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

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

At the moment, I wish he'd take said stick and stick it.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

LOL!

I just hope that we can keep laughing about it. Maybe enough Americans will recognise the damage that he's doing and not vote for him the election. Fingers crossed.

[sapphiresmuse.livejournal.com]

One can but live in hope. I'm not sure Kerry will be much of an improvement but he'd certainly be better than Bush.

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, "walk softly and carry a big stick".

Carry a big stick??? But :::splutters::: then he'd be armed with WMD!

I've obviously been reading too much Molly Ivins lately. I find her sarcastic Bush prose soothing.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Carry a big stick??? But :::splutters::: then he'd be armed with WMD!

Yes, in Bush's mind that's probably what he'd end up doing. What a pity for all of us that he doesn't emulate Theodore Roosevelt.

I've heard of Molly Ivins but have never read anything of hers. Where can her writings be found?

Molly Ivins

[sapphiresmuse.livejournal.com]

Here are a couple of websites where I've been reading some of her archived articles. Enjoy :)

Working for Change Archive

and

The Progressive

Re: Molly Ivins

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Many thanks for the links, I'll try and take a look at them at some point.

[keletkezes.livejournal.com]

I've not heard much about Kerry, because I don't watch the news that often, but I think almost anyone would be better than Bush... Me and my mates have been speculating on what would happen if he stayed in power for much longer, and we concluded the rest of the world would unite and gang up on him. Possibly also most of the U.S.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Me and my mates have been speculating on what would happen if he stayed in power for much longer, and we concluded the rest of the world would unite and gang up on him

Easier said than done. The US armed forces are sufficiently large (leaving aside the nuclear issue) that they're bigger than the next 20 put together. And that's the armed forces of the rest of the world's most developed countries. Make no mistake, the US is so far ahead of everyone else in its technological development when it comes to its armies that the rest of us would have pretty much no chance against it.

As for ganging up on the US from an economic point of view the US economy is the world's powerhouse - the axiom that when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold is true. If we tried to impose any sanctions of an economic nature on the US the US would suffer, true enough, but so would we. Big time.

The best hope is for the American people to wake up and vote Bush out when they realise the damage he's doing to them in the world as a whole (not to mention their own economy - his economic record is dismal). Because even though there is a tendency in America to look inward the global village is a reality and as the rest of the world needs the US so does the US need the rest of the world.

[keletkezes.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was a bit far-fetched, we agreed, but it was a nice thought. But then's so mine and general_xanith's plans to take over the world... :)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

But then's so mine and general_xanith's plans to take over the world...

Yeah, you'd have to compete with the Canadian Overlords for a start! There's a hilarious website run by a bunch of Canadians that sets out their plans for world domination. Most people who comment on the site get the joke and join in quite happily but there's a tiny minority of Americans - usually the most obviously unintelligent and ill-educated ones - who Just Don't Get It. Their comments are the funniest of all. Can't remember the URL, I'm afraid, but you could probably find it on google if you're interested.

[keletkezes.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks! It's great when people think you're really serious... :)

Americans waking up?

[maisierita.livejournal.com]

The best hope is for the American people to wake up and vote Bush out when they realise the damage he's doing to them in the world as a whole (not to mention their own economy - his economic record is dismal). Because even though there is a tendency in America to look inward the global village is a reality and as the rest of the world needs the US so does the US need the rest of the world.

Alas and alack ... we Americans are often very stupid. I find that on the web, especially 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.

Heck, if we were an intelligent nation, Bush wouldn't be in the White House in the first place. I absolutely loathe the man and think he has done serious damage to the country, so you have to take everything I say with a large grain of salt. But still, despite the fact that many people have adopted an "Anyone but Bush" attitude toward the next election, when you look at the polls, Bush is even with Kerry and 2/3 of the country (I think) supports Bush's handling of the Iraq fiasco. I'm therefore left to conclude that much of the country is populated by morons, who will probably vote for Bush again for the simple reason that he's already in office and they're too stupid to do otherwise.

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

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.