argh!
Posted: Jun 25th 2002, 5:28 am
Believe me, I really, REALLY wasn't going to get involved in this... but I have been moved to do so.
I write as someone whose parents were American. They are now not Americans, largely as a result of the Vietnam war. make of that what you will... But the result of this is that every member of my family apart from them is American and lives in America. I do not think Americans are stupid or obnoxious - just massively blinkered. After living in the USA for 21 years my parents arrived outside and will now testify to the fact that they now feel as though they were brainwashed during their entire formative years by the American propaganda machine. Not to say that it is some massive conspiracy, just the result of extreme patriotism encouraged by the US government on every level. The result is they had no idea about the rest of the world until they left America.
Like everyone, I was deeply shocked upset outraged on a very personal level when I witnessed what was going on 9/11. I had several frantic phone calls eventually relieved by the realisation that my family are all fine. Sadly, I cannot say the same about other people's families and the pain they must still go through cannot be imagined.
Speaking from experience of American news coverage, I can honestly say that the reporting there provides a very twisted view of situations. There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, wrong with getting behind your country and NOTHING about terrorism that is acceptable. However to do it informed only by what the people in power want you to see is blind. Yes, Americans may be better informed than people in countries that actively oppress their media. But it does not necessarily follow that you are operating in full possession of all the facts. I could say the same about my own country too. It is the awareness of the existence of propaganda that matters, and this is something Americans on their 'free speech' bandwagon seem to forget. Anyone ever seen a film called 'wag the dog'?
One thing is certain: the USA remains completely unaware of how the rest of the world sees them as a NATION (I'm not talking about individuals here). The rest of the world may be generalising or stereotyping but now more than ever it is important for the US to realise that things like levies on steel imports are not greeted with great enthusiasm and that their foreign policy on so many levels needs to break away from the idea that the American ideal is necessarily best, globally speaking. Every country has its problems, including America. Countries in the world are astonishingly diverse and the American ideal does not suit everyone.
I live in a country that has suffered terrorism for over 30 years. My city has been bombed by people who were financed covertly by sources in the US. No, I don't agree with terrorism. But I do think that it is sometimes the way people say things that is wrong, rather than what they are saying. Terrorism is NEVER an acceptable way of saying anything, but that doesn't mean that certain points do not need to be made.
For the record, I deal with US government bodies on a regular basis in my line of work, and I have had great problems trying to get them to believe that my country has laws which are capable of preventing discrimination, or providing effective healthcare etc etc. Most of Americas laws are in fact based on what has been in existence in my country for hundreds of years. I resent the implication from representatives of these government bodies that the rest of the world lives in deep dark caves with no civilisation. It has been very hard when faced with this attitude to actually reach a constructive solution to some very basic difficulties. With America it seems to be 'my way or the high way' and that is what I think annoys the rest of the world. Nobody doubts the good intentions of America but as a nation it must learn that isolationism is not the way forward.
Furthermore, your great American tradition of free speech means that this message is probably classed as one to be 'flagged' by the CIA. There may be some repercussions upon all of us for even discussing terrorism. Not to be melodramatic, but it's a fact. It should not be.
I am not putting myself forward as particularly knowledgeable. I know that the inevitable response to this will be 'well they killed all these civilians and we have to retaliate'. Yes, I agree. It's terrible and the world is a horrible place. But for America to pretend they are not part of it (only when it suits them, mind) helps no-one. Not even America, which is why the terrorists attacked in the first place.
The originator of this post rather shot their own valid point in the foot by coming out with some outrageous statements meaning the whole point of the debate was lost in the mess of an argument about 9/11. And by the way, most of the rest of the world would write 11/9. It is true that America is incredibly unwilling to bend themselves towards the rest of the world even on such minor things as paper sizes and post codes. It would help them if they were.
I write as someone whose parents were American. They are now not Americans, largely as a result of the Vietnam war. make of that what you will... But the result of this is that every member of my family apart from them is American and lives in America. I do not think Americans are stupid or obnoxious - just massively blinkered. After living in the USA for 21 years my parents arrived outside and will now testify to the fact that they now feel as though they were brainwashed during their entire formative years by the American propaganda machine. Not to say that it is some massive conspiracy, just the result of extreme patriotism encouraged by the US government on every level. The result is they had no idea about the rest of the world until they left America.
Like everyone, I was deeply shocked upset outraged on a very personal level when I witnessed what was going on 9/11. I had several frantic phone calls eventually relieved by the realisation that my family are all fine. Sadly, I cannot say the same about other people's families and the pain they must still go through cannot be imagined.
Speaking from experience of American news coverage, I can honestly say that the reporting there provides a very twisted view of situations. There is nothing, I repeat NOTHING, wrong with getting behind your country and NOTHING about terrorism that is acceptable. However to do it informed only by what the people in power want you to see is blind. Yes, Americans may be better informed than people in countries that actively oppress their media. But it does not necessarily follow that you are operating in full possession of all the facts. I could say the same about my own country too. It is the awareness of the existence of propaganda that matters, and this is something Americans on their 'free speech' bandwagon seem to forget. Anyone ever seen a film called 'wag the dog'?
One thing is certain: the USA remains completely unaware of how the rest of the world sees them as a NATION (I'm not talking about individuals here). The rest of the world may be generalising or stereotyping but now more than ever it is important for the US to realise that things like levies on steel imports are not greeted with great enthusiasm and that their foreign policy on so many levels needs to break away from the idea that the American ideal is necessarily best, globally speaking. Every country has its problems, including America. Countries in the world are astonishingly diverse and the American ideal does not suit everyone.
I live in a country that has suffered terrorism for over 30 years. My city has been bombed by people who were financed covertly by sources in the US. No, I don't agree with terrorism. But I do think that it is sometimes the way people say things that is wrong, rather than what they are saying. Terrorism is NEVER an acceptable way of saying anything, but that doesn't mean that certain points do not need to be made.
For the record, I deal with US government bodies on a regular basis in my line of work, and I have had great problems trying to get them to believe that my country has laws which are capable of preventing discrimination, or providing effective healthcare etc etc. Most of Americas laws are in fact based on what has been in existence in my country for hundreds of years. I resent the implication from representatives of these government bodies that the rest of the world lives in deep dark caves with no civilisation. It has been very hard when faced with this attitude to actually reach a constructive solution to some very basic difficulties. With America it seems to be 'my way or the high way' and that is what I think annoys the rest of the world. Nobody doubts the good intentions of America but as a nation it must learn that isolationism is not the way forward.
Furthermore, your great American tradition of free speech means that this message is probably classed as one to be 'flagged' by the CIA. There may be some repercussions upon all of us for even discussing terrorism. Not to be melodramatic, but it's a fact. It should not be.
I am not putting myself forward as particularly knowledgeable. I know that the inevitable response to this will be 'well they killed all these civilians and we have to retaliate'. Yes, I agree. It's terrible and the world is a horrible place. But for America to pretend they are not part of it (only when it suits them, mind) helps no-one. Not even America, which is why the terrorists attacked in the first place.
The originator of this post rather shot their own valid point in the foot by coming out with some outrageous statements meaning the whole point of the debate was lost in the mess of an argument about 9/11. And by the way, most of the rest of the world would write 11/9. It is true that America is incredibly unwilling to bend themselves towards the rest of the world even on such minor things as paper sizes and post codes. It would help them if they were.