Replant the american Dream (barf)

Washington Post ^ | November 25, 2005 | David Ignatius

[PolishProud]

When I lived abroad, Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday. It was a chance to scrounge up a turkey, gather foreign and American friends, and celebrate what America represented to the world. I liked to give a sentimental toast when the turkey arrived at the table, and more than once I had my foreign guests in tears. They loved the American dream as much as I did.

I don't think Americans realize how much we have tarnished those ideals in the eyes of the rest of the world these past few years. The public opinion polls tell us that America isn't just disliked or feared overseas -- it is reviled. We are seen as hypocrites who boast of our democratic values but who behave lawlessly and with contempt for others. I hate this America-bashing, but when I try to defend the United States and its values in my travels abroad, I find foreigners increasingly are dismissive. How do you deny the reality of Abu Ghraib, they ask, when the vice president of the United States is actively lobbying against rules that would ban torture?

[PolishProud]

The MSM bashes the U.S. daily. and then this idiot wonders why foreigners are dismissive of the U.S. The press blew the Abu Ghraib incident out of proportion and he can't see beyond his latest administration hit piece as to why his elite foreign friends find us terribly rude. Additionally, he doesn't provide us with any statistics regarding the drop in applications for U.S. citizenship. I wonder why?

[mnehring]

This is reflective of something I've noted in Liberalism- judge the whole (macro) by the smallest event (micro) that may or may not be related to the whole. It is akin to judging the entire highway system by one auto accident. They quickly claim failure or crisis if there is an event (isolated anomaly) that fits their view to create the crisis they want.

[jdm]

"The public opinion polls tell us that America isn't just disliked or feared overseas -- it is reviled."

If the United States is so bad, why do millions each year risk their lives trying to get here (whether legally or illegally)?

[mnehring]

"The public opinion polls tell us that America isn't just disliked or feared overseas -- it is reviled."

They are wrong, even in France, as soon as you leave Paris, the attitude does a 360. When I was there last year, I came to the realization that to judge the attitude of the French by those in Paris is akin to judging the attitude of all Americans by those in San Francisco. I've noticed similar trends throughout Europe. Much of Asia still is strongly supportive of us- based on personal observation in Japan and Singapore.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

America isn't just disliked or feared overseas -- it is reviled

In my book, better to be feared than loved.

[6SJ7]

This article is total revisionist hogwash. I was listening to an old Jean Shepherd tape from the late 1960's where he asked "why do you think other countries hate us?". He answered his own question by stating it comes down to other countries envying our greatness.

[dakine]

180...

[mnehring]

Sorry.. no coffee yet..

[fat city]

We need to put America's riches back on the table and share them with the world, humbly and gratefully.

Grateful to the world? Share our riches? How about our wasted first amendment rights- namely the press? Another globalist journo checks in.

[Malesherbes]

Polish, you have a right to be proud. I just returned from a month in Warsaw. If there is any anti-Americanism there, it would require the likes of David Ignatius to find it. America has no better friend in Europe than Poland. Even ex-Communists like Kwasniewski were pro-American, and the new conservative government under Lech Kaczynski will be even more so. The new Defense Minister is Radek Sikorski, American wife, and about as pro-American as you can get.

[MNJohnnie]

Tarnished only in the eyes of lovers of Tyrants and Mass Murders who dwell in the Hysteric Political Left. Note to moron Authors at the Washington Post. Your pathetic child like need to be loved by mass murders, rapists and torturers in the 3rd World is a commentary on YOUR inadequacies as people, not any flaw in the USA. Leadership and doing what is right is TOUGH, sucking up to Eurotrash and their mass murdering 3rd world cronies is NOT. Pathetic whining to be loved by the World is NOT an example of moral courage. It represents the most sicking kind of moral cowardice

[MNJohnnie]

It's a logical fallacy called "Anecdotal Evidence" that the Political Left is infamous for. They love to claim that because they can find a few examples of a thing, it is the proof of the universality of the thing. It is another example of the psuedo-intellectualism on the modern Political Left.

[JRios1968]

The public opinion polls tell us that America isn't just disliked or feared overseas -- it is reviled.

Funny, every local citizen I met this year while deployed to Spain (and we were allowed, even encouraged, to go out of the base and meet the locals...the señoritas loved us American men,) had nothing but the strongest love for the USA.

[RightWhale]

the attitude does a 360

That would be a complete scan of the horizon and return to the original attitude. It is true the country folk have their heads screwed on right, France's equivalent of Red States.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

For some reason CNN International, the BBC, Reuters, the Associated Press and other news gathering organizations began bashing America on January 21, 2001 at about noon EST.

[eggman]

How do you deny the reality of Abu Ghraib, they ask, when the vice president of the United States is actively lobbying against rules that would ban torture?

What is the reality of Abu Ghraib? Some prisoners where posed naked, humiliated, and sexually assaulted. Did the Bush administration cover it up or deny that any of this took place?

Yet the left continues to deny that Saddam was supporting terrorism, had used WMD's against his own people, and was working to develop more destructive biological and even nuclear weapons. They deny their own part in the run up to the war when the desire to rid the world of Saddam and his sadistic sons own brand of torture was stronger than their hatred of George W. Bush.

Mr. Ignatius and his America bashing friends are the ones in denial. Democratic values are meaningless if you are not willing to defend them against tyrants and terrorists.

[TheDon]

I don't think Americans realize how much we have tarnished those ideals in the eyes of the rest of the world these past few years.

There are some who feel it tarnished, and some who feel it has been honorably upheld. It depends on which side of the political divide you stand on.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I don't think Americans realize how much we have tarnished those ideals in the eyes of the rest of the world these past few years.

Hey, Mr. Ignatius, how do you explain 20 million illegal aliens?!?

[Milhous]

It's a logical fallacy called "Anecdotal Evidence" that the Political Left is infamous for.

Interesting. Thank you.