Mrs. Miniver Is Dead (Special Relationship R.I.P.)

Tech Central Station ^ | August 12, 2005 | Clive Davis

[quidnunc]

I have sad news for my American friends: Mrs. Miniver is dead. The funeral was held some time ago, and there were not many mourners in attendance.

For the benefit of TCS readers under the age of 40, I should explain that Mrs. M — played by Greer Garson in the Hollywood film — represented all that was best about war-time Britain — or more precisely that strawberries-and-cream realm known as Middle England. For most of the Cold War, her demure image still cast its spell over the custodians of the Special Relationship.

The world moves on. Britain is a very different place now, although this may come as news to all those people who - until the recent terror attacks anyway — based their perceptions of this country on bland, air-brushed movies such as "Notting Hill" and "Love, Actually". Sure, London does look very attractive as a backdrop to the foppish Hugh Grant. What Americans miss amidst the soft-focus photography and the vistas of immaculate west London town-houses (which usually only foreign bankers can afford) is the changing face of the country at large — and of Middle England in particular.

Immediately after 9/11, much was made of such ceremonial gestures as the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Changing of the Guard. Dig a little deeper, though, and there's no mistaking the hostility to American values among large sections of the British population. Conservative commentators in the US have got plenty of mileage out of jibes at French anti-Americanism; the unpleasant truth is that Britain is home to a similar phenomenon. …

-snip-

[quidnunc]

Quote:

There's no question that media bias plays a major part in skewing public perceptions. The BBC, which once brought us that epic TV series "Alistair Cooke's America", seldom misses an opportunity to portray the States as violent, dysfunctional and imperialist. A left-liberal mind-set is de rigueur at Broadcasting House, tarnishing what is still, in many ways, a great institution. In this closed world neocons, not Islamists, are regarded as the great threat to democracy. Unfortunately, even in these days of multi-channel broadcast, the Corporation's huge resources and its immense cultural reach mean that it still sets the agenda.

[yankeedame]

rest of the article:

=====================

Last October an ICM opinion survey registered a sharp increase in hostility to the US. A startling 73% of British voters felt that the US exercised too much influence around the globe. As the Guardian reported at the time: "A majority in Britain also believe that US democracy is no longer a model for others. But perhaps a more startling finding from the Guardian/ICM poll is that a majority of British voters -- 51% -- say that they believe that American culture is threatening our own culture."

Where has this hostility come from? Well, to some extent, it was always there. Even at the height of WW2, while Mrs. Miniver was pruning roses as Spitfires flew overhead, attitudes to Americans were decidedly mixed. Hence that famous catch-phrase about US servicemen: "over-paid, over-sexed, and over here". Angus Calder's vivid account of the wartime UK, "The People's War", points to the result of a popularity poll conducted in 1943. Americans were well down the list of admired allies: "After Mussolini's fall in the summer of that year," writes Calder, "they were actually less well spoken of than the Italians..."

There's no question that media bias plays a major part in skewing public perceptions. The BBC, which once brought us that epic TV series "Alistair Cooke's America", seldom misses an opportunity to portray the States as violent, dysfunctional and imperialist. A left-liberal mind-set is de rigueur at Broadcasting House, tarnishing what is still, in many ways, a great institution. In this closed world neocons, not Islamists, are regarded as the great threat to democracy. Unfortunately, even in these days of multi-channel broadcast, the Corporation's huge resources and its immense cultural reach mean that it still sets the agenda. While the national press is slightly less shrill, pro-American commentators are very much a minority. When the first bouts of hysteria erupted over Guantanamo Bay, it was the Mail on Sunday -- regarded as the voice of Middle England -- which published some of the shrillest commentary.

Perhaps as a consequence of all those hours spent sighing over Hugh Grant, Americans tend to assume that British are much more worldly and sophisticated than they really are. The truth is, when it comes to knowledge of American history and institutions, the Brits are woefully uninformed. What they are familiar with is American popular culture, which is -- as I don't need to remind you -- a different thing all together. The result of that false sense of familiarity is a toxic combination of ignorance and arrogance. Besides, the British middle classes (like many of their counterparts in the US) do not necessarily see American popular culture as an unmitigated force for good. As the cultural critic Martha Bayles observes in an essay on public diplomacy in the latest edition of the Wilson Quarterly: "Popular culture is no longer 'America's secret weapon.' On the contrary, it is a tsunami by which others feel engulfed. "

America itself has to accept some of the blame. Even though I'm a Bush admirer, the sheer ineptitude of the administration's public relations has been astounding. What's more, seduced by Tony Blair's oratory and statesmanship, Washington decision-makers seem to think there is no need to bother communicating with the British public. How else to explain the fiasco at Grosvenor Square, home to the American embassy? When William Farish was installed as ambassador early in Bush's tenure, it was thanks to his campaign contributions, not to mention his passion for breeding racehorses -- supposedly a handy accessory in mingling with royalty and upper classes. Sadly, his lack of communication skills soon became obvious, so much so that the "invisible" ambassador became the butt of many a journalist's jokes. After 9/11, at a moment when the US needed an articulate figure at the helm, Farish was nowhere to be seen. After he eventually departed last July, his post remained vacant, much to the consternation of America's friends on this side of the Atlantic. "A dereliction of duty" was the scathing assessment of the Times. His successor, Robert Tuttle -- a businessman and former head of personnel at the Reagan White House -- finally arrived last month. Whether he will prove any more charismatic remains to be seen. He has a huge job ahead of him.

Clive Davis writes for the London Times and is the "Letter from London" columnist of the Washington Times. His weblog is at: www.clivedavis-online.com

[TradicalRC]

A startling 73% of British voters felt that the US exercised too much influence around the globe. As the Guardian reported at the time: "A majority in Britain also believe that US democracy is no longer a model for others. But perhaps a more startling finding from the Guardian/ICM poll is that a majority of British voters -- 51% -- say that they believe that American culture is threatening our own culture."

Sorry to rain on the parade, but I think the Brits may have a point. It's not terribly radical to point out that we are the BMOC on this planet and that the way democracy gets done here is often underhanded and that we export our cultural mores at the expense of other cultural traditions is it?

[quidnunc]

TradicalRC wrote: Sorry to rain on the parade, but I think the Brits may have a point. It's not terribly radical to point out that we are the BMOC on this planet and that the way democracy gets done here is often underhanded and that we export our cultural mores at the expense of other cultural traditions is it?

Right! Got it! America is what's wrong with the world!

Is that what you're saying?

[Larry Lucido]

51% -- say that they believe that American culture is threatening our own culture

If aspects of our culture weren't desireable, it could never, ever threaten anyone, anywhere.

I've been all over the world. Anything American is craved everywhere.

[happyathome]

Victor Davis Hansen makes a point about these kinds of issues. You won't find perfection in any government constituted by humans. What you get in America (politics, culture, morality, etc) is not perfect, but it is better than most of the other places in the world. If not, people would not be risking life and limb to get in.

Sorry to see recognition among the locals that Mrs. Miniver's England is fading away. Most American's are too busy to notice. Oh well, at least we'll have the movies.

[RustysGirl]

violent, dysfunctional and imperialist

Well, the Brits should know, shouldn't they.

[Grut]

Right! Got it! America is what's wrong with the world! - Is that what you're saying?

Oh, spare us the superpatriot cant! What he's saying is that along with the Constitution and Norman Rockwell, the world gets Chicago Politics and Rap lyrics. And more of the last two than the first.

America is a net blessing, not an unalloyed one.

[TradicalRC]

Right! Got it! America is what's wrong with the world!

Is that what you're saying?

On the contrary, America's perfect. Give me MORE abortions. Give me more internet porn. Give me MORE legislation from the bench. Give me MORE drug traffic. Give me more inner city crime. Give me MORE teen pregnancy. You're right.

[TradicalRC]

If aspects of our culture weren't desireable, it could never, ever threaten anyone, anywhere.

I've been all over the world. Anything American is craved everywhere.

American culture, Hollywood values and the culture of rap and other hardcore music is poison for any culture including traditional American culture. There is an adverserial culture within America that is very tittilating and very successful in terms of $$$. If You love Hollywood, Rap and the latest version of Grand Theft Auto, then please don't call yourself a conservative. Indulging in our "cravings" is the prerogative of the adolescent.

[quidnunc]

You're right, America is the lowest of the low; a blight upon the civilized world.

Bring on the caliphate to save us from this poisonous Americanism!

[katana]

If you are saying that being resented ("The problem with the Yanks is that they are overpaid, oversexed, and over here") for our overt optimism, brashness, and success is to be expected then I'd have to agree. Britain is, after all, the birthplace of the "tall poppy complex". In that respect these results shouldn't shock anyone.

Also, in light of the concerted anti-Americanism of the British media the image of America has become very negative. The BBC and CNN have a lot in common and are both to blame on that score. CNN International (which much of the world uses as its window on America) is a seditious pack of traitors.

For a large part of our history Americans held very similar feelings or much worse about "John Bull". But when the bullets start flying I think the blood ties will remain very strong, especially in comparison with just about any other foreign country.

[TradicalRC]

Like I said, we're perfect, stop complaining.

[NZerFromHK]

I agree. Does anyone feel the irony of this?

violent, dysfunctional and imperialist

A little over 108 years ago, one of the British leaders delivered this speech which contained these words:

In carrying out this work of civilization we are fulfilling what I believe to be our national mission, and we are finding scope for the exercise of those faculties and qualities which have made of us a great governing race. I do not say that our success has been perfect in every case, I do not say that all our methods have been beyond reproach; but I do say that in almost every instance in which the rule of the Queen has been established and the great Pax Britannica has been enforced, there has come with it greater security to life and property, and a material improvement in the condition of the bulk of the population. No doubt, in the first instance, when those conquests have been made, there has been bloodshed, there has been loss of life among the native populations, loss of still more precious lives among those who have been sent out to bring these countries into some kind of disciplined order, but it must be remembered that that is the condition of the mission we have to fulfil.

Get back to me when Donald Rumsfield or Dick Cheney start saying this. Otherwise I'm going to keep on throwing the "America is imperialist" speech into the rubbish bin.

[NZerFromHK]

You know, historically Britain played a much more brutal game down the toilet, and according to the post-modern Left, a game of the same nature. And they literally shoved the British way of life down the throats of their colonial subjects.

And modern British still think what they did in the 19th century was a good thing. Hypocrisy, to the first degree.

[tet68]

we export our cultural mores at the expense of other cultural traditions is it?

Actually you've got it bassackwards, it should be,

we import others cultural mores at the expense of our own cultural traditions.

[TradicalRC]

Actually you've got it bassackwards, it should be,

we import others cultural mores at the expense of our own cultural traditions.

Really? Enlighten me, from whom did we import abortion, pornography, divorce, drug addiction, judicial tyranny and Hollywood?

[happyathome]

Yes, modern Brits would like to forget the darker episodes of their imperialist history. However, I wonder how Gandhi would have faired under a German colonial regime (or Belgian). No matter how bad the Brits were, it could have been a lot worse.

I was trying to say, in my earlier post, that I lament the passing of the special relationship. Most of what's good about America we learned from England. However, times change. America is becoming browner, and more focused on Latin America and Asia than Europe (even England). Its neither good nor bad - just the way things are. Like I said, we'll always have the WWII era movies.

[NZerFromHK]

Absolutely agree. It is hypocrisy to say that imperialism is bad while at the same time think your great-great-grandparents' imperialism was good for the world. And forget about the "Times change, and ideas evolve, it was good in the 19th century but not now!" relativism garbage.

The way I see it, as Britain no longer has any significant colonies overseas (my former home Hong Kong being the last one), it has formally entered into the post-historical utopian phase. In other words, it has become like France that it has a very diminished role in the world. No wonder day by day and at least up until 7/7, it becomes more like Germany and France.

[NZerFromHK]

In addition to the points above, I personally think Americans in Iraq are pretty much tolerant when compared with the historical British colonial rule in Malaya (anyone in Britain today complain about what happened during the Malayan Emergency?), which in turn was paradise when compared with the Congo Free State.

And