ENEMIES OF THE STATE: Why the U.S. Is Hated

Uncommon Knowledge web site ^ | July 2002 | Hoover Institute

[jodorowsky]

Uncommon Knowledge #702: ENEMIES OF THE STATE: Why the U.S. Is Hated

In a 2002 Gallup poll, only 22% of the people questioned in ten Muslim nations viewed the United States favorably.

Why does the United States foster such hatred in the Islamic world in particular? Is it our foreign policy—our support of Israel and of repressive Arab regimes in the Mideast?

Or is it our culture? Does globalization spread American values that are simply antithetical, thus disruptive, to the traditional Islamic view of society?

Just what should we do to win this struggle for the hearts and minds of those who despise us around the world?

Guests:

• Dinesh D'Souza, Fellow, Hoover Institution; Author, What's So Great About America.
• Gore Vidal, Author, Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace.
• Robert Higgs, Senior Fellow, Independent Institute; Author, Crisis and Leviathan.

Stream and transcript here

[jodorowsky]

A very interesting debate on the reasons why America is so unpopular in Muslim countries, and the purpose and effects of American military intervention since the Second World War. Three classic points of view.

[jodorowsky]

Calling all freeforalls.

[republicman]

Just what should we do to win this struggle for the hearts and minds of those who despise us around the world?

We should do what's right and if a bunch of third world infidelaphobes hate us for it, then screw 'em.

[NEWwoman]

Some other opinions:
We are doing well in America (cherishing values such as freedom, liberty, tolerance, etc. as well as doing well materially for the middle class-not just the elite few as Saudi princes) than most in Muslim countries. It is the dark side of human nature to despise someone who is doing better. Also, instead of looking to themselves as the cause of their problems and thus they must solve their problems themselves, they blame someone they despise, such as us. This is also another dark side of human nature and it's the easiest thing to do.

[buffyt]

They hate us because we have given some measure of equal rights to females, they HATE women. We have given value to children's lives, they do not treasure their children, they encourage them to blow themselves up. They hate us because we have flush toilets and electricity in our homes. That is the main reason they hate us, electricity/plumbing!!!! They don't hate us so much as they are jealous of us.

[jodorowsky]

We should do what's right and if a bunch of third world infidelaphobes hate us for it, then screw 'em.

Who could disagree?

[buffyt]

Oh, yes, they also hate us because we let females wear shorts, bikinis, jeans, short sleeves....

[Nyralthotep]

The same reason Bill Gates is so hated: Jealousy.

[B.O. Plenty]

"Why does the United States foster such hatred in the Islamic world in particular? Is it our foreign policy—our support of Israel and of repressive Arab regimes in the Mideast?"....WHO HERE REALLY GIVES A RAT'S ASS WHY A BUNCH OF RAGHEADS HATE US........I FOR ONE HATE THEM....AND AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THAT MAKES US EVEN.

[jodorowsky]

That's the angle D'Souza is coming from.

They also represent (Higgins) another important "conservative" POV, that the broad mass of America's people would be better served in terms of liberty and its fruits with minimal global military intervention.

[ex-snook]

So check out what happened since Bush, the elder, left office. Bush, the elder, assembled a coalition of Muslim countries to reverse Iraq's grab of another country. (This mind you when we had the Bill of Rights and our women did not want to wear Burkas.)

So figure out what happened during the Clinton era to cause 'hate' in Muslim countries then find out what happened since Bush, the younger, to cause a growing similar reaction in the rest of the world. Or is everyone out of step but us? Maybe we should try the 12 steps approach.

[jodorowsky]

They should have put you in the show! :)

[borkrules]

Gore Vidal really is a kook. I mean, he's friggin' OUT there. I loved the quote about how he thinks "most people who make fun of conspiracy theories are conspiracists." I mean, I wish I could get the streaming video for that because the eyes must have been rolling at that ludicrous and paranoid statement. But then, just by typing that, I've become a possible "conspiracist" in Vidal's eyes. What a maroon.

The other interesting thing to me is the close affinity that the far right and far left have with one another, as clearly seen in the responses of the guy from the Independant Institute and Vidal. Peas in a pod. Both disaffected utopians. Dinesh was particularly effective at pointing this out towards the end.

Buckley should have punched the "little fag", Vidal, in the nose when he had the chance so may years ago on FrontLine.

[joesnuffy]

Amen!

[abclily]

You are exactly correct. They are jealous.

[Greeklawyer]

Well said, I have the distinct impression "they" see the USA as the specific reason their religious view has not take complete control of the world.

[jodorowsky]

The other interesting thing to me is the close affinity that the far right and far left have with one another, as clearly seen in the responses of the guy from the Independant Institute and Vidal. Peas in a pod.

That definitely came out of the discussion! An affinity in keeping the state away from military adventures, anyways.

[freeforall]

Dinesh D'Souza: Let me put it this way. The United States, if one looks historically, you talk about it as this rogue power, the United States destroyed Germany and Japan and rebuilt those two countries. The United States is the only country I know of that when it's in a war with another country, drops food to avert starvation on the part of civilians. I don't see the Mongols running across central Asia and distributing bowls of Mongolian beef. I don't see the Europeans, when they were decimating other countries, handing out food to people. America is an abstaining super power. Imagine what would have happened if the Soviet Union won the Cold War, how they would have used that power to level and destroy other countries. The United States shows no interest in taking over the rest of the world. I don't think the average American cares how someone lives in Iran or in Afghanistan, it's only when they come down and knock down our buildings that people get a little ticked off."

need I say more? It occurs to me even after the failure of socialism the rest of world refuses the american idea of freedom.

[NEWwoman]

God bless the U.S.A!!!!

[freeforall]

Gore Vidal: They are the two most politically corrupt countries, aside from the United States, in the world. Japan and Germany. Helmut Kohl has been caught taking money for his party and God knows what else he was doing. The Japanese system is totally bogged down in corruption, all due to constitutions that we gave them and ourselves as model. Henry James made a very good remark when we overwhelmed the Philippines and replaced Spanish rule with our rule and not allowed them to have their own country because we decided we'd keep the Philippines. He said, "I cannot see them benefiting from government by Tammany Hall."

So how does he explain the corruption in Canada or France?