Friday, August 03, 2007

“I deserve what you Americans have, but won’t ever become like you to get it.”

Victor Davis Hanson at NRO this morning has some eye-opening and thought provoking words regarding the latest “Pew poll of June 2007.”

The popularity poll consists of what the world thinks of the U.S.:

“No doubt when the Bush administration leaves office, and should a Democratic one replace it, our approval ratings will rise with our present detractors. But they may also decline among our friends who will learn that U.S. open markets, free trade, and reliable military support in times of crisis are now objects of left-wing criticism. Note in this regard that world opinion toward both China and Russia is turning unfavorable. That distrust will only increase as both begin to flex their muscles — the former gobbling up oil contracts from the most murderous regimes, the latter selling the same rogues anything they need to foment unrest.”

After reading the essay, give some serious thought to the final paragraph, not just for the sake of tit for tat, but perhaps just to let them all know that we don’t think so highly of them very often either. Isolationism isn’t the answer, but they wouldn’t care much for the ways of the world without us.

In that regard, such polls continue to be mostly one-sided. What we need now are new comprehensive surveys of what Americans themselves think of the United Nations, the Islamic world, and Western Europe — so that they can try to square the results with our present foreign policy of aid, friendship, or military assistance to those who apparently don’t want or appreciate what they receive.

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    4 comments:

    1. Anonymous9:41 AM

      Like Clint Eastwood said to Gene Hackman in 'Unforgiven,' "deserved ain't got nothing to do with it."
      I always enjoy reading VDH, but not necessarily Pew.
      My question for those would be detractors is, who gives a flip what you think? You are gonna moan and whine anyway, so why should we listen? I can only imagine the level of outrage if we just used the world's resources, and cut off all financial aid to the rest of the world. Yeah, that's right, you ungrateful, slack-jawed, illiterate beggars, the U.S. is the most benevolent country on Earth, in terms of blood and d'argent treasure.

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    2. I agree on the "would be detractors," bottom line is who cares (have to care a little).

      How about if we did do the "cutoffs" you mention? Yeah, what would they do then?

      I also often wonder what would happen to the world economy if the US did actually use something other than oil...it would be screwed, so I don't expect we'll be able to do that anytime soone either...no one ever mentions that angle of the argument.

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    3. Yeah, that's right, you ungrateful, slack-jawed, illiterate beggars, the U.S. is the most benevolent country on Earth, in terms of blood and d'argent treasure.

      As a representative of the ungrateful, slack-jawed, illiterate beggars, world opinion means a lot when looking at importing and exporting... without which, no country could survive for too long... including America. Also, it's kind of important if you want to travel to different countries.

      DON'T get me wrong... I'm on your side with thinking America has MUCH MORE to be proud of then to be worried about, but it is a factor.

      The world needs America... and like it or don't, America does need the world.

      ReplyDelete
    4. Mr. Bus: I hear you on the trade...and I ALWAYS get you wrong...it's a
      celisius/farenheit thing...

      It is nice though to occasionally say screw you (good therapy), who needs you; but isolation doesn't lead anywhere does it...

      ReplyDelete