--- Jim Sharkey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Fair enough, Dean. That's why I'm asking the
> question.
>
> I was approaching the subject from an actions vs.
> words standpoint. When
> our President makes a speech like that
Do you think you could give me specifics on the speech
so i can find a full transcript?
, then makes
> it also clear that he has
> no real interest in the opinions of his allies, I'm
> wondering what message
> he's really trying to send.
>
> In regards to your statement, do I agree that
> America does get unfairly
> vilified sometimes by countries it tries to help?
> Yes, I think that's true.
> They want our money and our technology, but revile
> our culture and reject
> our ideas. That would grind on anyone, no doubt.
> But have we also at times
> stuck our nose where it wasn't welcome, and been
> taken to task for it? I
> think that's probably true too.
>
> The hand-smashing you speak of reaches back to the
> question of why other
> countries seem to hate us. We, as Americans, do
> sometimes act like we know
> what's best for everyone else. "THIS is how you
> should do things, and
> THAT'S whaty you're wrong," etc. I think there are
> plenty of times when
> yes, we probably have a pretty good handle on what
> the right attitude is.
> But who wants to take advice from someone who treats
> you like an idiot
> child? Hence the hand-smashing, at least in part.
>
I hear you Jim, and it's nice to see a balanced
viewpoint. I do think that on the international stage
we get singled out quite often- whether that is cause
or effect i think is thoroughly muddled. We've been
an economic powerhouse for quite some time, and we're
the 'winner' of the cold war. Being high profile
makes you an easier target. Also, we're culturally
very different from pretty much everyone, so that's
just going to exacerbate the frictions we see.
I just remembered that my sister went to high school
with a girl who went into the diplomatic corps (or
whatever we call it). I'm going to see if I can get
some info out of her, hopefully we can get some real
skinny.
dean
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