Wednesday, August 15, 2007
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A Blog for America Haters
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
4:52 PM
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Let me introduce you to something truly disturbing: a Washington Post / Newsweek blog, titled: "How the World Sees America"
... Aside from the fact that the WaPost and Newsweek (not Al Jazeera) is funding this, what makes this site truly disturbing isn't the content (you could argue that it's probably a good thing for Americans to realize there are people who hate us out there), but it's stated purpose, which is: "... to put a human face on hostile numbers through snapshots of individual lives ..."
Just to give you a sample of the anti-American themes, in one post, blogger Amar Bakshi (who, by the way, isn't a bad writer) gushes over a Pakistani director who (although he is putting on a Neil Simon play) says Americans are "ignorant of the world."
In another piece titled: "bin Laden Blues," he writes about a Pakistan rock band.
He also profiles a college professor who he says looks like Richard Pryor, once loved JFK, and, oh yeah, praises terrorism. To further humanize this radical professor, Bakshi recounts his conversion from normal to radical with the same zeal a Sunday school teacher might have when talking about a prodigal son who has returned to the fold:
"…My return to the faith was something very gradual. I can’t say why. It happened to me.” By Koya’s account, it took two years before he was visiting the mosque regularly. Soon after, he joined Jamaat-e-Islami as a student activist. His father was pleased.
Understanding America's enemies is one thing, but humanizing (and, I would argue, glamorizing) America-haters -- and painting them as sympathetic figures -- is quite another.
H/t: Amanda Carpenter
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Hi Matt,
Thanks for seeing the blog. What you've written is a bit of a crude reduction of it though. Take a look at posts from England and India. The point is to get a variety of perspectives on the U.S. and figure out why people view the U.S. as they do: for good and bad.
The goal is also to put U.S. readers in touch with people around the world, supporters and detractors, to understand and persuade. The idea that all these people are fundamentally opposed to the U.S. simply is not true. There is a lot of room for improving the image of America globally, and it's a crucial national security imperative for us.
Appreciate your taking a look at the blog, and would appreciate your feedback anytime in person at amar[dot]bakshi[at]washingtonpost.com.
Regards,
Amar |
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while i agree with you that america's goals are not the same as the goals of a terrorist or a usurper. it is also true that the usa's iraq efforts are stupid.
islam trys to export it's ideology to others and we unite and resist. to the degree they assault the west more the west will respond in kind. well kinda in kind. what would make one think that that spreading western ideology, particularly with the military, would not cause a similar effect in islam.
is it possible that we drove islam to unite and resist with our permanent political, commercial and military presence in their sphere? duh.
at it's heart, democracy building is stupidity done by stupid zealots. i could care less if the motives are terror or not. stupid is as stupid does.
possibly if iranian tanks rolled through st. louis, the citizens there might set off a few bombs and behead a few traitors. thinking one is right is over rated my friend.
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Those who think that US foriegn policy is a policy of terror have my sympathy. I watch every year as this nation dumps billions of taxpayer dollars into other nations in the interest of helping the downtrodden.
Does anyone remember when we lost 19 Marines in Mogadishu? They were there to remove a gangster from power who was stealing UN food shipments and medical supplies meant for the starving masses. And this was not an isolated incident. We do not send forces overseas to terrorize women and children. You may say we are naive to attempt to help the downtrodden around the world. You may even consider our foriegn policy destructive. But to state that we are terrorists because of that foriegn policy is offensive in the extreme. Clearly your knowledge of history is hopelessly twisted. |
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Hank, you suggested that if your country were invaded you would do anything to defend it. Really? Would you slit the throats of the invading general's children? Would you rape his wife and burn her alive? Sorry but I wouldnt do these things.
And your asinine assertion also equates the US Army with an invading force bent on conquest of America. (You mentioned the British versus American colonists fighting the revolution.) Here is a tip: when you use an analogy, try and make sure it is a salient one. We are nothing like the Red Coats during the revolution. We are significantly more in line with the French armies who fought against King George as our allies. Perhaps you think we want to destroy Iraq, make it a US territory, or steal all of its oil. If you do, then your post makes sense. If not, you need to reavaluate your position. |
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i am an exat splitting time in nicaragua and costa rica, rarely visiting the usa.
i am a libertarian right winger. have been for 30 years. i do not much like govt of any sort. i think democracy building is particularly stupid. that being said,
i very much understand other's views of the USA, or EEUU as it is known by those in the know.
americans think of america as great, but frankly great people and countrys do not act like americans act today. particulalry your racist views on immigration and protectionism and the english language. Americans do not own the USA, it is not a collective. at least it is not supposed to be. there is nothing in the constitution that gives the state or its people the right to tell other people how to live and what they speak.
we have a saying down here roughly translated it comes out like just because one has the smell of a pig does not mean that the other wears perfume. just because chavez is a criminal, does not make the usa congress, its president or its people saints.
from my view i find the usa arrogant, haughty, racist, nativist, and in foreign policy stupid. the USA has the right to defend itself, but frankly todays big government USA has no call to be exporting their sad state of affair to other unsuspecting governments under the guise of speading freedom and democracy. what a laugh. they have made a joke of human liberty and frankly your taxes are higher than most of the socialist world. who the hades are you to be telling anyone how to live?
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Southern Germany, I´m working in Munich but living outside - can´t stand big cities (and high rents). |
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I sense you are attempting to gauge my level of "conservatism".
I have to say all of your examples are definitely examples of terror. Unfortunately, you have forgotten to include one of the longest standing terror groups. US! Our foreign policy over the last century has been one of terror.
We need to rethink this posture and not buy into this notion that if others disagree with our aggressive behavior ("foreign policy")they simply "hate democracy".
This is nothing more than a marketing slogan that is easily digestible by those who have no knowledge of the world beyond our borders. I would venture to guess that most of those who buy this have never left their own state.
Trust me, you don't have to be a wealthy elitist to get out and see the world. I am an example of the kid who came from modest Midwest beginnings and made it a priority.
We need to start asking ourselves why so many Arabs would be willing to blow themselves up for their cause. If it were just one or two examples a year I would agree they were just wackos brainwashed, by some "evil" imam (i.e. McVeigh). There are just too many cases for me to believe that is what motivates them. |
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Yes, I always enjoy my time and the people in Europe...I wish the US were more conducive to things like biking to work, riding the train everywhere and having more "daytime" with family. Our competitive nature here makes that tough. Go to Vehement Mod site and see his posts. Where are you btw? |
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Unfortunately, in today's world, "terrorist" gets thrown around as carelessly in the right as "fascist" gets thrown around in the left. So, I would say that I do somewhat agree with Hank.
Hank, it's very dangerous to get wrapped up in the slogan that the application of the term "terrorist" is automatically a suspect practice. There are many groups that are justifiably labeled as terrorist, and there are many groups that proudly identify themselves as terrorist.
Fascist, Communist and Democratic governments made widespread use of these terms to describe people as diverse as Elvis Presley and actual underground, anti-government, armed rebels. In this sense, the term terrorist can be effectively applied, but one has to be careful as to where they are used.
For example, I don't think that you would disagree with the point that the KKK, Timothy McVeigh, and Osama bin Laden are truly terrorist organizations with the explicit goal of inflicting harm on others. |
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but you can´t talk about politics with them, in my experience. Of course these are generalizations. I´m not saying that life isn´t very good here. |
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Hmmm, is anyone really surprised that there are those in other countries who hate America and who vocalize it?
And is anyone really surprised that MOST people look at the Middle East and, even after much consideration, shrug and eventually admit, "Who cares if they all blow each other up?"
And is anyone really surprised that millions and millions of illegal aliens cross the Mexican border each year, make all the dough they can and they recite hate diatribes against America?
In my opinion, America has made one -- ONE -- huge mistake. America has become the welcome wagon for the world. Stop sending aid everywhere at the drop of a hat. Stop cajoling foreign nations. Seal the borders. Carefully discriminate about who gets in. TRACK foreigners -- all foreigners. PROTECT Americans and the American way of life. It's highly doable. If we're a nation of laws, let's enforce the laws. |
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Can anyone argue AGAINST a fence on our borders (both north and south) after going to that web site?
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I am in complete agreement. Europe is using government protectionism to keep their heads in the sand. (Freeloader is a good term). I always wonder at the "shunning of America" and the need for others to say it's up to us to change our policy so that we may be "worthy" of Euorpean Countries as allies! Ha. Who do they run to is the only question. You are so right with your analysis. BTW...though I visit Europe yearly and have lived there once for several years, I have never found any hatred or negativity directed at me...only the whoever the current administrationmight be- though the love affair with Clinton still goes on. BBC and Skye TV is nowhere to learn about what really goes on, if they cared! |
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Even I as a conservative can see through the Neocon's effort to portray the other side as "terrorists". That is exactly what the Nazi Vichy government called the French Underground. Also, remember that British officials referred to American Revolutionaries as "terrorists".
If our country were invaded I would do everything in my power to resist the invaders. Anyone that wouldn't, in my opinion, is a coward and a fool.
It's pretty common for enemies to call each other "terrorists" Its been going on since the invention of modern warfare itself.
All I can suggest is you folks read a biography on Lawrence of Arabia, watch "Syriana" and the "Fog of War"
It doesn't take a genius to see these neocons are raking it in on no bid contracts. And who pays for it, just like in the Savings and Loan debacle of the 80's? YOU AND ME!
Not to mention our sons and daughters who are dying or being maimed for life. 30,000 AND COUNTING!
Bottom line is that the half trillion $ we have spent in Iraq could have been used to develop alternative fuels that would get us out of the ME once and for all. |
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In my earlier post, one of my points was this: if America is hated while Russia, China and Iran are excused, logic dictates that this tells you more about certain foreigners than about the US.
Many Germans and French I know are far more passionately opposed to the US than Russia or Iran - yet these countries have assassinated dissidents in both France and Germany. Never mind Putins verbal attacks on EU countries, his energy blackmail, the slaughter in Chechnya, the killing of journalists or the atrocious environmental record. Never mind Iran´s stated desire to wage nuclear war. What has Bush done that is even remotely as dangerous to Europe? Nothing! And Europe has a historical debt to America.
So what is their problem? The only logical conclusion is that the US is bashed because it is harmless and safe. A critic of the US is not going to end up with a polonium enema or his head cut off. In fact, Americans practically demand to be bashed, if you are going by the liberal elites. Most people are motivated by opportunism and convenience, so there it is.
As for Bush´s "disastrous foreign policy", what should we compare it to? No other country is in a position to make such far-reaching and difficult decisions, certainly not the freeloaders of Europe. They are avoiding international responsibilities like the plague, hence their love for the UN. If the Germans or French had to deal with real threats on their own and if their foreign policy came under the same sort of scrutiny as ours, it would not be a pretty picture. Or would you prefer a model of naked self-interest like China? China gets no agita from the rest of the world. But Americans are not united, opportunistic and ruthless enough for that.
Besides, I remember the 1980s - how they hated Reagan. They would hate JFK today. So don´t get too hung up on Bush. |
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Whoah Whoah Whoah people! What the heck are we talking about here?!
Pardoning America-haters? Are you kidding me? I am no conservative by any stretch of the imagination, but those individuals that are willing to inflict harm upon this fine nation are not to be sympathized with. As the world's most powerful nation, we are inevitably going to attract a high amount of envy and contempt from those abroad, previous alliances nonwithstanding.
Now, that being said, I think that a lot of people overseas really don't know what America is all about. Their only insights into US culture come from:
1.) American movies and TV,
2.) American pop music,
3.) George Bush's disastrous foreign policy
4.) McDonald's
5.) American expat managers sent abroad
Which basically leaves the impression that American is populated by a bunch of Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie, rap-hearing, nation smashing, hamburger-eating, super-disciplined businessmen (and women) bent on world domination. I do live abroad right now, and I can confirm that this is the case.
This is definitely not the America that I have seen.
Furthermore, although it's sad to say, Americans just don't know that much about the rest of the world. Less than half of Americans can find Iraq on a world map, for example. In fact, most Americans don't even know that much about their own country (population specifics, geography, where a given state is located, etc. - just look a high school graduate skills statistics, you'll probably cry).
We are indeed seen as a very negative presence abroad, and this president has done absolutely nothing to change that. So, in the end, I am resolutely against America's enemies, no matter how ingnorant any population may be, but keeping the same foreign policy will continue to create more enemies, just bringing our nation that much closer to harm.
I'd love to hear your take on this:
vehmod.townhall.com |
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I live in Europe. From my experience this is the problem:
1. Some Americans are ignorant, but foreigners don´t know much about America either. They only think they do.
2. The negative things they hear often orginate in the US - whether it´s movies, books or news stories. It´s not just that Michael Moore sold more books in Germany than in the US. If you follow the press in both continents, it is amazing how much European correspondents follow the Democrat line in their reporting. They are in Washington and they totally "go native" (e.g. blaming small government, low taxes and Iraq for Katrina and the bridge collapse). In that respect Americans are to blame for anti-Americanism.
3. Finally, don´t believe the talk about their concern for human rights, peace and so on. That is a convenient stick to beat us with because we (being civilized and all that) won´t hit back in kind. People bash America because it´s safe.
Russia get´s away with blackmail and murder and why is the outrage so muted? Oh, but Putin might jack up gas prices. Same with Iran or China. There is a complete lack of idealism here. Europeans want a quiet life. Bashing America won´t endanger that.
This is a generalisation, but my typical conversation about the world´s trouble spots ends with them saying "I don´t care if they kill each other down there. It´s none of our business". And they don´t understand why Americans sometimes make it their business and "meddle" in other people´s affairs.
My conclusion is that we shouldn´t be obsessed with having "allies" or what they think about us. Also, let´s NOT bail them out the next time they ask us. |
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As dskerman wrote, "No one should be dehumanized America haters are still human". And where is it are they "human"?
Human as in flesh and blood, filled with sin and hate? So the terrorists of 9/11 were "human" too? So I see, Josef Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Nicolae Ceausescu, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and Mao Tse Tung were "human" too. They are "human" excrement.........
Anyone who hates America is not worthy of my time, nor attention. They are subhuman, neanderthal inbreds who have nothing to do better than smoke dope, don't bathe, eat tofu, worship dirt, and tread lighly on Mother Gaia while wearing Birkenstocks......Pahleeze..........
If you really want to see true America Haters, just go to DailyKos, Salon.com, MoveOn.org, and other socialist websites. These hate mongers really spell out what they WILL Do to America if they gain more power.
Just think, when you lose your right to voice your opinion, worship in the church of your choice, eat foods you like, drink, smoke, and protect yourself, will you think of those who hate America as "human". I certainly the hell don't think so.
Without appologies........... |
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Right on brother, right on. |
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a policy of NOTHING for 10 years might be the answer?......NOTHING means No intervention in foreign culture, as well as NO financial or humanitarian aid as well!..........After 10 years of keeping all of our tax dollars to ourselves, we could simply ask, "HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?" |
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...our ancestors left all those tired old places and came here to America. At least when we brag about America, we have something to brag about. |
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There once was a man from Afganistan,
Who cursed the decadant American;
But when he needed help against the Taliban,
The one he cursed helped him take a stand.
Don't believe everything you read, there are plenty of people in this world who appreciate the good 'ol USA.
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but my father used to say something that sounded just like "bakshi" which he used as a synonym for shite. He was a world traveler so its hard to know what language it is. Don't suppose that bakshi isn't his real name and he's just being facetious? |
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America haters are still humans.
To suggest that anyone deserves to be dehumanized is very disturbing.
It is these terrorists ability to dehumanize what they see as the "evil westerners" which allows them to commit atrocities against us.
Now I am in no way suggesting that we should be apologists for these "America haters". However, there is a large difference between being disgusted with someones views and actions, and suggesting that they are not worthy of being designated as "human"
One of the most important things we need to keep in our minds during this struggle is that everyone, terrorist or victim is still a human and going down the road of classifying individuals as less than that is very dangerous. |
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