BENNETT: I don't think the rest of the world has lost faith in our democracy and government. It is fashionable in some precincts to condemn the United States. We have not been popular in the Middle East for many years, and the university class (in Europe, especially) has a "sophisticated" view that is aped by academia in much of the U.S. professoriate.
But many millions of people around the world love America, Americans and the things America represents. If [people] virtually anywhere in the world ... saw a group of soldiers coming over the hill and could pick which flag they were carrying, the American flag would still be the choice of many.
Now far be it for me to criticize Mr. Bennett's choice of metaphor, but this deserves a resounding, "what the hell?" Maybe it's just me, but if I saw a group of soldiers coming over the hill and I could pick which flag they were carrying, I'd make it a white flag.
Other fine choices might be:
- Your own flag (everyone loves a parade.)
- The flag of the United Arab Emirates (who couldn't kick their butt?)
- The French flag. (see above). (Okay, that was too easy.)
- The flag of the Klingon Empire (which would signal, rather than a terrifying invasion, the start of a local Trek con, bringing much money into the local economy.)
If it were the American flag coming over that hill, I'm pretty sure most of the Middle East, Africa, South America, Europe and Asia would have the good sense to be scared out of their wits. Maybe Bennett was thinking of Antarctica.
7 comments:
You forgot Australia.
Bennett is like most conservatives with his head stuck in the ground. He won't accept that much of the world has always had reservations about US power, even before Bush. People don't like the big kid on the block that can do whatever they want. During the Cold War, the US image was helped by the fact that the Soviets were far worse. But Europeans have always been wary about the US, even after WW II. Bennett, like most conservatives, refuses to accept that the United States, like all powerful countries (or all countries in general)does what is in its interest--in a lot of cases, over the years, that has been beneficial for the international community, but not always. And, under Bush, especially, the international community has come to see the US as a country that acts like the hedgemone that we are--we do what we think is in our interest and the hell with everyone else. The idea that we are seen as the knight in shining armor--if it was ever true--certainly no longer is. And Bennett's point about democracy is irrelevant. Yes, many people respect and admire democracy and even American democracy. But we aren't the only democracy in the world. Last I heard, Europe was full of democracies too. So, the fact that people like Americans and like American culture (and much of that culture they like is what people like Bennett hate) has nothing to do with how they see American policy overseas. This kind of sanctimony about how pure we are is what has gotten the US and countless other countries over the years into trouble.
Sorry this comment is so long.
Actually, I did remember Australia but I figured everyone would be too polite to mention its ommission.
And I also realize I misspelled "omission".
Ipecac,
You would choose a white flag because you live in a society where the government won't torture you for speaking out agianst its policies. But for many people in many countries in the world who live under real tyranny, a soldier approaching them with a white flag won't help them get out from under the oppressionthey suffer. Bennett is right that "many" people would welcome American soldiers. It is true, however, that some people, due to ignorance, stupidity, or propaganda, would prefer to live under tyranny than to be liberated by Americans.
Some dude,
I used to think I lived in a society with a government that wouldn't torture *anyone*. Unfortunately, I think that's no longer true.
Before we went in, I supported the invasion of Iraq. Not because of the false WMD claim but because I believed that liberating the Iraqi people would be a good thing. Some people are unable to get over their sectarian differences, however, and, as you say, apparently would rather live under tyranny. Unfortunately, it now seems to me that we should intervene only very, very rarely. I can't think of any current situation where we could liberate a people who would welcome it.
I believe in Bennett's basic point and hope that there is still some reservoir of respect and admiration for America in the world. I'm afraid we've squandered a lot of it over the past few years. But I still think that him using the metaphor of troops coming over the hill was a very poor choice given the current state of affairs.
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