I actually had a political discussion with my wife yesterday.
We were talking about how Americans are viewed by the world compared to a few years ago. She asked me to think back to just after the 9/11 attacks. Remember how the world reacted? We were embraced by just about every nation in the world and they stood side by side with us in a combined effort to defeat terrorism everywhere. Remember the candle light vigils, the messages of comfort? Now think about the present day. If we were to have more attacks along the same lines of 9/11 would the rest of the world react the same way?
This election is about our image in the rest of the world. Bush has destroyed the image of America in the eyes of the one hundred some-odd nations we share the earth with.
Being a military brat, I lived in Germany during my last two years of high school. I remember traveling around Europe and how friendly people were. Now I read in the Seattle Times that Americans are pretending to be Canadian to avoid conflict while traveling abroad.
Only three years ago we were embraced; now because of the actions of our government we feel the need to hide who we are.
Somehow we ended up being the world’s sole superpower and the next American President will affect life not only in this country but life in many other countries as well.
As the only superpower (presently, at least) we are responsible for working with our neighbors. If we are to be respected by others we need to respect others. This is a lesson I learned as a child, a lesson Bush does not seem to have ever absorbed.
Bush does not appear to feel as if we owe the world anything. Kerry is at least in the frame of mind that we are not the only ones on the planet. I don’t think Bush feels that America is the only nation that matters, he just seems to act like it.
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