Winning Back The World - CommonDreams.org

It seems hard to believe, but less than one year from today a new president-elect will be preparing to enter the White House.

Of course, he or she will face an unprecedented array of foreign-policy challenges: The Iraq war, global warming, Iran’s nuclear program. … But not least among them is regaining America’s stature in the world.

At no other time in this country’s modern history has America’s reputation fallen to a point so low. Still, the new president should be heartened by a contradictory but indisputable fact: The popularity of the United States worldwide. Yes, the popularity.

I’ve worked in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and many other places where America’s image appears to be near bottom. In many of these places, I have visited the U.S. Embassy at 9 a.m. on Thursday - or whenever the consular section is accepting visa applications.

There, lines stretch around the block and back again. And many of the prospective applicants are young men, much like those young men who march in the streets denouncing the Yankee-Zionist enemy.

Ask them, as I have: What are you doing here? Why would you want to go to America? And every time, they will say: Oh, I don’t dislike Americans. I love America. I just don’t like your government.

They say that even in countries like Saudi Arabia, where anti-American sentiment seems to course through the blood. Of course, 15 of the 19 hijackers on Sept. 11 came from the kingdom. During the time I have spent reporting there in recent years, I could not find anyone who was unwilling to spit vitriol about the United States.

And yet, if you introduce yourself to any Saudi man, chances are he will immediately tell you that he went to college at the University of Arizona or some other school here, and wax eloquent about how much he enjoyed his time in the United States. To this day, a rite of passage for well-off Saudi men is to attend college in America.

A few months ago, an opinion column in the Arab News, an English language newspaper in Riyadh, discussed this paradox and said: “It is curious that so many Arabs remain envious of the American way of life at a time when the U.S. has demonstrated such contempt for the Arab people. The truth is that the idea of America retains a dazzling allure - though America is afflicted by a chronic moral and spiritual malaise.”

The Arab world remains deeply conflicted. And no matter what the new president does, it may be impossible to win over the fundamentalists on the Arab street. They have a different vision of the world. As Abbas Milani, an Iranian scholar at Stanford University, puts its: “These are the people who see Islam as an alternative to modernity.” That may be an ideological contest the United States cannot win.

Still, much of the rest of the world wants - needs - to have good relations with America.

In Great Britain, Tony Blair lost office primarily because people thought he was too cozy with President Bush. They called Blair “Bush’s poodle.” And yet his successor, Gordon Brown, has hardly tried to distance himself from Washington.

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder won office through vocal opposition to the Iraq war - and Bush. Nonetheless, his successor, Angela Merkel, has proved to be quite friendly. And what about France? No country was a greater antagonist during the buildup to the Iraq war and beyond. But when France’s new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, visited Bush at the White House this month, he declared: “I want to reconquer the heart of America.”

So, is this reservoir of goodwill enough to turn things around in January 2009? Probably not completely. If I were the new president, in my inauguration speech I would announce that I am closing Guantanamo. I can’t think of anything he or she could do to so quickly show the world that it’s a new day in Washington.

Very soon after that, I would launch a significant new initiative on global warming - something that says: We get it now. Of course, the new president will very quickly have to begin withdrawing troops from iraq. That is a domestic demand first. But it will be welcomed abroad.

And I am sure he or she will be smart enough not to use provocative throw-away lines like “you’re with us or against us” or “bring ‘em on.”

Winning back the world may not be as difficult as it seems. In fact the most important act will be Bush’s wave goodbye as he steps aboard Marine One for the last time.

Joel Brinkley is a professor of journalism at Stanford University and a former foreign policy correspondent for the New York Times.

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26 Comments so far

canardtahiti November 25th, 2007 1:31 pm

America:

Please. Stop worrying about “winning back the world”. It’s too late. Get busy saving your own now-destroyed democracy, your crumbling economy, your non-existent educational system, your non-existent health care, your fascist-infiltrated power structure.

Forget Sarkozy. We here in France could care less about your opinion of us. Save your own asses, you are in grave danger of going down the drain. Totally.

Ramsay Mameesh November 25th, 2007 1:45 pm

All the kings horses and all kings men, could not put, the humpty-dumpty empire back together again.

George Bush exposed the Myth of America, for all the world to see, very few people are interested in “Brand” America anymore.

Joel’s statement was true five years ago, it no longer is, sampling opinion outside the American embassay from a line of would-be immigrants is poor research.

The days of “I love Americans - but I hate the American government’s policies” are gone. The world now holds us Americans responsible for our government’s actions. As they should.

Ramsay

suhail_shafi November 25th, 2007 2:11 pm

I agree with the article’s author. The policies of the US government are mistrusted and even hated across the world, but the US itself is respected and Americans are respected as a people everywhere. There is a disconnect between the image of America and that of the US goverment ( Bush and Cons etc )

safiyyah November 25th, 2007 3:13 pm

I don’t think that either the average American or the US itself are respected in the world these days. Why should the rest of the world think that US citizens are not responsible for the US Empire? They would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to think so.

Robert Settgast November 25th, 2007 3:14 pm

The architects of this disastrous war, most of whom defied real military service, could not have embarked on this disastrous misadventure without the voters (albeit a minority). The dreadful fallacy of this war was then evident as was their exploitation of the 9/11 event while concealing their neglect of the multiple warnings beforehand. Remember the deceptive (but successful) character assassination of Senator Max Cleland, a triple amputee Vietnam Vet, for his support of an investigation into the causes of 9/11. Also evident were many other unprecedented abuses including secretive energy policies , manipulation of scientific data & environmental sellouts to appease special interests, and the list goes on.

Blame for these unprecedented abuses and disastrous policies falls mainly on: our legislators for allowing them; the five Supreme Court Justices who placed politics over their trust and planted this unfit person in the presidency; and the apathetic and uninformed voters who helped this administration steal two elections.

All to Relevant Quote:

How is the World Ruled & how do wars start?
Diplomats tell lies to journalists & then believe what they read.
(Karl Kraus, Austrian Press,1874-1936)

Anniesee November 25th, 2007 4:36 pm

“The days of “I love Americans - but I hate the American government’s policies” are gone. The world now holds us Americans responsible for our government’s actions. As they should.”(Ramsay Mameesh)

Well, up to a point, but what about the two elections many believe were stolen ? What could “the people” have done? Do critics overseas take that into account? And what about the voices calling for impeachment, and the anti-war marches and protesters? The environmental groups, and Al Gore’s heroic efforts.

It’s not all bad, but thinking too negatively can make it so.

I’m British, live in the US, not yet a US citizen, but I feel that there’s far too much negative thought going on at present. I see the faults here, but despairing isn’t going to help.

I applaud articles like Joel Brinkley’s - it’s a breath of fresh air and a shred of optimism for the future - it’s sad that some feel the need to trample on it.

geoff29 November 25th, 2007 5:23 pm

I’m glad to hear from the french and the british!

What we need here is someone completely neutral who can’t be bought to oversee the election itself because I think it’s pretty much of a fraud.

dreamertoo November 25th, 2007 10:28 pm

America has much to learn, but not from people whose ignorance rivals that of her current leaders.

Thank you Joel Brinkley!

CanadaCurmugeon November 25th, 2007 10:43 pm

canardtahiti said it well. In Canada we like americans - even love some of them - especially those we are married to. But we despise the US administration as we see it is almost totally corrupt - I know I lived there and worked within it. It really is a fascist or corporatist state. Save Kucinich and Paul and maybe a few others but you have to clean house, the WH, Congres s and Senate. Restore real “democracy”- restore the paper trail. The military-industrial-entertainment complex has wrecked the US -Eisenhouer warned you it would! Do it before you have another false flag event and martial law.

Ramsay Mameesh November 25th, 2007 11:33 pm

Annisee:
Despair? Au contraire! I am bubbling over with optimism. Truths, that I have waited years and decades to see revealed, are coming out fast and furious. Myths, that have enslaved the thinking of generations, are being shattered.

This is a great time, a dangerous time indeed, but one filled with incredible opportunities.

I marched in NYC and last month in S.F. I have started an environmentally based business that will give hope to millions of your soon to be fellow Americans. I write articles, to shame your hero Al Gore, into running for president. Despair and negativity? Hardly so.

However, this time of opportunity, this moment to realize positive changes, will be squandered if we cannot be both honest and responsible. Both individually and collectively.

I am responsible for my actions, for my choices, for my people and for my government.

I must be honest, with myself, and with others.

This is a hard concept for many of my fellow Americans, your assimiliation appears to be nearly complete, to accept and acknowledge.

I do not trample on fresh air, and optimism for the future, as you suggest. I trample on sloppy journalism, mis-information, and a counter-productive attempt at maintaining a toxic myth.

Half my life has been spent living overseas, part of it in your native land, part in the neighborhood the author mentions, and parts in other parts. I write from personal experience.

The author is wrong - for many reasons. His characterization of the Arab world is grossly innaccurate. His analysis of European politics is simplistic. His attempt at perpetuating the arrogance of empire is self-defeating. His suggestion that the remedy lies in closing a prison is inadequate.

A couple of years ago in Latin America, my South American friend and I, were having one of our many political discussions. When we came to the agreement, that the American Empire was doomed, he was filled with over-flowing glee. This South American man, a refugee from his war torn country, only a couple of years earlier was beyond desperate to find a way into the United States.

He had, like much of the world, bought into the American Myth. And now, in a few short years, not only did he have no interest in entering the U.S., but was hoping for it’s destruction. He had come to realize, that the death and suffering in his native land, was due in large part to U.S. policies. I have other examples I shall spare you.

For quite some time, we did a wonderful job, of fooling ourselves, and the rest of the world. But no matter how much you, and the author may wish, it is only us who remain the fools.

The sooner we are honest with ourselves, and take responsibility for our actions, the sooner we may regain a measure of trust. However, the myth I’m afraid, is lost forever.

Cheers!
Ramsay

PowerofLove November 25th, 2007 11:55 pm

Wonder what the world will think of us if it turns out that the government was behind 9/11? Whew! Won’t that be a party!

It’s been reported in the foreign press that upwards of 9+ hijackers never got on the planes and are living well on another continent, thank you.. And, what of the gathering of highly experienced military and commercial pilots who threw a shroud of doubt around the whole “poorly trained hijackers flying like experts, and being able to pull this business off in the first place?

Make of that what you will.

May our despair open us, so that finally, en mass, enough of us will take the Nazarene’s words to heart and to soul, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Turns out “thy neighbor” includes, at minimum, the entire human family on this round blue planet. A simple enough solution, so it would seem. Anything less than that - given the technology we now possess?… well…

Now, wasn’t there some good man who said that, ‘we’ll need to learn to live together as brothers [and sisters] or sure as heck we’ll perish as fools?

petsr4ever07 November 26th, 2007 12:19 am

The longer the American people continue to be oblivious to the damage our Government is doing, or continue to put up with our Government, knowing full well what it is doing, the more we, as American people, will be looked upon with disgust. In the days of Nazi Germany, I’m sure that the majority of common people in Germany knew about the concentration camps and what was going on there, but were too afraid to try and do anything about it. Now we look back upon those times and wonder why they allowed it to happen. It seems like they could have done something to stop it. History will tell how others will look upon us. We already know how history will judge George Bush.

PowerofLove November 26th, 2007 1:03 am

A trail blazed…but can we follow?

Quotes from M.K. Gandhi (the Mahatma or Great Soul):

“In spite of despair staring me in the face on the political horizon, I have never lost my peace. In fact, I have found people who envy my peace. That peace, I tell you, comes from prayer; I am not a man of learning, but I humbly claim to be a man of prayer. I am indifferent as to the form. Every one is a law unto himself in that respect. But there are some well-marked roads, and it is safe to walk along the beaten tracks, trod by the ancient
teachers.”

“Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.”

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”

“Whether humanity will consciously follow the law of love, I do not know. But that need not disturb me. The law will work just as the law of gravitation works, whether we accept it or not. The person who discovered the law of love was a far greater scientist than any of our modern
scientists. Only our explorations have not gone far enough and so it is not possible for everyone to see all its workings. ”

“Our prayer is a heart search. It is a reminder to ourselves that we are helpless without His support.”

TIG
Truth is God, Ed. R. K. Prabhu(1955)

*******************************************

“My greatest weapon is mute prayer.”

“You are not going to know the meaning of God or prayer, unless you reduce yourself to a cipher.”

Mahatma (D.G. Tendulkar) Vols. 1-8; 2nd Edn.(1960), Publications Division

koalaburger November 26th, 2007 7:48 am

I think this is an era of honesty where the US Empire which has operated covertly is now exposed because they got impatient and arrogant. It reminds me of 2 buzzards in a tree. One says “I’m bored, lets kill something.” I think the crashing of the US is going to be scary and soon. I feel in some ways the chickens are going to come home to roost and the american people are going to find out what it is like to ask for compassion and being ignored.

twoblueday November 26th, 2007 8:34 am

I don’t much give a damn what the world “thinks.” I do care that our policies, as a practical matter, are inimical to the well-being of the American people. Stupidity as a national policy (both domestic and foreign) is all too popular here at home.

Here’s a question: why are those running “against” the administration policies so weak-kneed about saying so? Reminds me of commercial radio. You can change the channels at will, but you can’t get different programming.

Anniesee November 26th, 2007 10:19 am

Ramsay Mameesh:
Thank you for addressing my comment so fully - your reply was very enlightening.

I am under no illusions about the USA. I’ve always known “the American Dream” has become more akin to a nightmare. What I’m noticing more an more, especially here on Common Dreams, in the comments, is such serious negativity, and a feeling that there’s nothing to be done but wait for doom, or run from the USA as fast as possible.

I hadn’t meant to accuse you, in particular, of despairing in my original comment. I was referring to a general atmosphere in several threads of comments recently. Your own approach, as you’ve described it, shows a determined attempt to “do something positive”.

Mr. Brinkley’s article may not be entirely accurate or all-encompassing, but it strikes a positive note, rather than pandering to negative-thinking.

Thanks for trying to shame Al Gore into running in the 2008 election - you obviously feel he’s a somewhat tarnished hero due to so far declining to do so. I have to agree, but it doesn’t completely negate the efforts he’s already made.

I appreciate all your points and don’t entirely disagree, I just don’t think you give enough credit to the many, so far ineffective, efforts to change the situation we are living with in the USA. The efforts have not, so far, met with success, but the fact that they are being made has to count for something. If there were no such efforts, I would not have remained here - no doubt about that.

Change comes slowly, but it IS coming.

nspire November 26th, 2007 12:41 pm

POWER OF LOVE: Thank you for reminding us of Gandhi.

Namaste
__ __ __ __ We must be the change
__ __ __ __ we wish to see in the world __ Gandhi

PowerofLove November 26th, 2007 12:51 pm

More thoughts from M.K. Gandhi - (the “Mahatma”):

In my early youth I was taught to repeat what in Hindu scriptures are known as one thousand names of God. But these one thousand names of God were by no means exhaustive. We believe-and I think it is the truth-that God has as many names as there are creatures and, therefore, we also say that God is nameless and, since God has many forms, we also consider Him formless, and since He speaks to us through many tongues, we consider Him to be speechless and so on.

And so when I came to study Islam, I found that Islam too had many names for God.

—————————————————————————-
—-

I would say with those who say God is Love, God is Love. But deep down in me I used to say that though God may be Love, God is Truth, above all. If it is possible for the human tongue to give the fullest description of God, I have come to the conclusion that, for myself, God is Truth.

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—-

But two years ago I went a step further and said that Truth is God. You will see the fine distinction between the two statements, viz., that God is Truth and Truth is God. And I came to the conclusion after a continuous and relentless search after Truth which began nearly fifty years ago.

But, in their passion for discovering truth, the atheists have not hesitated to deny the very existence of God-from their own point of view, rightly. And it was because of this reasoning that I saw that, rather than say that God is Truth, I should say that Truth is God. (YI, 31-12-1931, p427-8)

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God is Truth, but God is many other things also. That is why I say Truth is God…. Only remember that Truth is not one of the many qualities that we name. It is the living embodiment of God, it is the only Life, and I identify Truth with the fullest life, and that is how it becomes a concrete thing, for God is His whole creation, the whole Existence, and service of all that exists-Truth-is service of God. (H, 25-5-1935, p115)

PowerofLove November 26th, 2007 12:53 pm

nspire, thank you. He wasn’t called “Great Soul” for nothing, wouldn’t you agree? Catch you later…

nspire November 26th, 2007 2:35 pm

I bring great empowering and excellent N E W S:

Our belief in the systematic bought-and-paid-for inattention of the mass media may in fact be an illusion and gov’t hype to completely dis-empower us to “work the system”., as evidence points to what they’ve actually been doing - and it’s “simple” repetitive phones calls and threats to hurt circulation, not total subjugation!

OK, it might be simple, but that is hardly the same as easy, right?

Please follow this link here, for ‘Confessions of “an editor who ran Bush propaganda”‘, where in summary that editor states that:

Every time, without fail, if there was anything on the wire that supported the Bush* administration and we did not run it prominently and “favorably,” the very next day, we would get a stream of phone calls from angered conservatives who railed on and on about the “liberal media.” These calls, not surprisingly, registered in the offices of our senior editors (”news editor” is not a “senior editor,” by the way), and those editors — who feared for their own jobs if they pissed off readers and lost circulation — insisted that we present the news in a way that was favorable to the administration’s position.

Wow, isn’t insidiously clever to make us think we :
(1.) Have a liberal minding media, but then
(2.) Convince us that it’s really not going to speak the TRUTH, but
(3.) it still may be POSSIBLE to find truth again, if we finesse it as well as the shrub’s SHOCK troops do, as they’re clearly massively funded and organized for the ‘duration’.
(4.) The re-Thuglicans likely have a quite distributed tag-team fon tree for each media outlet ALL across the globe, and duplication of pressuring (to own editor) would only improve their (or OUR ODDs) for impact.
(5.) OK, don’t even bother with FauxNews, but maybe ‘the denuded emperor pix’ will leak out?

What GRASS ROOTS ACTION does it take from any of US?

_a._ Any person willing to call, and call again (watching the news wires, and being aware each day)
_b._ Heavy hitter progressive thinkers that will ACT (like STARS, Media celebrities, actors, chamber Commerce, talkers) with real influence, and or patience.
_c._ Lots of ‘cold calls’ in attempts to find each media
_d._ Attempt to convert retrenched re-Thuglicans as “double-agents” for TRUTH, as they know who to call

Like I said initially, this is SIMPLE, but it’s hardly EASY.

We ALL can Go for IT, as we deserve the best media that OUR money (remember WE are the actual circulation- right?) can influence and buy.

P.S. Thanks to inspiration post by POWER OF LOVE (You’re very welcome; Gandhi was also known as the “Great Separate” ironically, as that yogic power that he yielded was in some ways a Faustian bargain, and although 100% willing and able to give everything, it created a virtual wall between him and his most loved ALL of the People of India - in order to have India withstand and recover from the devastation of ‘partitioning’). Can I have some more please?

Namaste
__ __ __ __ We must be the change
__ __ __ __ we wish to see in the world __ Gandhi

nspire November 26th, 2007 6:22 pm

Thanks to inspiration post by POWER OF LOVE

(You’re very welcome; Gandhi was also known as the “Great Separate” ironically, as that yogic power that he yielded was in some ways a Faustian bargain, and although 100% willing and able to give everything, it created a virtual wall between him and his most loved ALL of the People of India - in order to have India withstand and recover from the devastation of ‘partitioning’).

Can I have some more please?

Namaste
__ __ __ __ We must be the change
__ __ __ __ we wish to see in the world __ Gandhi

PowerofLove November 27th, 2007 1:17 am

nspire: May I assume that when you write, ‘Can I have some mo’ please?’

…you are referring to mo’ Gandhi? If so, it is my pleasure to pick up the ladle once again.

*****************************

One day as his train was pulling out of the station, a reporter shouted, “What is your message?” Gandhi is said to have hurriedly scribbled on a paper bag, and thence thrown it out of the window: “My life is my message.”

As such I have found his life to be worthy of serious (and joyful) study…

***********************

Mo’ Quotes:

“The world knows so little of how much my so-called greatness depends upon the incessant toil and drudgery of silent, devoted, able and pure workers, men as well as women.” (YI, 26-4-1928, p130)

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—-

“Truth to me is infinitely dearer than the ‘mahatmaship’, which is purely a burden. It is my knowledge of my limitations and my nothingness which has so far saved me from the oppressiveness of the ‘mahatmaship’.” (YI, 1-11-1928, p361)

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“The Mahatma I must leave to his fate. Though a non-co-operator, I shall gladly subscribe to a Bill to make it criminal for anybody to call me Mahatma and to touch my feet. Where I can impose the law myself, i.e., at the Ashram, the practice is criminal.” (YI, 17-3-1927, p86)

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—-

“I lay claim to nothing exclusively divine in me. I do not claim prophetship. I am but a humble seeker after Truth and bent upon finding It. I count no sacrifice too great for the sake of seeing God face to face. The whole of my activity, whether it may be called social, political, humanitarian or ethical, is directed to that end.”

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“And, as I know that God is found more often in the lowliest of His creatures than in the high and mighty, I am struggling to reach the status of these. I cannot do so without their service. Hence my passion for the service of the suppressed classes. And as I cannot render this service without entering politics, I find myself in them. Thus I am no master. I am but a struggling, erring, humble servant of India and there through of humanity.” (H, 11-9-1924, pp298)

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“I claim to be no more than an average man with less than average ability. Nor can I claim any special merit for such non-violence or continence as I have been able to reach with laborious research. I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith.” (H, 3-10-1936, p269)

turk fowler November 27th, 2007 6:08 am

If only we were more like Spain, Britain and France…the world would love us and not blow us up or burn our property…wait a minute, give me a minute to pick different countries….

Helix November 27th, 2007 5:47 pm

geoff29 stated “What we need here is someone completely neutral who can’t be bought to oversee the election itself because I think it’s pretty much of a fraud.”

Actually, the Carter Center (not that it could be conted on to be completely neutral) was consulted before the 2004 election. The center reswponded that monitoring the US election would be a waste of time because the US electoral system does not meet the minimum standards for fair elections.

turk fowler November 28th, 2007 8:56 am

“…the US electoral system does not meet the minimum standards for fair elections.” THAT’S why Jimmy lost, it was the electoral system! Tomorrows Milli Vanilli concert is cancelled due to a substandard sound system…and the fact that half the group is dead…..

Helix November 28th, 2007 10:21 am

turk fowler suggested “…the US electoral system does not meet the minimum standards for fair elections.” THAT’S why Jimmy lost…”

Nah! Carter lost because the Vietnam war debt came due on his watch and the GOP was cutting back-room deals with the ayatollahs to hold those embassy hostages until after the election, and with the Ollie North crowd to make sure those helicopters that Carter sent to rescue them went down in the desert.

Now if we were talking about Al Gore and John Kerry…

canardtahiti November 25th, 2007 1:31 pm

America:

Please. Stop worrying about “winning back the world”. It’s too late. Get busy saving your own now-destroyed democracy, your crumbling economy, your non-existent educational system, your non-existent health care, your fascist-infiltrated power structure.

Forget Sarkozy. We here in France could care less about your opinion of us. Save your own asses, you are in grave danger of going down the drain. Totally.
Ramsay Mameesh November 25th, 2007 1:45 pm

All the kings horses and all kings men, could not put, the humpty-dumpty empire back together again.

George Bush exposed the Myth of America, for all the world to see, very few people are interested in “Brand” America anymore.

Joel’s statement was true five years ago, it no longer is, sampling opinion outside the American embassay from a line of would-be immigrants is poor research.

The days of “I love Americans - but I hate the American government’s policies” are gone. The world now holds us Americans responsible for our government’s actions. As they should.

Ramsay
suhail_shafi November 25th, 2007 2:11 pm

I agree with the article’s author. The policies of the US government are mistrusted and even hated across the world, but the US itself is respected and Americans are respected as a people everywhere. There is a disconnect between the image of America and that of the US goverment ( Bush and Cons etc )
safiyyah November 25th, 2007 3:13 pm

I don’t think that either the average American or the US itself are respected in the world these days. Why should the rest of the world think that US citizens are not responsible for the US Empire? They would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to think so.
Robert Settgast November 25th, 2007 3:14 pm

The architects of this disastrous war, most of whom defied real military service, could not have embarked on this disastrous misadventure without the voters (albeit a minority). The dreadful fallacy of this war was then evident as was their exploitation of the 9/11 event while concealing their neglect of the multiple warnings beforehand. Remember the deceptive (but successful) character assassination of Senator Max Cleland, a triple amputee Vietnam Vet, for his support of an investigation into the causes of 9/11. Also evident were many other unprecedented abuses including secretive energy policies , manipulation of scientific data & environmental sellouts to appease special interests, and the list goes on.

Blame for these unprecedented abuses and disastrous policies falls mainly on: our legislators for allowing them; the five Supreme Court Justices who placed politics over their trust and planted this unfit person in the presidency; and the apathetic and uninformed voters who helped this administration steal two elections.

All to Relevant Quote:

How is the World Ruled & how do wars start?
Diplomats tell lies to journalists & then believe what they read.
(Karl Kraus, Austrian Press,1874-1936)
Anniesee November 25th, 2007 4:36 pm

“The days of “I love Americans - but I hate the American government’s policies” are gone. The world now holds us Americans responsible for our government’s actions. As they should.”(Ramsay Mameesh)

Well, up to a point, but what about the two elections many believe were stolen ? What could “the people” have done? Do critics overseas take that into account? And what about the voices calling for impeachment, and the anti-war marches and protesters? The environmental groups, and Al Gore’s heroic efforts.

It’s not all bad, but thinking too negatively can make it so.

I’m British, live in the US, not yet a US citizen, but I feel that there’s far too much negative thought going on at present. I see the faults here, but despairing isn’t going to help.

I applaud articles like Joel Brinkley’s - it’s a breath of fresh air and a shred of optimism for the future - it’s sad that some feel the need to trample on it.
geoff29 November 25th, 2007 5:23 pm

I’m glad to hear from the french and the british!

What we need here is someone completely neutral who can’t be bought to oversee the election itself because I think it’s pretty much of a fraud.
dreamertoo November 25th, 2007 10:28 pm

America has much to learn, but not from people whose ignorance rivals that of her current leaders.

Thank you Joel Brinkley!
CanadaCurmugeon November 25th, 2007 10:43 pm

canardtahiti said it well. In Canada we like americans - even love some of them - especially those we are married to. But we despise the US administration as we see it is almost totally corrupt - I know I lived there and worked within it. It really is a fascist or corporatist state. Save Kucinich and Paul and maybe a few others but you have to clean house, the WH, Congres s and Senate. Restore real “democracy”- restore the paper trail. The military-industrial-entertainment complex has wrecked the US -Eisenhouer warned you it would! Do it before you have another false flag event and martial law.
Ramsay Mameesh November 25th, 2007 11:33 pm

Annisee:
Despair? Au contraire! I am bubbling over with optimism. Truths, that I have waited years and decades to see revealed, are coming out fast and furious. Myths, that have enslaved the thinking of generations, are being shattered.

This is a great time, a dangerous time indeed, but one filled with incredible opportunities.

I marched in NYC and last month in S.F. I have started an environmentally based business that will give hope to millions of your soon to be fellow Americans. I write articles, to shame your hero Al Gore, into running for president. Despair and negativity? Hardly so.

However, this time of opportunity, this moment to realize positive changes, will be squandered if we cannot be both honest and responsible. Both individually and collectively.

I am responsible for my actions, for my choices, for my people and for my government.

I must be honest, with myself, and with others.

This is a hard concept for many of my fellow Americans, your assimiliation appears to be nearly complete, to accept and acknowledge.

I do not trample on fresh air, and optimism for the future, as you suggest. I trample on sloppy journalism, mis-information, and a counter-productive attempt at maintaining a toxic myth.

Half my life has been spent living overseas, part of it in your native land, part in the neighborhood the author mentions, and parts in other parts. I write from personal experience.

The author is wrong - for many reasons. His characterization of the Arab world is grossly innaccurate. His analysis of European politics is simplistic. His attempt at perpetuating the arrogance of empire is self-defeating. His suggestion that the remedy lies in closing a prison is inadequate.

A couple of years ago in Latin America, my South American friend and I, were having one of our many political discussions. When we came to the agreement, that the American Empire was doomed, he was filled with over-flowing glee. This South American man, a refugee from his war torn country, only a couple of years earlier was beyond desperate to find a way into the United States.

He had, like much of the world, bought into the American Myth. And now, in a few short years, not only did he have no interest in entering the U.S., but was hoping for it’s destruction. He had come to realize, that the death and suffering in his native land, was due in large part to U.S. policies. I have other examples I shall spare you.

For quite some time, we did a wonderful job, of fooling ourselves, and the rest of the world. But no matter how much you, and the author may wish, it is only us who remain the fools.

The sooner we are honest with ourselves, and take responsibility for our actions, the sooner we may regain a measure of trust. However, the myth I’m afraid, is lost forever.

Cheers!
Ramsay
PowerofLove November 25th, 2007 11:55 pm

Wonder what the world will think of us if it turns out that the government was behind 9/11? Whew! Won’t that be a party!

It’s been reported in the foreign press that upwards of 9+ hijackers never got on the planes and are living well on another continent, thank you.. And, what of the gathering of highly experienced military and commercial pilots who threw a shroud of doubt around the whole “poorly trained hijackers flying like experts, and being able to pull this business off in the first place?

Make of that what you will.

May our despair open us, so that finally, en mass, enough of us will take the Nazarene’s words to heart and to soul, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Turns out “thy neighbor” includes, at minimum, the entire human family on this round blue planet. A simple enough solution, so it would seem. Anything less than that - given the technology we now possess?… well…

Now, wasn’t there some good man who said that, ‘we’ll need to learn to live together as brothers [and sisters] or sure as heck we’ll perish as fools?
petsr4ever07 November 26th, 2007 12:19 am

The longer the American people continue to be oblivious to the damage our Government is doing, or continue to put up with our Government, knowing full well what it is doing, the more we, as American people, will be looked upon with disgust. In the days of Nazi Germany, I’m sure that the majority of common people in Germany knew about the concentration camps and what was going on there, but were too afraid to try and do anything about it. Now we look back upon those times and wonder why they allowed it to happen. It seems like they could have done something to stop it. History will tell how others will look upon us. We already know how history will judge George Bush.
PowerofLove November 26th, 2007 1:03 am

A trail blazed…but can we follow?

Quotes from M.K. Gandhi (the Mahatma or Great Soul):

“In spite of despair staring me in the face on the political horizon, I have never lost my peace. In fact, I have found people who envy my peace. That peace, I tell you, comes from prayer; I am not a man of learning, but I humbly claim to be a man of prayer. I am indifferent as to the form. Every one is a law unto himself in that respect. But there are some well-marked roads, and it is safe to walk along the beaten tracks, trod by the ancient
teachers.”

“Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.”

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”

“Whether humanity will consciously follow the law of love, I do not know. But that need not disturb me. The law will work just as the law of gravitation works, whether we accept it or not. The person who discovered the law of love was a far greater scientist than any of our modern
scientists. Only our explorations have not gone far enough and so it is not possible for everyone to see all its workings. ”

“Our prayer is a heart search. It is a reminder to ourselves that we are helpless without His support.”

TIG
Truth is God, Ed. R. K. Prabhu(1955)

*******************************************

“My greatest weapon is mute prayer.”

“You are not going to know the meaning of God or prayer, unless you reduce yourself to a cipher.”

Mahatma (D.G. Tendulkar) Vols. 1-8; 2nd Edn.(1960), Publications Division
koalaburger November 26th, 2007 7:48 am

I think this is an era of honesty where the US Empire which has operated covertly is now exposed because they got impatient and arrogant. It reminds me of 2 buzzards in a tree. One says “I’m bored, lets kill something.” I think the crashing of the US is going to be scary and soon. I feel in some ways the chickens are going to come home to roost and the american people are going to find out what it is like to ask for compassion and being ignored.
twoblueday November 26th, 2007 8:34 am

I don’t much give a damn what the world “thinks.” I do care that our policies, as a practical matter, are inimical to the well-being of the American people. Stupidity as a national policy (both domestic and foreign) is all too popular here at home.

Here’s a question: why are those running “against” the administration policies so weak-kneed about saying so? Reminds me of commercial radio. You can change the channels at will, but you can’t get different programming.
Anniesee November 26th, 2007 10:19 am

Ramsay Mameesh:
Thank you for addressing my comment so fully - your reply was very enlightening.

I am under no illusions about the USA. I’ve always known “the American Dream” has become more akin to a nightmare. What I’m noticing more an more, especially here on Common Dreams, in the comments, is such serious negativity, and a feeling that there’s nothing to be done but wait for doom, or run from the USA as fast as possible.

I hadn’t meant to accuse you, in particular, of despairing in my original comment. I was referring to a general atmosphere in several threads of comments recently. Your own approach, as you’ve described it, shows a determined attempt to “do something positive”.

Mr. Brinkley’s article may not be entirely accurate or all-encompassing, but it strikes a positive note, rather than pandering to negative-thinking.

Thanks for trying to shame Al Gore into running in the 2008 election - you obviously feel he’s a somewhat tarnished hero due to so far declining to do so. I have to agree, but it doesn’t completely negate the efforts he’s already made.

I appreciate all your points and don’t entirely disagree, I just don’t think you give enough credit to the many, so far ineffective, efforts to change the situation we are living with in the USA. The efforts have not, so far, met with success, but the fact that they are being made has to count for something. If there were no such efforts, I would not have remained here - no doubt about that.

Change comes slowly, but it IS coming.
nspire November 26th, 2007 12:41 pm

POWER OF LOVE: Thank you for reminding us of Gandhi.

Namaste
__ __ __ __ We must be the change
__ __ __ __ we wish to see in the world __ Gandhi
PowerofLove November 26th, 2007 12:51 pm

More thoughts from M.K. Gandhi - (the “Mahatma”):

In my early youth I was taught to repeat what in Hindu scriptures are known as one thousand names of God. But these one thousand names of God were by no means exhaustive. We believe-and I think it is the truth-that God has as many names as there are creatures and, therefore, we also say that God is nameless and, since God has many forms, we also consider Him formless, and since He speaks to us through many tongues, we consider Him to be speechless and so on.

And so when I came to study Islam, I found that Islam too had many names for God.

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—-

I would say with those who say God is Love, God is Love. But deep down in me I used to say that though God may be Love, God is Truth, above all. If it is possible for the human tongue to give the fullest description of God, I have come to the conclusion that, for myself, God is Truth.

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—-

But two years ago I went a step further and said that Truth is God. You will see the fine distinction between the two statements, viz., that God is Truth and Truth is God. And I came to the conclusion after a continuous and relentless search after Truth which began nearly fifty years ago.

But, in their passion for discovering truth, the atheists have not hesitated to deny the very existence of God-from their own point of view, rightly. And it was because of this reasoning that I saw that, rather than say that God is Truth, I should say that Truth is God. (YI, 31-12-1931, p427-8)

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—-

God is Truth, but God is many other things also. That is why I say Truth is God…. Only remember that Truth is not one of the many qualities that we name. It is the living embodiment of God, it is the only Life, and I identify Truth with the fullest life, and that is how it becomes a concrete thing, for God is His whole creation, the whole Existence, and service of all that exists-Truth-is service of God. (H, 25-5-1935, p115)
PowerofLove November 26th, 2007 12:53 pm

nspire, thank you. He wasn’t called “Great Soul” for nothing, wouldn’t you agree? Catch you later…
nspire November 26th, 2007 2:35 pm

I bring great empowering and excellent N E W S:

Our belief in the systematic bought-and-paid-for inattention of the mass media may in fact be an illusion and gov’t hype to completely dis-empower us to “work the system”., as evidence points to what they’ve actually been doing - and it’s “simple” repetitive phones calls and threats to hurt circulation, not total subjugation!

OK, it might be simple, but that is hardly the same as easy, right?

Please follow this link here, for ‘Confessions of “an editor who ran Bush propaganda”‘, where in summary that editor states that:

Every time, without fail, if there was anything on the wire that supported the Bush* administration and we did not run it prominently and “favorably,” the very next day, we would get a stream of phone calls from angered conservatives who railed on and on about the “liberal media.” These calls, not surprisingly, registered in the offices of our senior editors (”news editor” is not a “senior editor,” by the way), and those editors — who feared for their own jobs if they pissed off readers and lost circulation — insisted that we present the news in a way that was favorable to the administration’s position.

Wow, isn’t insidiously clever to make us think we :
(1.) Have a liberal minding media, but then
(2.) Convince us that it’s really not going to speak the TRUTH, but
(3.) it still may be POSSIBLE to find truth again, if we finesse it as well as the shrub’s SHOCK troops do, as they’re clearly massively funded and organized for the ‘duration’.
(4.) The re-Thuglicans likely have a quite distributed tag-team fon tree for each media outlet ALL across the globe, and duplication of pressuring (to own editor) would only improve their (or OUR ODDs) for impact.
(5.) OK, don’t even bother with FauxNews, but maybe ‘the denuded emperor pix’ will leak out?

What GRASS ROOTS ACTION does it take from any of US?

_a._ Any person willing to call, and call again (watching the news wires, and being aware each day)
_b._ Heavy hitter progressive thinkers that will ACT (like STARS, Media celebrities, actors, chamber Commerce, talkers) with real influence, and or patience.
_c._ Lots of ‘cold calls’ in attempts to find each media
_d._ Attempt to convert retrenched re-Thuglicans as “double-agents” for TRUTH, as they know who to call

Like I said initially, this is SIMPLE, but it’s hardly EASY.

We ALL can Go for IT, as we deserve the best media that OUR money (remember WE are the actual circulation- right?) can influence and buy.

P.S. Thanks to inspiration post by POWER OF LOVE (You’re very welcome; Gandhi was also known as the “Great Separate” ironically, as that yogic power that he yielded was in some ways a Faustian bargain, and although 100% willing and able to give everything, it created a virtual wall between him and his most loved ALL of the People of India - in order to have India withstand and recover from the devastation of ‘partitioning’). Can I have some more please?

Namaste
__ __ __ __ We must be the change
__ __ __ __ we wish to see in the world __ Gandhi
nspire November 26th, 2007 6:22 pm

Thanks to inspiration post by POWER OF LOVE

(You’re very welcome; Gandhi was also known as the “Great Separate” ironically, as that yogic power that he yielded was in some ways a Faustian bargain, and although 100% willing and able to give everything, it created a virtual wall between him and his most loved ALL of the People of India - in order to have India withstand and recover from the devastation of ‘partitioning’).

Can I have some more please?

Namaste
__ __ __ __ We must be the change
__ __ __ __ we wish to see in the world __ Gandhi
PowerofLove November 27th, 2007 1:17 am

nspire: May I assume that when you write, ‘Can I have some mo’ please?’

…you are referring to mo’ Gandhi? If so, it is my pleasure to pick up the ladle once again.

*****************************

One day as his train was pulling out of the station, a reporter shouted, “What is your message?” Gandhi is said to have hurriedly scribbled on a paper bag, and thence thrown it out of the window: “My life is my message.”

As such I have found his life to be worthy of serious (and joyful) study…

***********************

Mo’ Quotes:

“The world knows so little of how much my so-called greatness depends upon the incessant toil and drudgery of silent, devoted, able and pure workers, men as well as women.” (YI, 26-4-1928, p130)

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“Truth to me is infinitely dearer than the ‘mahatmaship’, which is purely a burden. It is my knowledge of my limitations and my nothingness which has so far saved me from the oppressiveness of the ‘mahatmaship’.” (YI, 1-11-1928, p361)

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“The Mahatma I must leave to his fate. Though a non-co-operator, I shall gladly subscribe to a Bill to make it criminal for anybody to call me Mahatma and to touch my feet. Where I can impose the law myself, i.e., at the Ashram, the practice is criminal.” (YI, 17-3-1927, p86)

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“I lay claim to nothing exclusively divine in me. I do not claim prophetship. I am but a humble seeker after Truth and bent upon finding It. I count no sacrifice too great for the sake of seeing God face to face. The whole of my activity, whether it may be called social, political, humanitarian or ethical, is directed to that end.”

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“And, as I know that God is found more often in the lowliest of His creatures than in the high and mighty, I am struggling to reach the status of these. I cannot do so without their service. Hence my passion for the service of the suppressed classes. And as I cannot render this service without entering politics, I find myself in them. Thus I am no master. I am but a struggling, erring, humble servant of India and there through of humanity.” (H, 11-9-1924, pp298)

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“I claim to be no more than an average man with less than average ability. Nor can I claim any special merit for such non-violence or continence as I have been able to reach with laborious research. I have not the shadow of a doubt that any man or woman can achieve what I have, if he or she would make the same effort and cultivate the same hope and faith.” (H, 3-10-1936, p269)
turk fowler November 27th, 2007 6:08 am

If only we were more like Spain, Britain and France…the world would love us and not blow us up or burn our property…wait a minute, give me a minute to pick different countries….
Helix November 27th, 2007 5:47 pm

geoff29 stated “What we need here is someone completely neutral who can’t be bought to oversee the election itself because I think it’s pretty much of a fraud.”

Actually, the Carter Center (not that it could be conted on to be completely neutral) was consulted before the 2004 election. The center reswponded that monitoring the US election would be a waste of time because the US electoral system does not meet the minimum standards for fair elections.
turk fowler November 28th, 2007 8:56 am

“…the US electoral system does not meet the minimum standards for fair elections.” THAT’S why Jimmy lost, it was the electoral system! Tomorrows Milli Vanilli concert is cancelled due to a substandard sound system…and the fact that half the group is dead…..
Helix November 28th, 2007 10:21 am

turk fowler suggested “…the US electoral system does not meet the minimum standards for fair elections.” THAT’S why Jimmy lost…”

Nah! Carter lost because the Vietnam war debt came due on his watch and the GOP was cutting back-room deals with the ayatollahs to hold those embassy hostages until after the election, and with the Ollie North crowd to make sure those helicopters that Carter sent to rescue them went down in the desert.

Now if we were talking about Al Gore and John Kerry…

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