Why should we care what the world thinks of U.S.?

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Permalink Reply by Amy Stark on February 4, 2009 at 10:01am

I was tempted to read the other responses, but I decided to give my initial reaction. I once heard someone say that the U.S. can be likened to the extremely popular jock--Quarterback or Point Guard--in High School. He's a beautiful guy who gets all the girls--because of that he is at the same moment envied by the entire school, and reviled by those filled with jealousy.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Horning on February 4, 2009 at 10:09am

Nations have never liked each other very much. We fool ourselves with sophistry like the League of Nations (practically caused WWII), the UN (has so far mumbled and profited through the genocide of hundreds of millions), and terms like "peace process." This shouldn't surprise us. It is, after all, human history from macro down to personal levels. We don't seem to like each other, for the most part, either. We too glibly delegate charity to politicians, and pat ourselves on the back for lofty thoughts.
Here's a more pragmatic thought. How about we humbly acknowledge our brutish tendency, and build better neighbors by building better fences. How about we quit flexing our muscles and pushing people around, and letting everyone do as they wish until they step on another?
I'd say we should do unto others as we'd have others do to us, but I know that's asking waaaay too much.
Let's just push intrusive, busybody know-it-all politicians into non-threatening jobs (Wal Mart's still hiring), and live in peace and prosperity by living in freedom.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Stuck on February 4, 2009 at 10:48am

"We too glibly delegate charity to politicians, and pat ourselves on the back for lofty thoughts."

They call themselves intellectuals. The causes they campaign for tend to make them sound smart, but their answer is always the same: The government must solve it for us.

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Permalink Reply by Gwen Groves on February 4, 2009 at 10:45am

I am more concerned about what God thinks of us. If we are pleaseing to Him, even our enemies will be at peace with us. That is scripture. In recent years our country has turned from the principles that have guided us in the past. If we lose self respect it will not matter what others think of us.

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Permalink Reply by Annette Gross on February 4, 2009 at 10:48am

I believe it does matter what other countries think of the U.S. While Bush was in office I traveled to Denmark and Copenhagan. I got the opportunity to speak to local people in shops and pubs. None of them were happy with Bush. I'm sure they are glad that Obama won the election.

The world is getting smaller. We all work through a global economy. The United States needs to hold its head up high and show that it cares about what is going on in the world around us. We cannot take an isolationist attitude. To compete for jobs and the best and the brightest, we have to show that this administration cares about what is going on throughout the world. The other thing is that we have so many people living and working here from foreign countries - we need to let them know that we care about what is happening in their countries of origin.

By working together, we can all make the dream of equal rights and equal pay a reality for women, GLBT people, people from foreign countries, as well as assure that we all have access to adequate health care and provide safety for our children, all around the globe.

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Permalink Reply by Darrell G. Walton on February 4, 2009 at 10:55am

In the equation of the question posed, it's a matter of priorities as to what light the U.S. is thought about in as to whom is doing the thinking. Yes, we should do the best we can in how we project ourselves to the rest of the world to be above reproach while putting the U.S.'s interest as priority period as to a keep strong and healthy nation as to be that pillar of strength to the rest of the world as we used to be. It is very important that we show ourselves strong and a sovereign nation as to set the standard for the rest of the world and not the puppet of the United Nations that's very anti- U.S. as to regain our self respect and that of the rest of the world. We had all of that when as citizens we took ownwership of our government as to maintain the bedrock principles our country was established on of God and country first.
Now we've let the hostile take over of the militant left of the liberal agenda have it's reign, we're no better than the patsy the bully rest of the world is harrassing their lunch money from. We are a demoralized people that has realistic troubles of it's own people who can't believe in the patriotism preached today they really know in their hearts was something of a yesterday long ago. The rest of the world sees this as well that the core of this country is a people oppressed and owned by a government of a few lacking the strength of many as to why we're pushed around globally and not taken seriously per any of our objectives. What the rest of the world thinks of us goes along with our national security and resolve as per how or what spirit the world will deal with us economically, politically, and militarily etc. We must respect there way of things, but maintain ours with no compromise period. Right now our way is so confused and all over the road as for all the multiculturalism of chucking are bedrock principles of trying to be all things to all people, even those here from countries that militantly hate us. Who will take any of that serious or want to bother with it when there's an easier way elsewhere around the globe?
Indiana like any state is stymied by that same fog as others states by the Federal Govt. as a whole, but the people of Indiana taking initiative and leadership can start sending those to Washington who reflect our values and beliefs in those things we valued and defended and maintained with our lives that we had in the days of being a truly patriotic sovereign nation. Put on the uniform of our country and serve overseas and see and feel the truth of whom our government is being bullied by or kissing up to that the liberal left media isn't telling you about and you will know what I mean!

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Permalink Reply by Dee Kopis on February 4, 2009 at 11:04am

Of course we should care what the rest of the world thinks of the USA. Even a sleepy little, cornfield-county manufacturer in Indiana is affected by globalization: I helped move my previous employer, a 50-year-old manufacturer-citizen of a town with about 800 residents, to the parent company's facility in Mexico City. Does anyone really suppose that the American managers and owners/stockholders are NOT representative of all Americans to the balance of the planet's citizens, even/particularly when US jobs arrive in their countries?

The age of an American attitudinal insularity is long gone.

The USA is the third largest country in the world by population, though only 4.53% of the total population, according to Wikipedia; I suppose this incubates a certain level of hubris. Also represented in this hemisphere, Brazil is fifth (2.8%) and Mexico is 11th (1.58%) most populated in the world. And yet only two countries, China and India, together comprise 36.78%: perhaps we should care what THEY think?

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Permalink Reply by David Heffner on February 4, 2009 at 11:19am

Tough question. The bottom line is that the United States is a key player in the global economy. If our foreign policy alienates the rest of the world for whatever reason, we stand to suffer economically as a nation. And as we are seeing in Afghanistan, the American military alone can not fix all of this country's problems and stamp out the radical terrorist groups that seem to have gotten a solid foot hold in this part of the world.

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Permalink Reply by J Scott Barratt on February 4, 2009 at 11:32am

My father past on some Indiana Farmer wisdom to me as a young man about other people's opinions and it seems to be applicable to this question. It is the "Rule of 14-40-60" for individuals so the numbers could be different for the USA but the principle is the same.

-At 14 ( people junior high-USA 1st 100 years) we are very concerned about how other see us.

-By the time we reach 40 (Middle age -USA 2nd 100 Years) we have made up our mind that we do not care what other think of us.

-When one reaches 60 (Maturity -USA Current times) we realize that people were think about themselves not us.

World opinion is like that and we need to realize that the world is not thinking about us. Each Country and each group is most concerned about themselves. Working in that frame of reference is the best guide for our actions at home and in forgien affairs. Let's hope that the new team can improve on our ideals through mutual understanding of how others think and act in their own selfinterest.

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Permalink Reply by Gwen Groves on February 4, 2009 at 12:06pm

Your Father's 14-40-60 rule made me smile. When and how did we loose our common sense in this country? Since we are all educated should we loose our ability to see the truth behind the facts?

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Permalink Reply by Gwen Groves on February 4, 2009 at 3:53pm

Chris, I should have written--Since we are all "educated" (tongue in cheek) should we lose our ability to see the truth behind the facts. In other words are we so "smart' we can not discern truth? The real point is knowledge without wisdom does not serve us well. Moral decline has left us without a standard for discernment, let alone a basis for truth and in some cases even a lack of purpose to achieve. The simple rule of 14-40-60 spoke truth about our own maturity and that of others gleaned from common sense and experience.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Conner on February 4, 2009 at 11:41am

Here's a question: What if the rest of the world is right? Maybe we should listen to the opinions of others just to check on our own perception of our country. I may love my new haircut, but if a lot of other people tell me it's ugly, maybe I'd better take another look in the mirror.

By the way, I've been told that some people overseas do not connect the "Indy 500" with Indianapolis. Also, they get us mixed up with Minneapolis.

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