Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watcgl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!watnot!watcgl!jchapman From: jchapman@watcgl.UUCP (john chapman) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: America-bashing (a furriner comments) Message-ID: <2286@watcgl.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Aug-85 10:07:53 EDT Article-I.D.: watcgl.2286 Posted: Thu Aug 1 10:07:53 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Aug-85 01:23:40 EDT References: <3366@drutx.UUCP> <260@SCIRTP.UUCP> Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 98 > > > There are a number of reasons why the rest of the world hates America. . . . > Whether or not these attacks are acceptable is moot. > The point the sympathizers (of America-bashers) were > attempting to make deals with the sources of the > America-bashing behavior. We should not condone the > attacks, but we should attempt to determine why they > happen. If there is justification for the hate (not . . . > I don't believe we should become submissive, but we must > address the very real reasons why America is perceived > as a global leech, consuming the world's resources without > providing for those not American. . . > prosperity is dependent on the oppression of non-Americans. . . > have fueled these attributes with resources from other > countries. The U.S.S.R. does the same thing, but they > haven't done it as long, so exploited peoples are more > naive towards Marxism. If the U.S. would reverse its > foreign policies and assist non-Americans in establishing > true democracies (not these puppet fascist regimes who > serve American mulitinational corporate interests), we > would find America treated with respect and the Marxist > surge would subside. Let's show the world that democracy is > better through actions, not bogus rhetoric. (sorry for hacking away at the above comments, I left what I thought were representative comments) As a non-american I think the last poster has some good points. If the US would act more in accordance with the ideals that are put forward as part of the "american way of life" when dealing with their global neighbours then the US might get more respect and less hate. The US has and continues to support fascist regimes. Whether or not their actions were justifiable does the Iranian reaction to the US really surprise you when you consider the actions of the US backed Shah? The US also attacks legitimate democratic governments, as for example in Nicarauga. Here is a country living under a US backed dictator that has a revolution and then elections. Dozens of representatives from other countries and private representatives (including some from the US) attended these elections and described them as being reasonably democratic; but the US government reaction to all this is one of blatant hostility - politically, militarily and economically, then when Nicarauga turns to the soviets (as well as other countries) for help the US govt. acts outraged. What else could they be expected to do? It is would also make US claims of respect for law and order a little more credible if they hadn't decided to retroactively withdraw from the jurisdiction of the world court regarding matters in central america. At this point in time your government is about to send an icebreaker to Thule through the Northwest passage. Canada has claimed the passage as territorial waters for some time and the US disputes this. Ostensibly it is necessary because it will save $500,000 but it is difficult to believe that this insignificant (relative to the US defence budget) sum has suddenly become so important. Rather than negotiating with our government beforehand the US govt. just announces it is going through and Canada has nothing to say about it. Now it is only possible for your government to take this attitude because of the immense US military & economic strength, a sort of "might is right" attitude - now how friendly would you feel towards someone who treated you this way on a personal level? In addition the US people seem to lack a certain amount of control over and information about the actions of their government. While this is not peculiarily american by any means, the immense destructive power of the US makes it cause for a lot more concern among the rest of us than if the same situation holds in (say) Iceland. Lest you find this completely negative let me says I find many things about the US which are also admirable. You would however be a lot better neighbour if your government practiced what it preaches and tried to remember that it represents approximately only 5% of the global population. Constructive comments criticisms welcome. Flames to /dev/null. John Chapman -- John Chapman ...!watmath!watcgl!jchapman Disclaimer : These are not the opinions of anyone but me and they may not even be mine.