Posted By:
JimB
"I have lived in the 3rd World as well and if you think mistrust and dislike for the US has not increased exponentially during the Bush administration, you are the one in La La Land.
JimB"
I'd be curious to know where you lived and in what capacity, for how long, and during what period of time. Also what do you cite in personal observation to qualify the change as "expontential," with which I might quibble. In my view, things such as mistrust and dislike of superpowers fluctuate in history and in certain theaters it has surely increased as you say. So in some ways I agree with you. The statement to which your comeback was addessed was simply a statement of fact as I had observed it over a 30-year career. My point was that too many people talk as if the Bush Administration started with tabla rasa and is thus directly responsible for the current international climate which had embarked on such a couse long before. Of course, I suppose the best way to be loved is to abandon pursuit of national interest. Informed debate on what is in fact the best course of pursuit of national interest is what best serves us, not (in my view)silly accusations and the impugning of motives (e.g. Cheney is evil) of people in power because of political disagreement. I must admit that I find those who invariably see themselves of purer motive than the next guy totally exasperating.
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To clarify a bit: I lived in Nepal in 91-92 and again in '94. I lived in India in '97-98, and again in 2000. During those times and on other trips to Asia, I have travelled in Japan, China, Tibet, Hong Kong, Maccau, Thailand, and Malaysia. Most of this time was spent as an academic doing research. I had contact with ordinary people from all walks of life as well as academics and the educated elite. I speak Tibetan, Nepali, and some Hindi, so I was able to speak with people in their native tongues, which always helps to loosen things up a bit. And I spoke with friends who trusted me enough to say what they really thought. Of course, my impressions were based on contacts with limited numbers of people, but I can distinctly compare the generally favorable impression of America I received from most, including Muslims, to the generally unfavorable opinion since 2003. The use of torture and the aggressive, unprovoked war in Iraq has seriously damaged America's image abroad in my experience.
JimB