Is the "Global Community" Acctually Hurting Itself...

[12th Doctor]

with its strong Anti-Americanism?

This is something that I have been thinking about for sometime, but I wanted to poss this idea to all of you.

Americans tend to be highly isolationist, when compared to other comparable countries.  Whether they are liberal or conservative, they tend to have a stand-offish view when looking at the world.  This, of course, is due to history, politics and geography.  The attitude of "why should we get involved" is simply ingrained in the identity of most people in this country.

When we try to branch out and get invovled, the reaction from the rest of the "global community" tends to be overwhealmingly negative.  People here in the States see that, and start to think "what are we doing if they don't even appeciate it?"  And thus, isolationism is enhanced.

As much as the rest of the world complains about us "meddling" and comaplins about how stupid we are or that we are imperialists, they certainly don't seem to mind our help, since they use it more than any other country's in the world.  The United States patrols the sealanes, keeps the peace, provides higher education to much of the rest of the world, provides security from threats possed by rouge states, keeps the global economy moving and gives away more aid (in sheer volume) than any other country in the world.

Now, it is highly telling that while the rest of the world whines about us, they seem to have little interest in acctually doing anything about it.  But even though their usually empty words are just that, they do have an impact here at home.

What if the American people finally did become so sick and tired of being bashed that they retreated from the world?  What would all those spoiled brats who comaplain with their hands out do then?  Are they hurting themselves by going through the motions?

Discuss.

[J. J.]

Some of the, "why should we get involved" attitude is due to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Let's face it, we really don't face a military or economic threat from either Canada or Mexico.

I really don't care if the rest of world loves, so long as they fear us.

[David S]

with its strong Anti-Americanism?

This is something that I have been thinking about for sometime, but I wanted to poss this idea to all of you.

Americans tend to be highly isolationist, when compared to other comparable countries.  Whether they are liberal or conservative, they tend to have a stand-offish view when looking at the world.  This, of course, is due to history, politics and geography.  The attitude of "why should we get involved" is simply ingrained in the identity of most people in this country.

When we try to branch out and get invovled, the reaction from the rest of the "global community" tends to be overwhealmingly negative.  People here in the States see that, and start to think "what are we doing if they don't even appeciate it?"  And thus, isolationism is enhanced.

As much as the rest of the world complains about us "meddling" and comaplins about how stupid we are or that we are imperialists, they certainly don't seem to mind our help, since they use it more than any other country's in the world.  The United States patrols the sealanes, keeps the peace, provides higher education to much of the rest of the world, provides security from threats possed by rouge states, keeps the global economy moving and gives away more aid (in sheer volume) than any other country in the world.

Now, it is highly telling that while the rest of the world whines about us, they seem to have little interest in acctually doing anything about it.  But even though their usually empty words are just that, they do have an impact here at home.

What if the American people finally did become so sick and tired of being bashed that they retreated from the world?  What would all those spoiled brats who comaplain with their hands out do then?  Are they hurting themselves by going through the motions?

Discuss.

Great idea! Lets get out of Iraq. Lets cut off all foreign aid, and let the rest of the world take care of themselves. To my way of thinking that's an idea that's way overdue.

[Michael Z]

I think you're oversimplying things a little. Also, you seem to be suggesting that foreign aid and occupying other countries are two things which are virtually inseperable, when they clearly aren't.

It's a question of perspective. There clearly is a difference in perception here, or rather the way America perceives itself (its endeavours abroad and the manner in which it engages with the world) is divergent to the way the rest of the world sees it. The US regards itself as acting out of altruism, while what you call the global community begs to differ. That, I think, is where the crux of the problem lies.

However, one thing's for sure - as long as both sides keep judging each other, we will get absolutely nowhere.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

The problems of eurasia are not america's problems. We shouldn't help them out.

[WMS]

The problems of eurasia are not america's problems. We shouldn't help them out.

On a realpolitique scale, it is in the interests of the U.S. that no one power or coalition of powers ever dominates Eurasia. No Nazi Germany, no Soviet Union, and no one else, either.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

The problems of eurasia are not america's problems. We shouldn't help them out.

On a realpolitique scale, it is in the interests of the U.S. that no one power or coalition of powers ever dominates Eurasia. No Nazi Germany, no Soviet Union, and no one else, either.

I could work with the nazis easilly but not the communists.

[MODU]

I think one of the variables in this complex equation is that "Americanism" is a lot different from the rest of the world.  While our culture was built by a combination of many nations, our culture is also very different from many nations of the world.  This uniqueness leads us to have clashes in our views on domestic and international issues, such as drugs, abortions, and use of military power.  Additionally, in regards to military power, we really have not had a modern war on our soil outside of Hawaii, while the rest of the world has.  The view of our military machine, even in peace times, can serve as a subconscious reminder of the destruction which we can cause if provoked.

[WMS]

The problems of eurasia are not america's problems. We shouldn't help them out.

On a realpolitique scale, it is in the interests of the U.S. that no one power or coalition of powers ever dominates Eurasia. No Nazi Germany, no Soviet Union, and no one else, either.

I could work with the nazis easilly but not the communists.

Ah, you're missing the point - we don't want anyone to dominate Eurasia.