Dear JDN,
You must be rich if you live in Monaco
Not necessarily, although I cannot complain these days. I am an asset management professional who prefers living in the Cote d'Azur to London or New York.
I am wondering just who it is in the world that detests the USA
Quite a few Muslims, for starters. Not all, but those who are religious and feel an affinity to Palestinians living under occupation. It cannot be news to you that occupation is rather brutal and is sustained with US support.
Most Chileans. The Chileans I have met had not yet forgotten the US-supported military coup of Pinochet that gave them a dictatorship, torture, and "disappeared" loved ones.
And I have to say the arrogant, unilateral, holier-than-thou attitude of your administration over the course of the past two years did not help and now you can count quite a few Europeans across the board in the list.
IMHO no country in the history of the World has ever done more for more peoples then the USA.
I agree with you whole-heartedly. And I think it is a shame that the US is so resented by so many people around the world.
It could have been otherwise. However, it is not hard to understand where they are coming from - if you feel strongly about something, it is natural that you would resent whoever supports your "enemy".
If we are detested then I have to believe its pure jealousy
That is the path of least resistance, and probably even offers some comfort to Americans to think thus. However, it is quite wrong, and such a willful distortion of Americans' understanding of the world and their poor image in it is not good at all.
My understanding is that groups of people who resent the US do so out of the feeling that the US is supporting their dictators although it preaches democracy (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan...), supporting their perceived "enemies" (Israel), etc. I cannot talk for individuals who may in fact be jealous, but my understanding is that most of especially the Muslims don't even know enough about life in the US to be jealous. Their feelings are almost exclusively fuelled by observations of US foreign policy.
From what I have read and heard from returning soldiers the people of Iraq at least are happy we freed them if not in total love with us.
I wouldn't be surprised they are happy to be rid of Saddam. If I were in your shoes, I would pray Bush et al have the smarts to get out fast, leaving the authority to Iraqis. Already, Iraqis' gratitude is diminishing, with every raid, every accidental killing of a child, every day spent without power.
Thats enough for me
Really? Aren't you really concerned about what is in YOUR nation's best interests, especially re security? |
