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Inside U.S.A.: Why Do They Hate Us?: Do They?
Posted on Wednesday, December 11 @ 08:59:20 UTC
Topic: USA
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 by Ben Roberts
There is much confusion here. On the morning of September 11 a prominent talk show host in a plaintive voice was bemoaning her opinion that the horror visited upon us just hours earlier was because foreigners hated America. She cried 'Why do they hate us?' Since that fateful September morning I have heard this opinion echoed over and over, sometimes with variations. They, are even said to be jealous of, and envy Americans. Such abrasive ideas have been used almost non stop for more a year by politicians, news types, and talk show 'experts,' and it is time they be put to rest. From where I sit, it is clear to me that nothing could be further from the truth.
Foreigners, and I include those from Muslim countries, do not hate America and Americans. If they hate anything it is the American government. This is a huge distinction, and we need to understand it clearly. If we don't we will be totally misled by those intent on pursuing their own agendas.
The day after September 11 I contacted a few acquaintances in the Caribbean. They were incensed that America was attacked, and voiced in no uncertain terms their support for this country. I work with a Muslim, a very pleasant and intelligent man. We talk often about his home, and he tells me constantly that America, by contrast, is so very different because it allows so much opportunity, freedom, and security for himself and his family. Within months of September 11, a few friends visited from New York. One was a newly arrived visitor in America. He accompanied me to my local grocery store. I picked up a few items and paid the cashier. The automatic change dispenser spat out my change. I pocketed it and was leaving but realized that my guest, who was right behind me, was not following. He was stopped in his tracks. Puzzled, I stopped to see what was the holdup. With a childlike gleeful expression on his face, I saw he was transfixed and fascinated by the fact that it was not the cashier who gave me my change, but rather the change dispenser. As we exited the store he exclaimed 'Only in America can you see such fascinating progressive things.' He was delighted.
Hate America? I think not. The anecdotes above is a small sample of what I think the general feeling towards America is. If you doubt what I am saying visit one of America's big international airports, like JFK in New York, or Miami airport. Waves and waves of Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Russians, Orientals, Africans, Hispanics, West Indians, Europeans, and everyone in between, just keep coming. They have been doing this for centuries. Coming to this land of opportunity with their offspring and earthly possessions seeking a better life. Reminds me of Neil Diamond's song 'They Come To America. They sure do. If they hated this place it would be the last place they would set foot on. The truth
is these people, referred to as they by the news anchor, come to America because they see it as a higher standard for themselves. But. And this is a big but. They also hold it to a higher standard. And when America abandons that high standard they, and the family and friends left behind back at home, become disillusioned, disheartened, and unhappy.
But the question is with who? Who abandons these standards? Are you and I the culprits? Let's take a closer look. The Presidential elections in Florida was one of America's most embarrassing moments. Here is the world's greatest democracy, who sends observers to other countries to ensure fair and free elections, riddled with election shenanigans of multiple voting, people turned away, poll boxes disappearing, and pregnant chads. The circus show was mercifully brought to a halt when the Supreme Court decided the President. Ask abroad if anyone thinks this scenario was a display of democracy at its best. You would get a resounding No! I did. Within weeks of the presidential election I conducted a symposium overseas. In my presentation I made reference to Bush as president of the United States. The audience turned on me with so much heated passion, imploring me to desist from referring to Bush as president of the United States, since he did not win any election. I was dumbfounded and taken aback. These people are not Americans, but they took the election debacle personally. This is what I mean. These people do not hate America. They hated how the American government functioned.
If a benign event like the presidential election can create so much resentment with they, imagine what happens when these people hear the American government banning the United Nations from investigating what the world media confirms as a massacre in Jenin. When the government lists nations targeted in its revised nuclear posture. When the government targets nations as axes of evil. When the government insists that the community of nations, the United Nations, give them clearance to unleash death and destruction on the citizens of another country. When the government is talking about regime change for another country, and promising select oilfields in that country to their supporters. When the government berates leaders abroad as being unelected, while one of their premier allies, Pakistan, is led by an unelected leader. When a favourite in the government halls of power labels a religious prophet a terrorist, and the government neglects to take him to task on it. These people must be decidedly beside themselves, not with America, but rather with the American government.
Maybe that is why Bush, on the night of September 11 tried to sell America and the world on his government's blamelessness by saying, 'We're the good guys here.' Maybe that is why Secretary of State Colin Powell hired public relations professional Charlotte Bears, of Uncle Ben’s rice promotional fame, to sell America in the Muslim world with a combination of flyers and TV advertisements. How amusing. My question is this? Who sullied the image of America in the first place. It surely was not the American citizen. They are blameless in this.
Ben Roberts is a newsletter editor, freelance writer and published author. His book, Jackals of Samarra, was published in January 2001. Ben can be contacted by email at: grandt730@aol.com
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