Fixing Uncle Sam’s Image Problem

Man, this rag has gone totally insane... Some will always be jealous of what we have... freedom. We don't have to stomp all over others rights in the pursuit of it, but we also don't need to pander to their wealth envy. We need to get are affairs in order at home... FIRST.

If you want to be like Indonesia, go live there.

I have a proposal on fixing the image of the United States. Propose an agreement with France about renting the former Devils Island and Sante Laurent Penal colonies on contingent of a 99 year lease agreement in South America and send the Bush Administration and those in Corporate America whom are responsible for the World Wide economic collapse for the duration of the lease. Maybe a life term in the dry gulliotine in South America for this type of corruption and criminal consparacy will send a clear message not only to our citizens but will re-store our image to the rest of the World.
What really hurts our image around the World is the same song and dance we project upon the world; it seems the rest of the World has grown up while the United States remains stagnant and in some avenues has basically re-gressed instead of progressed. We need to address the problems that effect the United States and not the problems that effect the Middle East. We have children in our own back yard whom are starving, people whom are homeless, people dying of various deadly deseases and illnesses in the United States, we have a failing infrastructure throughout the nation; and enough is enough, that is why a vast majority of the registered voters of this nation voted for Barack Obama in order to change a broken and now defunct system of government. I believe that aldabears1 has been living the last eight years in a caccoon or hasn't seen, read or heard the news in that same span of time, and the funny thing is this person isn't alone when concerns the aloof naivety when concerns issues that effect in todays world. There is a great number of individuals whom are blinded by the projected propaganda of George W. Bush and Company. I love my country but we need to get our house in order first before we decide to clean someone elses house first.

I am a christian/republican/teacher. I agree. I did not vote rep. this time for the exact reasons in this paper.

dtconnelly - Your reply is thoughtful, but sophistry nevertheless. To suggest that there is no direct linkage between what the US does and how it is perceived in the world is both facile and naive. Yes, the world is complex, but that would suggest MORE multilateral thinking and cooperation and less LONE RANGER arrogance of the Cheney philosophy. The ability to think strategically is what is essential. Bush and Cheney lacked the intelligence and were so blinded by ideology that they were unable to think through longer term implications of their misguided policies. And yes, there will be those who "hate" the US, but the number is enhanced by misguided US action and attitudes. Clinton warned Bush that the US would not be able to kill enemies as fast as Bush was intent on creating enemies. Clinton was no paragon, but he certainly was smarter than Bush. And on the latter point, he has been proven correct. The point is not to be loved by everyone, but to be respected by all. As long as the US stands for unilateral invasion for regime change [violates international law], torture [violates Geneva Conventions], and disregard of global warming and climate change issues [ignores Kyoto Protocol] the US will never be respected, much less loved around the world. And truth be told, the US doesn't deserve to be respected if these are the things it stands for.

I am a White southern Christian (NOT GAYor ATHEIST) and am appalled @ the way the world has gone because of the last 8 years. Give the new administration a chance to fix it.. Being a liberal does not necessarily mean being pro gay, atheist, and what ever you think about hating us. My self has problems with the agenda of the liberal side but it still boils down to what was evident when FDR was coming into power; the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. It is to the point that what ever happens on the other side of the world affects what happens in your world.You are a minority now that does not understand that there is another world out there that does not accept your view of the current status quo. We have an obligation from God to give our elected leaders a chance to make a better world or if not we still have the commandment. Personally, I do not care what Mahbubani has to say about what the US should do. I will work as long as I can and provide for my family and not worry about what the course of others take. The best advice I can give is to get on your knees and humble yourself and pray for ourselves and our leaders to do what is right for the world.

Why does America have to fix its image why don't the muslim nations repair the muderous image they have ,china could use a little help with the image and almost all the countirs in africa need help. We listened carefully and it got us killed we helped and it got us killed. I do not want to listen, help or let any more people into America.

you can tell this article was written by a non-american citizen. they think they have all the solutions. they think everything can be handled by a soft hand. "we should approach the islamic nations better" we should build beter relations" BLAH BLAH BLAH. any country that gets religion and politics intimately intertwined and floods other countries with peoples that want to change the host countries laws to favor their ideas should be replaced with secular governments just like in IRAQ. the west will never stand for long if we let them infiltrate our backyards. put that in your pipe and smoke it.

i agree with TK of columbus. the rest of the world is in isolation, they depend on the US to solve everything. with this depression we are having here, i cant wait for a repeat of the isolationist attitudes to crop up here again just like in the 1930's and then watch the world tear itself apart. then beg us to help AGAIN?!!!! the rest of the world needs to remember who keeps saving everybody and thank God that we just let them remain sovereign nations. the bottom line is:IF YOU ARE NOT A STUDENT OF HISTORY AND ITS APPLICATION, DO NOT BOTHER COMMENTING HERE OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

This antiamerican craze was started by the left in this country because they hate George Bush. Well yall have got your boy elected so you should be happy now. The thing is you have started a trend of of antiamericanism and horrible disrespect for the commander and chief of our country that is not going away with Bush. I have never in my life seen a president so disrespected as George Bush has been. Librals will say he deserves the treatment he got, but they will cry foul when it is applied to Obama and yes, it will be. A very ugly precident was set by the left to gain power.

Here we go again editorializing on how much the rest of the world hates the United States. American politics has been to throw money at all the world's problems. If we can't fix it throw money at it and all things will get better. As long as we have to buy our friends we don't have any. Withhold monies being spent overseas and watch how quickly the world will kiss our posterior. For once in my lifetime I would like to see America first. The Middle East appears to have a monopoly on oil so let's trade commodity for commodity, oil for wheat. Allow American farmers reap what they soe. If a barrel of oil costs 50 dollars a barrel then a bushel of wheat should cost 50 dollars for overseas sales. American's are given a choice to either eat or buy gas, now it's their turn sell oil at a resonable price or not eat.

We would be better off going it alone; we should never have sold out to China. We used to have respect due to intelligence and power. We really need a national religion (which should be Christianity as our forefathers intended) and a national language (English). We need to revise this country and raise it to what it once was when religion was important, and people were expected to learn the language of the majority.

This is a pretty facile view. Firstly, marching in step with the rest of the world isn't always the answer. For every example the author could cite where that would have been desirable, one could offer an example of American independent thinking and action that was sorely needed. The tough part is being able to ascertain when to choose which path. Secondly, the author subscribes to the simplistic notion that there is a causal relationship between our compromise and how country X feels about us, as if we were adjusting a thermostat. Well, clearly there are examples (Iraq, for example) where that is true. Generally, however, the dynamics are more complicated. News Flash: there are ppeople in the world who will hate us (Americans) because of what we represent (rich, overfed, evil Western influence, predominantly Judeo-Christian, white, pick your characteristic......). And lastly, I love to hear lectures about the Arab-Israeli conflict. They will never say this, but most Muslims only want a two-state solution if the Israeli state is not in the middle east but, say, somewhere on this side of the Atlantic.

Noble sentiment, but.........lacking......................