Thomas M. Fitzgibbons writes: One could tell from the first paragraph of the letter Friday titled "No pro-U.S. shift on Bush's watch," in which the writer described her background with the Peace Corps and non-governmental organizations, where that letter was going



The embarrassment about our wonderful country reported by some Americans who go abroad is much the same as the unwarranted embarrassment a typical adolescent has for his or her parents. Yes, we are a robust, aggressive, powerful nation in a world where there is currently nobody else in our league. We are unabashed cultural imperialists, yet most of the world, despite valiant effort, just can't seem to get enough of our culture. The has-been, militarily impotent states that have become second- or third-rate players on the world stage deeply resent our ascendancy, and many seem to be determined to play Lilliputians to our Gulliver.

Thomas M. Fitzgibbons writes: One could tell from the first paragraph of the letter Friday titled "No pro-U.S. shift on Bush's watch," in which the writer described her background with the Peace Corps and non-governmental organizations, where that letter was going

Some love U.S. and some don't

One could tell from the first paragraph of the letter Friday titled "No pro-U.S. shift on Bush's watch," in which the writer described her background with the Peace Corps and non-governmental organizations, where that letter was going. It seems plausible that someone who describes our government and twice-elected president as "arrogant, imperialist, uninformed" may not be the best proponent of America's standing abroad.

Ironically, the same morning the letter was printed there was an article in The New York Times about the backlog in processing new citizenship applications because the unexpected surge in applicants has overloaded the system.

The apparent disconnect stems from the overwhelming need on the part of some Americans to have people abroad (primarily Europeans from "Old Europe") like us. That aspirational goal will be achieved shortly after all Boston Red Sox fans swear allegiance to the New York Yankees.

The embarrassment about our wonderful country reported by some Americans who go abroad is much the same as the unwarranted embarrassment a typical adolescent has for his or her parents. Yes, we are a robust, aggressive, powerful nation in a world where there is currently nobody else in our league. We are unabashed cultural imperialists, yet most of the world, despite valiant effort, just can't seem to get enough of our culture.

The has-been, militarily impotent states that have become second- or third-rate players on the world stage deeply resent our ascendancy, and many seem to be determined to play Lilliputians to our Gulliver.

Thomas M. Fitzgibbons

Sarasota

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2007; Speaking Out; Public Diplomacy

When this story was posted in March 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

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Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

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Feb 22, 2009: Return to Indonesia? Clinton says PC expects to resume in Indonesia 18 Feb Indonesia still touchy about Peace Corps 17 Feb PCVs Remain Safe in Madagascar 30 Jan Dodd's Senate seat up for grabs? 21 Feb Tony Hall Talks About Poverty and Hunger 18 Feb Pro Football Player Aaron Merz to serve in Zambia 17 Feb Moyers could be new Murrow for US Public Diplomacy 17 Feb Obituary for Nigeria CD Francis Underhill Macy 10 Feb George Packer writes: Parties argue government role 10 Feb James Rupert writes: Missile Strikes Counterproductive? 10 Feb Danny Hevrol in Madagascar amidst fighting 6 Feb Reed Hastings writes: Please Raise My Taxes 6 Feb Obama overrides Hillary on Chris Hill appointment 6 Feb Joseph Acaba has "The Right Stuff" 4 Feb Maureen Orth writes: A New Start 2 Feb Henry Rayburn could make art out of anything 1 Feb Obama out to marry military power with diplomacy 30 Jan Mike Fay honored by the San Diego Zoo 30 Jan Charles Stroh writes: Karzai seen as impediment to change 29 Jan Madeleine Meek writes: The market and the bath 26 Jan NPCA gets new Web Site 22 Jan Read more stories from January and February 2009.

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Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from Bolivia because of "growing instability" and the expulsion of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg after Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American government of inciting violence in the country. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia. Latest: Some volunteers have returned to Bolivia on their own to complete their projects.

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