2007.11.24: November 24, 2007: Headlines: Speaking Out: Public Diplomacy: Sarasota Herald Tribune: 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

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Library: Peace Corps: Public Diplomacy: Peace Corps: Public Diplomacy: Newest Stories: 2007.11.16: November 16, 2007: Headlines: Speaking Out: Public Diplomacy: Sarasota Herald Tribune: Joe Roche writes: Bush has presided over a pro-U.S. shift in the global community : 2007.11.24: November 24, 2007: Headlines: Speaking Out: Public Diplomacy: Sarasota Herald Tribune: 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

By Admin1 (admin) (151.196.110.31) on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 6:27 pm: Edit Post

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

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




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Story Source: Sarasota Herald Tribune

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Speaking Out; Public Diplomacy

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