"Golden: Brand America - Is anyone buying it?" Tourism to US falling, US image worsening

[Bluebear]

The "Ugly American," published in 1958 as a guide to combating communism on the ground through understanding and quiet, sympathetic action is no less relevant today. It's time for some serious outreach.

By Peter Golden, Local columnist
Waltham (MA) Daily News-Tribune


Forget about the recently reported development of over 300 separate terror groups in Iraq since the fall of Saddam. Analysis by Zogby International, a respected polling and market research firm, has shown that with few exceptions the American image abroad is identified with aggression, lack of understanding and intransigence. No one seems to like us anymore, anywhere.

As a result, foreign tourism in the U.S. (a very big source of revenue) is falling, and not just because of unfavorable exchange rates (a litmus in itself of American "currency") and tightened visa requirements.

The Bush administration has responded by charging former presidential aide Karen Hughes with communicating the good news about America more forcefully,




creating a budget within the State Department for a carefully crafted PR campaign, including a special broadcast network and more "public diplomacy."..

So far, there have been few signs of progress. Recent news reports suggest the government's broadcast outlet in Baghdad has become a source for news with a negative slant towards America. The impact of the Hughes program as a whole has been underwhelming. It's tough to spin when a civil war triggered by misplaced American aggression is raging and a whole people are being destroyed.

http://www.dailynewstribune.com/opinion/x212047333

[Chipper Chat]

1. The Ugly American is a great book.

It was required reading in my college lit class (1960) - prolly wouldn't be allowed on campus in today's Bushworld. It really opened my eyes. The sequel is called "Sarkhan." (in the same vein but not quite as devastating as the first book).
The chapter "Everybody Loves Joe Bing" is so Rumsfeldian it's scary.

[ixion]

2. the place to start rebuilding our image: the so-called 'War on Terror'

it should be scrapped.

[melody]

3. bigots are going to be bigots -- those who want to hate us, will do so

Bush and Cheney are playing on that hatred to help sink us.

[Jonathan50]

4. Why would people who hate naked military agression against undefended people

Be considered bigots?

[melody]

5. Anybody who hates Americans because we're Americans is a bigot

It's perception that's in question, not reality.

[canetoad]

6. Robbie Burns

Oh wad some power the giftie gie us
To see oursel’s as others see us!

http://www.watchingamerica.com/index.shtml

[melody]

7. All bigots think they have a rational reason for their hatred.

In the end, the idiots who hate Americans are just as simple-minded and moronic as
the idiots who hate French people or any other group of people. The Klan member in
Atlanta would concur very much with the Scottish poet, in the way you're intending him. ;)

[canetoad]

8. So would the Dalai Lama

The eyes of the beholder, you know.

[melody]

9. Well, obviously that was my point ... the issue isn't only how we are seen, but who is seeing

If someone sees all Americans as being bad, then they're bigots ... I don't care if it is the Dalai
Lama. BushCo carried out a hit on my people and my culture and managed to sway the world to hate
their (aside from Iraqis) primary victims -- Americans. Those who hate us in lockstep with that
are doing BushCo's bidding.

Cheer up -- our country is dying quickly. I would hasten to suggest some of the notion of individual
liberty will die with it. We'll be held up as an example of why the people can't lead themselves and
therefore need monarchs to rule them. Just like the people who sneer at unions while working for
companies with high wages (high because of the standard of industry pay created by other union shops),
you'll find out the worth of us when we're gone.

[Clark2008]

14. The Klan member in Atlanta?

And you're lecturing others about stereotypical hatred?

[treestar]

10. Fingerprinting every entrant from the EU

Will really help, too.

We're so threatened! So hated! And yet it is wrong to wonder why?

Our playing the victim, being the most wealthy country in the world, with 5% of the population, using 25$ of the world's resources, is chutzpah in the extreme!

[Solly Mack]

11. Perhaps a little attention to substance over cultivated perception

and America's image might just improve

For example...

Actually standing for human rights instead of paying lip service to those rights, all the while denying we torture people even as more and more evidence shows that we torture people

Perhaps even holding a war criminal executive accountable instead of just enduring them while claim we are a "beacon of light" and hope to the oppressed....(yeah - a flashlight in the face and upside the head if you don't tell us what we want to know....)

Land of the free...papers please

Home of the brave....duct tape and plastic!



but that's just me and I'm odd

[Phredicles]

12. Have no fear, Karen Hughes is on the case:

"Bombings and torture will continue until the world loves us again".

[Edweird]

15. Yes! The beatings will continue until morale improves!

That oughta do it.

[annabanana]

13. Phoney is phoney...

If you want a good reputation, you have to walk the walk. There are no shortcuts, and it can't be bought. This crowd will never understand that.