The Romance of America is dead.

[KlatooBNikto]

In the mid fifties, I took a flight from New York to London with my parents.Everywhere we went in Europe, people would swarm over us, greeting us with smiles and insisting that we take home gifts from them.

Even during the sixties when we were engaged in the Vietnam War, that feeling did not abate and friendliness was the norm.

As air travel became more affordable to a lot more Europeans, and as one Republican Administration after another embarked on arrogant ventures abroad,the feelings in Europe are decidedly cool and reserved.Bush is eeing some of that in Brussels. But, even ordinary people like us are going to be surprised by the depth and intensity of feelings against our administrations.

Reality has set in in Europe. They will no longer look at America the same way they did fifty years ago.The thrill is gone.

[mattclearing]

1. Yes. It's truly sad what we have become.

From the world's shining beacon of Freedom to just another lame attempt by power-mad assholes to take over the world.

Caesar, Alexander, Napoleon, et al. are laughing at us right now.

They know how this story ends.

[babsbunny]

2. You are right

and said it quite well, "The Romance of America is dead." We can quickly abort this administration and start over again. We can be what we use to be if we huury! :eyes:

[Solon]

3. You want to know what's really sad...

That even back then, it was a lie, we overthrew democratic governments, one in particular, that laid the groundwork for the situation in the world today with terrorism. The only difference is that back then we were practically untouchable by the foriegn press, with few exceptions, because of WW2 and the Cold War beginning to hang over Europe's head at the time. We rebuilt their cities, while we tore down the foundations for the spread of democracy in the Middle East and elsewhere. I don't see honor in that, I don't see why we should have ever been admired. We killed ruthlessly during that time period to "Contain Communism", hundreds of thousands of poor people lay at our doorstep, and the world praises us for it, I find that the saddest thing of all.

[KlatooBNikto]

5. You know you are right. When we had the whole world eating out of our

hands after WWII, the militarists among us, starting with George Kennan, Allen Dulles,John McCloy and Dean Acheson,not to mention Averell Harriman chose the path of subversion in order to enrich themselves.In the process, tyrants like the Shah of Iran and many Latin dictators were installed at our behest.

If we had remined true to our principles, we would have had everything we wanted without a single shot being fired and no terrorism to speak of. What a tragedy for all of us! And what a tragedy for the millions all over the world who have died!

[doreme]

6. That's what I was thinking.

The story of the US is full of revisionist history. Many of us believe it, but the rest of the world is starting to open its eyes. I'm thinking many of us may need the rest of the world to come to our rescue soon.

[Solon]

7. True, and it started well before the '50s...

Back in the late 1800's, let's see, we subverted a Monarchy, annexed them, and then made them a state. We also started a war on pretense to show that we were big stuff, and had to conquer the Philippines as a result. Our good marines killed over a hundred thousand men, women, and children in that little escapade. During all this, we had dozens of incursions and little wars of conquest up and down the Americas, killing Gods knows how many innocent people. And all of this for bankers and Corporations. Proud history we have, isn't it?

ON EDIT: Now that I think about it, just starting with the 20th century, at best I would say we were number four in body count compared to the rest of the world. We are right up there with Stalin, Hitler, and Mao, that's just fucking peachy, isn't it?

[Bluebear]

4. Romance?? It's now repulsion!