The March 24 issue of Newsweek has a "Special Report" section entitled "The Arrogant Empire" that this group might find interesting to read. It is probably gone from the newstands already but you can access it by going to www.newsweek.com and clicking on the World icon and you will eventually find it. I am no good at posting exact URLs so you would need to do it this way if you wish to read it.

It is in general one man's opinion but does contain a lot of interesting insight from someone who has travelled extensively. There are a couple of sidebar articles that are also very interesting, particularly, "The Unmighty Dollar" which you should read carefully.

At this point I would ask that you do not shoot the messenger. I am pointing out this article because it reflects much of what I saw and heard during my former career when I lived in 3 countries outside the US for about six years and travelled overseas constantly for over 20 years.

If you do read it, try to approach it with an open mind and put yourself in the other guy's (country's) shoes and mind set.

I hope you enjoy the article and look forward to comments.
Bill

 

Bill Murray,

I think this is the link to the entire article you refer to above:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/885222.asp

john

 

That is spot on John.
What did you think?
Bill

 

Bill,

I think this article is thought provoking while providing us with a perspective of America from a world viewpoint that many of us on this board are not willing to accept. National pride and small doses of isolationism are hard to dispell. Any intelligent person can make an argument for or against a position. The hard part is stepping back and trying to look at a position from the standpoint of a "neutral" observer. I'm not sure many people, if any, can do this. I know I have trouble with gaining that "neutral" point of view on any situation, let alone one of such obvious worldwide importance. I have also found through years of debating various topics that it is easy to be construed as a vasilator once you approach that "neutral" viewpoint.

I would hope you agree with at least part of what I wrote. Thanks for sharing the article, I had not seen it previous to your post.

john

 

Bill,

I just noted where your posts originate. I was just down there on the other side of town from you this weekend. I spent the last 4 days in Griffin, Ga. I hadn't been to Atlanta in a decade till this weekend. The traffic around the beltway (85 - 285 - 675 - 75) doesn't seem to let up anymore. I couldn't find a time of day that wasn't crowded and slow. Maybe I just picked a bad weekend. Is that the norm now?

john

 

everyone should have pride in there troops, country, and your president(even if you did not vote for him )


moose