Why Europeans Hate Bush Too
In response to "European Anti-Americanism":
Basically, I agree with the people in Europe. I don't like the American government much either. That comes from a few things, and I think it's more than just dogma.
Probably the most significant reason to distrust the US is the Iraq war. Countries should not be allowed to invade other countries just because they disagree with them. If there is a true threat to world security the there will also be an international consensus that something needs to be done, or at least not the level of resistance we saw for Iraq. The idea that "French people are just pussies" doesn't hold up. If there was a real danger they would have supported some sort of action as well. (I don't know if you remember the first Iraq war, but that was fought to stop Iraq from doing essentially what we did last year.) If there really is a danger, of course a country is allowed to defend itself... repeat DEFEND, not attack, but I don't think that was ever the case. Iraq was not ever a defensive move, it was aggressive. The Bush administration was set on invading (I believe for economic incentives... which turned out not to work too well either), and for that alone I think the administration deserves the negative public opinion.
The second reason would be the government's treatment of the environment. The stance of the Bush administration is basically that environmental health has no status versus industry. I agree that industry is a good thing, but pollution and destruction must be limited (I did a poor job of explaining this in the last post). He's just unwilling to admit that there might need to be some restrictions on what people (industry specifically) should and shouldn't be allowed to do. (Like I said before, I think this line is drawn at the point that people should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as they're not directly hurting anyone else. And I can give you a laundry list of why lack of environmental regulation DIRECTLY hurts other people.) (Climate change, persistent organic pollutants, loss of bio-diverstiy (health of the future), irresponsible use of genetically modified organisms and hormones in foods.)
Third, in a never ending list, is that Bush doesn't believe in the importance of international institutions. I disagree with this because of it's long-term negative impact on the US. Being isolationist, or unilateral is all well and good while the US is in power. If the US wants to pull out of the ABM treaty, or not join the international criminal court that's just fine. There's no moral obligation that we join these institutions. But I think this is a very short-sighted way to view the world, and eventually this is going to bite the US in the ass. Right now no one can tell the US what to do, but what about in 70 years when China is an industrial behemoth and has overtaken the US as an Economic power. We are going to be kicking ourselves for not creating international institutions with any real power. The US now has the opportunity to create international controls that really mean something. If the US were to really support international governance of some kind (not dissolution of natoinal sovereignty, but rather a real commitment to creatinig something with authority) those institutions could exist! This secession of some power now will ensure our safety in the future. At some point we're going to need powerful international institutions, and when we do they're not going to be there.
So, yes, people here hate Bush, and by association, the US Government, and further down the line the people who voted for Bush. I can't say I blame them, I don't like those people too much either. I truly believe that the US is beginning a downward spiral. (Personally I blame Christians, but that's too much to get into now. Religion is the opiate of the people and all... promotes and excuses irrational behavior.(a lazy society based on the success of previous generations also isn't helping)) Essentially I think the US gets what it deserves--be it another great depression, or just dirty rivers and polluted air. (Of course none of what Bush has done justifies terrorism etc., but I think that is another important issue. Bush's policies are filling the world with people who hate us and I really think he's making the US less safe.)
But I don't think I have the energy or motivation to try to fix things in the US, that's why I'm trying to make some sort of connection here. I will come back to the US, and I'll probably live there for quite a while. But when the shit really hits the fan, I'm out. Einstein left Germany in 1933 because he saw what was going on. I want to be in the position to do the same if necessary.
And that's the way things are!
Basically, I agree with the people in Europe. I don't like the American government much either. That comes from a few things, and I think it's more than just dogma.
Probably the most significant reason to distrust the US is the Iraq war. Countries should not be allowed to invade other countries just because they disagree with them. If there is a true threat to world security the there will also be an international consensus that something needs to be done, or at least not the level of resistance we saw for Iraq. The idea that "French people are just pussies" doesn't hold up. If there was a real danger they would have supported some sort of action as well. (I don't know if you remember the first Iraq war, but that was fought to stop Iraq from doing essentially what we did last year.) If there really is a danger, of course a country is allowed to defend itself... repeat DEFEND, not attack, but I don't think that was ever the case. Iraq was not ever a defensive move, it was aggressive. The Bush administration was set on invading (I believe for economic incentives... which turned out not to work too well either), and for that alone I think the administration deserves the negative public opinion.
The second reason would be the government's treatment of the environment. The stance of the Bush administration is basically that environmental health has no status versus industry. I agree that industry is a good thing, but pollution and destruction must be limited (I did a poor job of explaining this in the last post). He's just unwilling to admit that there might need to be some restrictions on what people (industry specifically) should and shouldn't be allowed to do. (Like I said before, I think this line is drawn at the point that people should be allowed to do whatever they want as long as they're not directly hurting anyone else. And I can give you a laundry list of why lack of environmental regulation DIRECTLY hurts other people.) (Climate change, persistent organic pollutants, loss of bio-diverstiy (health of the future), irresponsible use of genetically modified organisms and hormones in foods.)
Third, in a never ending list, is that Bush doesn't believe in the importance of international institutions. I disagree with this because of it's long-term negative impact on the US. Being isolationist, or unilateral is all well and good while the US is in power. If the US wants to pull out of the ABM treaty, or not join the international criminal court that's just fine. There's no moral obligation that we join these institutions. But I think this is a very short-sighted way to view the world, and eventually this is going to bite the US in the ass. Right now no one can tell the US what to do, but what about in 70 years when China is an industrial behemoth and has overtaken the US as an Economic power. We are going to be kicking ourselves for not creating international institutions with any real power. The US now has the opportunity to create international controls that really mean something. If the US were to really support international governance of some kind (not dissolution of natoinal sovereignty, but rather a real commitment to creatinig something with authority) those institutions could exist! This secession of some power now will ensure our safety in the future. At some point we're going to need powerful international institutions, and when we do they're not going to be there.
So, yes, people here hate Bush, and by association, the US Government, and further down the line the people who voted for Bush. I can't say I blame them, I don't like those people too much either. I truly believe that the US is beginning a downward spiral. (Personally I blame Christians, but that's too much to get into now. Religion is the opiate of the people and all... promotes and excuses irrational behavior.(a lazy society based on the success of previous generations also isn't helping)) Essentially I think the US gets what it deserves--be it another great depression, or just dirty rivers and polluted air. (Of course none of what Bush has done justifies terrorism etc., but I think that is another important issue. Bush's policies are filling the world with people who hate us and I really think he's making the US less safe.)
But I don't think I have the energy or motivation to try to fix things in the US, that's why I'm trying to make some sort of connection here. I will come back to the US, and I'll probably live there for quite a while. But when the shit really hits the fan, I'm out. Einstein left Germany in 1933 because he saw what was going on. I want to be in the position to do the same if necessary.
And that's the way things are!
posted by -E at 9:45 AM
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