How America Is Viewed By Others

Studying America via literature and the News Media can have a negative effect on those within the borders of America and can make America look like the big bully in the playground trying to take someone’s toy.  Many of the comments written by the students from the UK who are studying our way of life would be fascinated to learn that what you see on the telly is not what you experience in person.  For example, watching the BBC has you think that every British citizen drinks nothing but tea but on a recent trip to London, I was able to walk to most any neighborhood and not only see a Starbucks, there was a line inside.  When I entered Starbucks and stood in line, most of the orders were for coffee and some hot chocolate, very few orders of tea. 

America is not perfect and we use the media to keep us in line.  The freedom of press is so important in America, it can drive you insane by trying to avoid it.  However, you must not let all your news comes from one source and especially a biased source such as Fox News.  While I do watch Fox, I dilute it with equal amounts of MSNBC and CNN.  When I want to learn how others view America, I watch or read BBC news because it does not lean left or right.  Just straight news that gives an unvarnished view of America. 

Hollywood does not represent America but is reflective of what is going on in America.  Directors like Oliver Stone and Michael Moore are one side of the spectrum while Mel Gibson and Clint Eastwood are strong opposition.  Movies (and books) like “To Kill a Mockingbird” held a mirror to our views and it did show in the cinema at the right time.  Unlike “Malcolm X”, which did not reflect the current standings of African Americans but did appear at a time where tensions were high in race relationships with news story of the Rodney King beating and the OJ Simpson trial. 

Shows on television do not reflect America as well.  The majority of shows are not reflective of everyday citizens and the reason for that is the middle class and below want to reflect on the troubles that money can buy.  Watching “Gossip Girl” and “The OC” allows us to see people who did not really worry about money but deal with the treachery of each other.  While the everyday citizen is concerned with earning enough to pay bills and keep a job, it is a guilty pleasure to watch a family backstabbing each other to inherit millions.

As for being a World Superpower, that is a role that we relish and hate.  We relish it because it shows that people understand that what we are trying to do is for the best for the world, not just for us.  We hate it for the fact that people think we are using it to push little countries around.  President Bush did just that to Iraq.  None of the reasons that led us to remove Saddam from power were true.  Still today, he is going around saying that while the reasons were flawed, it was still for the good of the world because we have spread democracy.  I think the cost was too high to pay.  I miss every single American soldier, sailor and airman who lost their life to follow a cause that was led with lies.  Nevertheless, as a world power, we have to go forth and do those tough things that others are too afraid to do.

Fortunately, we have a strong ally in the UK.  Brave people who know that the tough jobs need to be done.  I think they are just as brave as any American is and I gladly stand beside them if they should ever call for help.