ARRAGANT AMERICANS Even as we are following established rules of conduct which should make us, at least, appear to be "regular guys", we seem to fall short of that much desired measurement in world opinion.
What creates this obvious tendency in many sections of the peoples of this complex world? Is it a certain something we can put a finger and, possibly change? Or, is it caused by incidents in the past or anticipated wrongs which might occur in the constantly changing future?
The "Hate America" banner , in some form or another, waves in the far corners of the Earth - even where we are, truly, all but unknown. When we find such signs we suspect they have been planted there by our enemies. This is, in all likelihood possible because among nation we have the same sneaky little jealous tendencies and enviousness which make social life into a living segment of Hell for so many malcontent individuals here in America who export their anger out of personal, deep-seated ignorance coupled, at times, with a marked tendency to refuse to conform when ,more or less, in agreement. We, at times, can be guilty of actually exporting such discontent through our oft-called "cultural exchanges" and by washing our political laundry openly displayed on international clothes lines for everyone to see and interpret by their own reasoning.
Hatred comes, very often, from what we may think of as petty circumstances. For example, I had no idea that the Arapaho tribe and others, long residents of the Black Hills area of our Dakotas, North and South, objected so strongly. Many of them hate the Mount Rushmore memorial and wish the entire monument blow to bits! The May 2006 issue of "Smithsonian Magazine" (www.smithsonianmag.si.edu) has a fine article detailing the construction and its troubles. Originally, it seems, the plan called for it to be a massive represent ion of Chief Crazy Horse with lesser depictions of the Lewis & Clark Expedition and of Buffalo Bill. It shifted to other plans about like the ground Zero site in underway in New York right now. It was started in 1925 and today shows four white men, all presidents of the United States and no Indian chief at all. It all climaxed when the monument was completed in 1941. Since that time more Indians than Custer ever saw have wished it could be blown to smithereens.
No doubt a few Yankee holdovers say some nasties when the see the Robert E Lee carved on Stone mountain, Georgia. In what seems to be largely a belated attempt to placate some of the disturbed persons a mega monument is now being carved on a mountain side not too far from away. The head of the new mountain is large enough to contain all four of the prexy head on Mt. Rushmore. So, there!
The Natalie Halloway case in Aruba created an enmity in that so many Americans seem to feel that our F.B.I. could have solved the case in a week or so. It seemed to make little difference that the event took place in another country operating under rules and regulations of their own which are quite different from ours. his attitude and the heavy news coverage of the vents The "arrogant American" become evident in the mind of many Dutch citizens and others.
Hate America banners wave in far too many lands,very ofter as offshoots of disagreement among factions here at home. The sentiment against war, for instance, can, at times, even align itself with actions leading to violence. We may think we are acting with everyones best interests at heart, but that is a vain concept because we don't even know our own intent most of the time.
Back off a bit. Think it through. Question your own motives. Do you typify the "arrogant American"?
Andrew McCaskey amccsr@adelphia.net 3-14-06 [c646wds]
