MyFoxDetroit

I just came back from holiday in England. So often, when I opened my mouth and exposed my American accent, someone brought up their vehement hate for George Bush.

Forget about what people would say to me when they learned that I worked for Fox News. Here's the thing: Does it matter what the rest of the world thinks about us?

I'll answer that question and I want to hear yours, but first let me tell you about my trip. My wife and I took our two kids to England to visit her brother and his family. They live in the Midlands in a very quaint and old village called Dale Abbey. Their house was built in 1300. The village itself was settled around 1100. Beautiful area, mostly farmland -- rolling hills. This is Shakespeare country.

The people are very friendly. What's interesting is that all private property must have public access or provide a walk way through the land. Essentially you could walk anywhere. Most land owners designated a path to follow. You could walk miles from one town to the next, through some brilliant countryside.

We stayed in a cottage that was first used to house steel workers from the local Stanton Works project. The owner's of the cottage, Robert and Leslie were most gracious. Robert is a brick layer by day, philosopher by night. One night he and his wife came over for tea, and Robert began asking me about George Bush. When he learned I worked in the news business, he wanted me to come to the town pub to meet his mates, and talk politics.

That night I obliged. The Carpenter's Arms is a traditional English pub. On this particular night the pub was packed for it's weekly edition of a table vs. table trivia game. I met Robert there, and when I got there Robert introduced me to the entire pub. "Everybody, this is Dennis, a media person from the states who follows politics."

The trivia game was soon replaced by "Ask the American". I was propped on a bar stool and began a "one on 40" dialogue with the evening patrons. The crowd wanted to know why we elected George Bush. The general sense is that they see him as a kind of dictator. They view former Prime Minister Tony Blair as his puppet, and the reason for tough times in the English economy. The War in Iraq brought out the big emotions. This crowd clearly against the war. Forgetting their opinions, it was interesting how well informed most were about various Bush policies, his Supreme Court appointments and the like. They also are following the current presidential race. They believe Obama will get assassinated if he should win. Many in the pub think of Americans as violent, gun toting racists, not ready for a black president. I argued.

We took many day trips throughout rural England and we spent four days down it's what called the Jurassic Coast. Most of the places we visited are not common American destinations. On a number occasions, after someone heard me speak and recognized that I was American, they piped up with some anti-Bush comment. Some rude. Some of the comments empathetic "are you relieved Bush will soon be out of office?" It happens once, OK... but this happened again and again and again. It happened at a variety of villages and different parts of the country.

I was really taken aback each and every time it happened. The comments were not invited, and I felt stereotyped. If I engaged in conversation, most seem to offer that they like Americans, just not our president. I think the English feel as though most Americans do not like Bush, so it's OK to offer commentary on what they seem to feel is a "how's the weather" conversation.

Here's my take: When I meet an English person or any person from another country, I will not immediately attack their country's politics or leadership. Seems rude to me.

It's not lost on me however, just how important the role of the U.S. President is. I do believe our President is in fact the leader of the free world. We are still the most powerful nation on the planet and the world looks to us for many things, including sometimes saving their proverbial butts. It's important that we recognize that concept in this ever-shrinking world. With the new global economy paradigm, we cannot afford an American back lash.

The big question: Do we have the right to attack another nation without UN consultation? If you say yes -- consider Iraq and the giant burden that we have taken on as a nation. The so-called coalition of the willing is very modest to say the least. This is America's war, even if it may benefit or harm other countries.

If you say no, then what rights do we have as a country in determining when we go to war?
Maybe the answer is to this question has less to do with the U.S. relationship with the UN, but more to do with the executive branch having too much power?

My answer to what the world thinks about us is this: Take care of your own garden first and do unto others as you would have done to you. We decide what we think is right using our own system of government, but not without recognizing the effect decisions we make here, affect others around the world. Pollution, war, economic issues go beyond borders, and so should our thinking about such manners.

What's your take? Do you care what the world thinks? How much should our next president care?

Kraniak_the_Maniak's Blog

Does it Matter What the World Thinks?

Kraniak_the_Maniak

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