Why is it?

[Eric R.]

Why is is that the rest of the world assumes that it is unlikely that the US Press will show the US goverment in a bad light? For instance the tone taken in the threads related to the Canadian incident and the most recent one. In fact most Americans would tell you its the other way around and getting a balance picture or one that which makes the government look good is the hard part.

[qerlin]

So true, Eric. I remarked on that in the other thread.

Answer seems to be: we're grasping, arrogant Americans who are completely insensitive to the feelings of the rest fo the world.

[Capt Daniel Hunter]

I have noticed there are grasping arrogant people all over the world, reagrdless of coutnry, race, creed or whatever.

Country has little to do with it, but many people tend to try and label people that way anyway.

[prophetsteve]

True, the "ugly american" stereotype isn't an american one specifically. There are all sorts of "ugly nationals" in the world.

However, with U.S. media being so prevalent all over the world (often overshadowing local media like it basically does in Canada), I think that perhaps its Americans get that all the (bad) spot light.

[Dan Stack]

Just to restate the original point...

A lot of posters seem to think that US media "glosses over" anything that could be construed as anti-government. It at least seems this way given the number of questions regarding if the bombing of Afghan civilians, Canadian friendly fire, etc. have been covered. It is an honest question, but it must be emphasized that the answer is yes, it is indeed covered. Indeed, if I were to go by local media, primarily the Boston Globe and other papers...

• The US military is a bunch of incompetent evil boobs who deliberately kill civilians and if they could find Canada, would destroy it (thank God they're incompetent)
• George Bush assumed the presidency in what is little better than a military coup (indeed, a local newspaper columnist has for the past two years referred to him exclusively as "King George II" - I'm not making this up - Bob Meltzer, Metrowest Daily News)
• The founders of the United States were all evil, hypocritical men, unworthy of any praise at all and indeed worthy of damnation.
• The United States is a rogue nation state and everything the French say about us is true (ok, I'm exaggerating on that one...)

For those not familiar with my unique brand of sarcasm, I'm certainly exaggerating, but it is not an exaggeration to say the US media, in general (with excpetions of course), is rather hostile to the US government in general and conservatives in particular. And from the perspective of most major newspapers (i.e. Boston Globe, New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, etc.) anything right of communism is "extreme right-wing conservative".

[C5]

I'd say bashing the governement or the state is not a US priviledge... you could find enough in French newspapers to conclude that France is really the worst country to live in (though, to be honest, this is mainly the case with newspapers whose wing is opposed to the governement in place).

Personnally, I think, that, because the USA is the most powerful country in the world at many levels (economical and military, mainly), it's rather easy to conclude that they aren't concerned by any harm they could do to foreign countries, since they're too unimportant to be really worth attention. I'm not saying it's the case, of course - but you'll admit the thought is tempting. After all, the stronger kid in the class usually turns out to be a bully who never apologizes to anyone...

[Dan Stack]

Outta curiosity, what were the French newspapers like during the French nuclear tests of a few years back that got the rest of the wotrld all upset? (Note, I'm not interested in a debate about the actual tests, more interested in the press coverage.)

[Greg Smith]

Also out of curiosity, how does the US media/press view Bush's refusal to allow US forces to come under the jurisdiction of the new International Criminal Court?

Posted by gerlin:
Answer seems to be: we're grasping, arrogant Americans who are completely insensitive to the feelings of the rest fo the world.

Not at all. There does seem to be a disregard for international opinion in the current US administration, though.

[Dan Stack]

For the most part, the more left leaning newspapers (majority i.e. NY Times, Washington Post) are against the decision to stay out of the court while the more right leaning (sizable minority led probably by the Wall Street Journal) support the desicion, mainly by using the argument that a soldier could be tried for war-crimes for digging a trench with callous disregard for the environment. The ones in support of the World Court state that that is an impossibility.

[Eric R.]

Originally posted by Dan Stack
Just to restate the original point...

• The US military is a bunch of incompetent evil boobs who . . . if they could find Canada, would destroy it (thank God they're incompetent)

Three failed invasions and counting , four if you count Harry Turdove's alternative World War I series.

[Eric R.]

Lets not forget that most of the big powers before us threw there wight around pretty much any way they wanted too, the British, French, the Russians and every other colonial power so why should the US be any different. We were judge by past actions even before we had a chance, the mid-East seems to have this delussions that the Isreali's do whatever we telll them and if we told them to stop hurting Palestinians it would happen. meanwhile there rags, (newspaper) print the most God awful anti semetic stiff saying that Jews control the world for example that would have put even the Der Sturmer to shame!

As a colonial power we weren't so bad, even if at at times it had racial ovetones, at the end of the day the Phillippines have turned out pretty decently and there even proud to cliam our shared past. Name me one other colonial possession were the local resistance leader gave up and then joined a democraticly elected body while the colonial power still ruled and laid the ground work for eventual independence.

[Dan Stack]

Hey, we "liberated" Quebec and occupied much of Canada (in the Turtledove series that is... )

[Greg Smith]

Thanks for your answer Dan.

That sounds very familiar - the politicians do something and the press complains about it but they carry on regardless. I guess the media works that way throughout the free world.

[qerlin]

Originally posted by Greg Smith
Also out of curiosity, how does the US media/press view Bush's refusal to allow US forces to come under the jurisdiction of the new International Criminal Court?



Not at all. There does seem to be a disregard for international opinion in the current US administration, though. [/B]

Good. There's a decided lack of regard in the international community for all the crap we do for them. Just never enough, it seems.

This administration's job, first and foremost, are the interests of the American people. That's how it should be. As for the ICC -- it blatantly violates Americans' constitutional rights. WE should veto it.

[Dan Stack]

Point/counterpoint arguments...

Against:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2002Jun28.html

For:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2002Jul8.html