BF2S Forums Oh I am lovin' the hell outta this! We has an "image" problem

mikkel wrote:

lowing wrote:

CameronPoe wrote:

DB - America has a problem. The Muslim world has a long had very legitimate grievances with respect to US and general western involvement in their region. He is recognising that and putting his hand up. Hate him for the overspend but not the very much overdue apology and constructive attitude towards international affairs. PR is 9/10 of the battle. Of course the US could continue being antagonistic and non-constructive with these nations upon whose oil resources so much is dictated globally and see where that gets them.

The logical analysis goes like this:

1) Does the US have a poor image in the middle east? Yes.
2) Does the US have interests in the middle east? Yes.
3) Is there a chance that these actions might have a positive effect? Yes, maybe.
4) Does it cost the US anything to attempt to improve their image in the region through dialogue and embrace? No.
5) Has the status quo antagonism and poorly planned strongman attitude yielded results in terms of the US image in this pivotal region? Certainly not. And not just in the middle east but everywhere else too.

Pride can be a very ugly and counter-productive thing. The fact that lowing can't comprehend that the US has a very real image problem pretty much everywhere outside the US (assuming this from his inverted commas on the word image) shows how insular and oblivious he is. He's basically a poster boy for America's poor image globally. Stubborn, proud, ignorant and unconstructive. Of course I know for a fact he doesn't care about the image of the US outside of the US so him posting this article, which pertains to the US image globally, seems rather odd in that context.

any chance that if our image is so terrible that the world will stop taking our foreign aid?  Why do I doubt it.

Probably for the same reason that you, and people like you, who hate the current government still accept all of the handouts, concessions, welfare and tax benefits that you can get your hands on.

Last edited by lowing (2009-06-04 09:47:51)

Pug wrote:

So what I'm getting here is the following:

Both the Islamic and American image is bad internationally.

I'm wondering if the international community is putting the same amount of criticism on Islamic countries?  How effective is that?

Oh...right...it's not a democracy so there's no self-criticism...only beheadings for speaking out.  Which, in turn, no one talks about or does anything about internationally.

At least we listen.  We might not give a shit, but we'll listen.

Kmarion wrote:

m3thod wrote:

tell that to the muslims.

Did..
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23334.html

Bam!

Obama got a standing early ovation when he declared: “I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.

But some audience members gasped when he followed that with: “That same principle must apply to Muslim perceptions of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.”

m3thod wrote:

Pug wrote:

So what I'm getting here is the following:

Both the Islamic and American image is bad internationally.

I'm wondering if the international community is putting the same amount of criticism on Islamic countries?  How effective is that?

Oh...right...it's not a democracy so there's no self-criticism...only beheadings for speaking out.  Which, in turn, no one talks about or does anything about internationally.

At least we listen.  We might not give a shit, but we'll listen.

What's the point in listening if you still won't give a shit

Kmarion wrote:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23334.htm

dead

Tell that to those kissing the anointed ones feet.

Kmarion wrote:

America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire.

m3thod wrote:

tell that to the muslims.

It was a setup..lol

DonFck wrote:

lowing wrote:

Hmmmmm, if that is true then I wonder why the leaders of the ME are not on a global whirlwind apology tour like Obama is.

Maybe because Obama is taking the first steps toward diplomacy? Maybe leaders of the ME are local "Bushes" and say they're fighting evil?

Be as it may, if E.g. Ahmanidejad would do that, there would be some people who would think that their president is a liberal douche.

So if you really strip everything down, the muslim extremist is the ME equivalent of you.

Balok77 wrote:

What do they truly have to apologize for? They cant apologize for fundamentalism or extremism in their countries regions, you don't see Middle Eastern governments openly condoning it. When was the last time an Irish official apologised to the world for the IRA? Or have you heard the U.S government saying that they made a mistake in Iraq? (It may not have been a mistake but it is viewed in the eyes of many as one.)

I think its good that Obama is taking the high road, and through this tour he is helping to forge better relations with countries that may have felt alienated or threatened by the U.S.A. Now I am not saying that this was done intentionally but you can see why some nations might feel that way with Uncle Sam and his battle fleets breathing down their necks. Obama is taking the first steps and hopefully soon other counties will reciprocate.

You asked why these Middle Eastern leaders aren't doing the same thing. Well lets be honest here, America is the superpower and to an extent it is up to them to set the example to the rest of the world. Of course therefore a larger amount of scrutiny falls on its actions, but that's part of being the most powerful nation on earth.

The Sheriff wrote:

Basically Don, lowing is trying to say.

"I'm right you're wrong and I'm not even going to bother telling you why."

lowing wrote:

The Sheriff wrote:

Basically Don, lowing is trying to say.

"I'm right you're wrong and I'm not even going to bother telling you why."

I will just say, I am truely sorry you think I am the equivalent of a terrorist who straps bombs on children, women or themselves for the goal of blowing up innocent people.

I am sorry you think I am no different than a person who will saw off the heads of inocent people for a youtube video.

I am sorry you can not see a difference between me and someone flies airplanes full of innocent people into buildings full of innocent people.

I truely am sorry for this blurred line