McTag wrote:Just wondering- and apologies in advance if this question is too off-topic for some contributors-
Is it a matter of any concern to you, that for the first time in its history the USA is opposed by all the developed countries in the world, with the possible exception of Israel?
Interesting and topical question.
In the first place the proposition itself is inaccurate. The universe of "developed" countries comprises nations with more or less democratic systems embracing a range of views, with the dominant view generally represented by that of the government. Australia, Japan, Poland, Italy, Great Britain, and (until recently) Spain actively support (ed) the U.S. in the contentious issues before us. Contrary minority views exist in all of these countries, just as do contrary minority views exist in those that oppose us.
Secondly, this is hardly the first time in history that this country has been opposed by other developed nations, particularly those in Europe. Indeed, prior to WWI our relations with Britain, France, Germany, and Spain were decidedly cool, even frosty. We fought wars with both Britain, Spain, and even France. Britain actively supported the South in our Civil war. In 19th century European literature the image of the uncultured, unfeeling, grasping, materialistic Yankee was ubiquitous from Bunin (see "The Gentleman from San Francisco") to Dickens and Sartre.
Contempt and hostility towards the U.S. have been the normal positions of the dominant classes in European countries throughout our mutual histories. Only the poor and alienated in those countries, the pools from which we drew our immigrants, saw this country as something good. The United States is indeed the creation of Europeans who sought to develop a different alternative to Europe.
The disasters of the unlamented 20th century, all the creations of hostile Europeans, created an anomalous situation in which suddenly the contending sides in Europe felt they needed our support to ensure their survival. Our entry into WWI on the side of the Allies was a close thing. Only the clumsiness of the German government and the skillful (and deceitful) propaganda of the British got us in. Unfortunately the Allies overreached themselves, deciding to bring down the Ottoman Empire and punish the German one. The disaster of Versailles only set the stage for the second round, while the Marxist poison that infected Russia prepared the third. Only recently has all that been resolved, and with it old attitudes have returned.
Unfortunately, in the debris of the Ottoman Empire, we are still dealing with the consequences of European greed and folly. The difference now is that our "loyal" European friends no longer feel directly threatened, so they have reverted to their normal hostility towards this country. This is the real underlying reality, McTag and I find it remarkable that you don't recognize it.
