nbcrusader said:
I previously addressed the issue here.
Do you mean that many Americans are the opinion that consensus building is not for the good of the interests of their own nation?
I replied with "No" to 1., because I think Kerry´s values are American values. He is American and has served in the American political system for 20 years. So how could his values be less American than those of Bush? And, what exactly are American values? Some will say "to make no compromise". Others will say "to include many viewpoints". Neither Kerry nor Bush would be a good choice for an EU Commission President, because they would have to struggle to unite over 20 different countries.
NB, if what you say is true, it amuses me that Americans think that in a globalized world there are huge differences between "American mindsets" and "American/European mindsets". In some points, there are differences, but arguably not grave ones, given that our countries have basically been cooperating for the last 50 years.
Europeans tend to watch nationalist thoughts - whether they´re American or Turkish, Chinese or German - carefully, even if nationalism can´t be avoided when a nation is as powerful as the U.S.
The thoughts of many Americans remind us Europeans of France 200 years ago, when there was the French Revolution. Like every powerful empire, France was so sure of its own power, they were "La Grande Nation", they had Napoleon, they sang the "Marseillaise", they didn´t give a damn about other nations, just running them over, they were advocating military support in churches, etc. etc.
Same in America now - I have been travelling in the U.S. and I spoke with more than one conservative, seen the "Support our troops", "Pray for America" signs in Catholic Churches
The French were so full of their values, just like many Americans are full of American values nowadays - which isn´t necessarily a bad thing.
Europeans compare a lot, because this is what they have been doing since Greek philosophy. Americans don´t get the comparisons made by Europeans, because they think the American way - and the American way is not to discuss and compare, but to act. Right or wrong, we´ll discuss about that later, now let´s DO something in our American interest.
The quality of action is a good quality, if it covers decisions reached by consensus, whether national consensus for national affairs, or international consensus for international challenges.
I have another question - haven´t heard a "conservative reply" on this one: what about the American aspirations to be the "Leader of the Free World"? I spoke with Americans who openly told me that I, as a European, should thank America for invading Iraq, because that nation was a threat to all the world etc. etc.; Europeans shopuld be thankful that America makes the world a safer place (which I doubt seriously, mind you! but lets stick to the topic).
If you are an American thinking that America has the right to be the "Leader of the Free World", how on earth do you think this is gonna work out? With a nationalist American, who puts American values on the top, before of any others? Or with a strategy of consensus?
YOU CAN´T HAVE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. You can´t be truly American and, at the same time, the "Leader of the Free World". You can only manage that if you´re planning a dictatorship instead of democracy. And I think no one wants a dictatorship, or do we?
