Is it illegal? Or would I be considered a traitor?

Question

Instead of reading or listening to the interpertation from possibly biased 'media" personalities I'd like to contact the leaders of countries who alledgely dislike America. I want in their words the reasons why. I find it hard to believe that countries would risk invasion from America for a reason such as "they hate freedom." This is just one simplistic example. To be sure it's just as sily to say that America invaded Iraq purely for the oil. What about the human capital? Or what about American corporations who land "contracts" to rebuild the infrastructure? There are more facts to the arguments that I'm not hearing. So I wonder who's responsible for "censoring" the unheard information. So what I pose to do is contact the embassies of certain(maybe all) governments and simply ask "why do you like America?" Would my question get through? Is this illegal? Would this help or harm American interest?

Answer 1

You can contact any embassy and ask for information without being considered a traitor. That's why we fight for freedom, the freedom to choose, the freedom to follow your pursuits without fear of prosecution. But don't be fooled by the media about why we invaded Iraq. We are in Iraq to make money for everyone who is associated with the Haliburton Corporation and the Carlysle Group. The President himself is becoming a billionaire because of this war. Research the billion dollar contracts that the Bush administration approves for Haliburton because of Dick Cheneys association with the company.

Answer 2

You cannot bypass the US Government in doing this. It is the job of the U.S. Information Agency (and the State Department and US Ambassadors) to get the word out to foreign heads of state.

I'm sure they're doing their best. Many went to university in the USA and understand full well how Americans think. They simply don't agree.

Virtually nobody outside the USA supports either the war in Iraq or George W. Bush. Tony Blair, almost alone in the UK, stands at his side.

Every country has its own propaganda and news services. The Foreign Broadcast Information Service (a branch of the CIA) translates all of this and publishes it. You can read much of it online, or subscribe to the service.

I think that you would get a misleading response if you contacted embassies: their job is not to offend. Foreigners respect, for the most part, Americans' initiative, wealth, resources, culture. What they don't like is its brashness, arrogance, greed. And opportunistic support of fascists and redefinition of "freedom", Orwellian and Kafkaesque, to mean exactly its opposite. Ditto for democracy.

So: there you are. Things are more complicated, more Byzantine, than you thought.

Answer 3

I tried to read and re-read your question to get an insight as to what your goal was in asking this question. You want some reassurance that yes, you can ask questions from other countries to see where they stand as to how they feel towards America. You dont have to go too far for now. Use the easiest means, start with Yahoo answers for example then if you are not satisfied, use the more difficult venue.
You have to realize that for every issue, there are two sides or even three sides to it, the truth, the lie and the exaggerated fact to keep the issue interesting. It is just up to you which one to believe. You may encounter people who explains their side better but it doesnt mean u share the same opinion so good luck to your search and may you be enlightened to your heart content.

Answer 4

Go for it. As far as I know, the letter should make it, but whether or not the people you write to would actually answer it in full (or even with total honesty) is doubtful. If you write to the embassy, you should get some kind of information, though. Most countries that hate us, though, (such as Iran) have no embassy, but most have an "interest section" in Washington that you could write to.

There's nothing wrong with being informed -- just remember that the information you get from them is no less biased than the information that the U.S. government would give you.

Answer 5

The partial dissemination of information has always been my greatest gripe with the media because:
1/ Today, the media is in the bsuiness to entertain and NOT inform so the more salicious parts of a story are considered to be "news worthy". That kind of interest is what sells newspapers or makes us tune in...the truth is usually not that interesting or titalating.

2/ They are in reality bi-partisan and news coverage often reflects their own political standpoints....no one in my opinion is without bias esp. when it comes to international/global issues.

3/ For the most part, the news buying/viewing public is fairly unsophisticated and ignorant of the real issues....international/global politics is beyond many unless it is broken down in a form that they can easily digest...the truth often gets lost as a result...

4/ News is a medium for the prevailing govt. to generate/retain public support for its actions abroad. In which case, what they are doing MUST be right and the enemy WRONG.......

The media as purely a diseminator of information is fiction for the reasons outlined above. If you want to getter a better handle on matters, review multiple sources of information from both sides of the debate and come to your own conclusion. Writing to the "other side" is one way but I am not sure it will give you the insight you crave.

Answer 6

You would be wasting your time, Those people are so busy it would be like wrting a celebrity.

Recently Kaffi Annan (head of UN) received 10,000
letters from american gun owners about proposed UN
rules concerning arms....

Can you imagine how much mail these people already get? Imagine a truckload a day!

No you won't get an answer and if you did. it would most likely be from a helper somewhere.

Answer 7

My guess is the leader of Iran and North Korea won't respond to your personal request, but you may very well get a few books and letters sent to you....and yeah you probably get a little thicker FBI file for the effort.

Answer 8

Check to see if the sedition laws are still active, if so be careful.
And be prepared to receive some dark suited government types who want to ask you a few questions.

Answer 9

I'd think it's freedom of speech, as long as you stick to that one line of "Why do you hate America"

Answer 10

This is an example of free thought.
That is dangerous.
The Bush administration cannot tolerate your treason.
Members of homeland security will be arriving shortly to take you away for re-education.