Why are liberals so concerned with America's image?

Question

Besides global warming the one thing that all liberals agree with is that the world hates America. They keep talking about improving America's *image*. Even Hillary Clinton wants to restore America's image with the world. If liberals loved America so much, wouldn't they be more concerned about improving AMERICA and let it's image take care of itself? More importantly, what does this obsession with image say about liberals?

Answer 1

Bush did not ruin our image. Name one country that has just NOW begun to hate us since Bush took office. Oh wait, there aren't any. Infact we have only strengthen ties with countries such as Pakistan.

Answer 2

Since WWII, countries have seen America as a great hope and an inspiration, a city on a hill and a shining beacon of liberty.
America set the example, especially for Western countries, of how the world could rise above petty squabbling and live together and become a better place to live.
Without that example, the world will become a worse place to live.
So I guess liberals like me are concerned about America's image because we believe in leading the world by example to evolve into a place where all people have a chance to make something of themselves. Only when everyone has opportunity is there any chance to end war.
We are not afraid. We will be vigilant, but we will not sacrifice our laws or our moral authority. We will not stoop to the level of the terrorists, because the terrorists win, not by defeating us, but by our country allowing itself to become just another terrorist state, led by a madman, its people full of hate and fear, reaping vengence and death upon those who just need a chance at life.

Answer 3

Maybe they realise that unless the rest of the world begins to trust the US again, rather than think of the US Government as irresponsible, war-mongering right-wing idealogues, the US will only have slightly more influence than a wet kleenex. There's only a finite amount of times the US can say "do it our way or we'll bomb you" before their bluff is called. It's happened - Iran is all but saying "go on, attack us then", and the US can't do anything about it because its troops and resources are already overstretched, and there's a gargantuan deficit.

Oh and BTW, since when did "liberal" become a bad thing. The dictionary defines the world "liberal" as: 1. avorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible; 2. free from prejudice or bigotry; 3. open-minded or tolerant. Why would you want to be considered anything else?

Answer 4

I think that liberals and conservatives alike are concerned about the American image. Muslim's are for example offended by images of Britney Spears. If they have seen her latest underwear-less commando photo's they will surly turn to salt as will American conservatives.

Liberals on the other hand will probably just think it is just funny, unimportant, or insignificant in relationship to the war in Iraq, but they may be wrong also because it is exactly that kind of "in your face" "bring it on" American arrogance, or ignorance of other cultures that inspires such a range of negative emotions.

Even though America is the master media, advertising, and image manipulation creation machine of the world, nothing can be manufactured that is as poignant as the reality of what we actually are.

I think that conservatives like the Taliban seek to cover up or mask what they perceive to be offensive, and liberals do also, it is just that liberals find war to be much more offensive than Britney's birth day suit.

Hate is a strong word. I think that envy is a more accurate verb.
America is the envy of the rest of the world, and everyone wants to be like us, good or bad. But if they can not, like children they will try to destroy what they can't have.

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Answer 5

Liberals aren't the only ones concerned with America's image. Gen. Colin Powell (ret) is also concerned and I don't think you could call him a liberal. He once asked, while he was Secretary of State, and I paraphrase, Do you know what this is doing to our image overseas?

America has to deal with other countries and how other countries see us will in large part determine how they deal with us in return.

Just as you would be suspicious of a person who treated you badly, say a bully, other countries will be suspicious of America if we don't treat them with respect. Might does not make right.

Answer 6

they're in finished denial of ways undesirable Obama somewhat is and there is not any way in this earth Obama will ever see yet another term...he has lost sixty 5% of the Independents and sixty 5% of the seniors and no candidate can win an election with out those 2 communities and the Liberals be attentive to it...there will be a Republican interior the White abode in 2012...actuality.

Answer 7

I think it is funny how "liberals" and "conservatives", which are neither liberal or conservative, believe that some how there is a difference between the Democrats and Republicans. The truth is, your offered a false choice. Come on! Do you really believe that out of 3 million Americans it was just a coincidence that the 2 major candidates in '04 were cousins, and members of skull and bones. Give me a break.

Answer 8

If America is the "greatest country in the world" then we should be role models for other nations. If other nations hate us becuase of our lavish lifestyle, declining morals, and corrupt government then how "great" is our country really?
All countries in the world depend on the cohesion of the global economy and many factors affect the ebb and flow. The worldivew of America can effect the price of oil, food, energy, and goods for every American not to mention the saftey of Americans home and abroad. Doesn't it bother you to know that people all over the world hate your guts just becuase you are American?

Answer 9

If you understood an iota of how diplomacy works or how systems change due to influence then you'd get why we care, as a matter of fact MOST conservatives even understand this, why else does Karen Hughes have a job dummy? Our image helps us in swaying other countries that ours are the right set of values and ideals to follow, that perception opens up aother areas of agreement helping forge alliances those alliances help us maintain safety and economic edges around the globe

Squawker is full of BS just read this and you'll see our image is severely tarnished globally thanks to BUSHCO
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/06/13/news/pew1.php

Answer 10

George W. Bush has single handedly destroyed the image of the U.S. I say good for the Liberals for wanting to clean up our image.

Answer 11

"More importantly, what does this obsession with image say about liberals?"
It says that Liberals know more about how the world really is and not how cons view it or wish it to be.