"Fahrenheit 9 / 11" author Michael Moore recently fueled the epidemic of hatred for America to put an end to his country and his people to the foreign press. The United Kingdom's Mirror printed Mr. Moore's observation of Americans: "You are the stupidest people on earth under the spell … theft traitor, compliant … We Americans suffer from an enforced ignorance. We do not know all that you know what happens outside our country. Our stupidity is embarrassing. "(1)
This isright. We are. In fact, we are stupid enough to believe that we have a great country. Why? Let's take a look at the facts …
In 2002, the U. S. Census Bureau estimated that 32.5 million people, from places Moore claims our children can not be found on the map, lived in the United States the largest foreign-born population in America, since we are accounting in 1850. (2) Why are all these people the risk of drowning, the difficulties, cultural barriers and possible contamination by our laziness, aggression, andArrogance, incompetence, shallowness, and sexually explicit media? Why do not people like California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to come to talk with to get an opportunity, and enrich our economy through business and philanthropy?
Now Shock: Americans are not as despised as Al-Jazeera would have you believe. Reportedly, in fact, the Pew Global Attitudes Project, found that in 2004 its survey, nearly half of respondents in Russia, Turkey and Morocco, people who have moved tothe United States have a better life (natives of Germany, France and Britain have responded to the survey do not agree, but it's not a surprise, even though Britain has always been a friend) .3
None of the usual platitudes such as "land of opportunity," "Let Freedom Ring" and "democracy, democracy, democracy" seem to explain why the mother of Elian Gonzalez is dead to bring it to America.
But perhaps we as Americans can be so stupid as to believe that these phrases actually mean something. Maybewe are the stupidest people on earth. "Dumb" may mean, in this case, "naive", generally understood as an insult, as in "Do not be so naive as to Al Qaeda because they hate us so much."
These days, that does not adopt the de rigueur attitude of boredom and yawning in view of almost everything that is naive. But Americans have always been known for their innocence and openness.
Beverly West quoted actress Alicia Silverstone in Culinarytherapy. Mrs. Silverstone, perhapsChanneling optimism President Abraham Lincoln once said: "And if I'm in the bathroom looking at my toilet paper I like" Wow! That's toilet paper! "I do not know if we know what we appreciate." (P. 184)
The idea of a little therapy and the overuse of "like" seem to be authentically American global audience, impressed with our own coolness in one breath and cheerfully slaughter the English language in the next, let alone take the words of a young maidenThe actress in Hollywood (Interestingly, the favorites in a satire on contemporary modes of Emma by Jane Austen remake) as wisdom. Toilet paper seems to be enthusiastic in this age of high technology, a little 'back and in bad faith.
But all major religions, especially the Judeo-Christian tradition in which America was founded as we know it, emphasize gratitude as part of spiritual awareness. Gratitude for the simplest things, like toilet paper. The great composer Aaron Copeland based his"Appalachian Spring" Symphony for the Shaker song of gratitude, "simple gifts".
"Simple" is often synonymous with "stupid." But if simplicity means stupidity, are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau idiots Price. Both quintessential American philosophers emphasized simplicity.
In a country of high-speed Internet, 500 channels, shopping malls and coffee companies are proliferating weapons of mass destruction, it seems to be a foreign word. But I believe in America, there are "easy" enough to understand thatWe live in a country of freedom, fairness () policy itself, we can say prayers or sing what we want. There are simple enough to believe that there is still a personal God, whatever name we praise our children have the right to visit the church, despite the clamor about "one nation under God" in the Declaration of Independence, and (reality shows and say 50 per cent if the same rate of divorce) "till death do us part" still means something.
We are naive and open enough to believeThat "sneaky, stealing, it is possible, despite complacent" CEO, we are working hard to take care of business ourselves to our families and create a life that we can be proud when we leave this world. Even the much criticized Martha Stewart is admired as a self-made American success story, someone who has the traditional art of the housewife used to build a global brand that emphasizes the good life. So much for the idea that Americans are a land of instant noodles and cheese and eating fast food. Yes its peopleMcDonald's fat, but the majority of Americans work hard, try to eat well (often together as a family), and I am proud of fair play and respect for the law.
Despite the evidence spoiled celebrities, racial prejudice, justice, serial killers and publicity-hungry lawyers, we continue to believe that "the man becomes" another day in court and a fair trial before a jury. It 'still a sense of personal responsibility for oneself, one's neighbor, and her children.
Despiteincreasing pressures that undermine childhood, our children do not trust the boundaries of parents', to put an example, and the foundation for a good life. Certainly, many of the young men and women that we have seen, interviewed in Operation Iraqi Freedom are the best and brightest. Our sole dedication of children to serve others, that so many of our politicians praise of President Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt to Colin Powell, too. Ms. Stewart argued the teaching of disadvantaged womenTo start their own businesses. In America, even some of our high profile, so-called criminals want to improve life for others.
There are so foolish as to believe that we can make a difference both abroad and in our communities. We have a strong commitment to the preservation of land for future generations. From Thoreau to Rachel Carson, the spokesman friendly celebrities this week, Americans show a love for the natural beauty of the earth, a beauty that is celebrated in ourHome. Many of our citizens support recycling, controls on pollution, wilderness / conservation of forests, conservation, and wildlife. During the 1999 show disorder at the WTO summit in Seattle, the Americans are very zealous in supporting their causes. In short, take care of Americans.
This should not surprise. Our ancestors have joined forces to separate from British rule. Even in our struggle for freedom, we have held opposing views, contrarian views between us. The Whigs, supported l 'Revolution and the conservatives who supported the England clashed with the fervor of their descendants, the demonstrators with opposing views on wars from Vietnam to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
This passion for ideas, this devotion, as the unit that undermine our pride, too. We are naive enough to protect the free expression of ideas, sometimes even apparently a high price. Do not see death squads burst into homes of antiwar protesters. "For all the controversy about the Patriot Act, peoplenot disappear in disagreement with the United States government simply without a trace. Case in point: "Fahrenheit 9 / 11". E 'was more than 1 million U.S. dollars (the first documentary to do so), but people from the cinema is not questioned and implicated in unmarked cars. One can not criticize the government of Mr. Moore, but he has an Oscar for "Bowling for Columbine." Unlike artists who have criticized the Soviet communism, Americans are not forced to flee their homes – the rest of usprovide for them.
Do not forget, was recently deceased and much praised former President Ronald Reagan famously said: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." His administration was not free from controversy, and yet "the Gipper" maintained a cheerful optimism, openness to the "evil empire", and yes, a naive belief that America is "a luminous city on the hill" . Reagan was stupid enough to believe that America is really long and prosper after he left office. From thisPosition, "the Gipper" Mr. Moore embodies the idea of American idiocy.
In this case, the countless bereaved, including children too young for President Reagan, who streamed from the coffin in the Capitol Rotunda, and belongs to suffer as a Ronald Reagan Presidential Library all under a collective lobotomy. As for this, no famous people of the world, including Mr. Gorbachev and Dame Margaret Thatcher, who all have responded to President Reagan, the typical AmericanCharacter.
At this rate, we have become a nation of Forrest Gumps, which are not all bad if it meant that we did not feel (his honesty and goodness, Tom Hanks, 'said the story would).
Oh wait … Perhaps what we do. Maybe this is what Mr. Moore, if he gave us "the stupidest people on earth" is called. By that standard, we are a nation of "Jeopardy" champions.
So the next time you say the people here or abroad: "You Americans are the stupidest man in the world," we can say withProudly: "Yes, we are." God Bless America! "
Addendum: Michael Moore's IMDB.com entry includes this quote: "I like America to some extent. Take the Japanese, for example. They are complicated and tend to express themselves can be reserved. Sometimes it's hard for me to understand their . Americans are simple and clear. They are fascinating people. You will understand how good an individual American. what they are not satisfied with America is that people are not able to control the governmentand the economy. Only a handful of people have the power to control the country. "It's about as well as" Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ ', as in Dude, Where's My Country, which has left a hoity "toity view of religion held that" – give the devil his due.
1. 26 June 2004, http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/6/26/103545.shtml
2 http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0073.html
3 http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=206