World Cup of American Antipathy July 10, 2006 It was almost a relief to watch Italy play France in the World Cup final. The Americans were bounced out early and frankly I never was pulling for our guys. It's not because I hate America. It would have been quite an upset for the 1930 semi-finalist United States to beat a favorite like Brazil or Germany. I just wanted to protect the soft underbelly that is anti-Americanism. The World Cup championship is the most watched international sporting event in the world, far surpassing the Olympics and Super Bowl with a global viewing audience of over 1 billion, one-sixth of the world's population. As much as my heart would have liked the USA to reach the final, my head told me it wasn't worth the possible opportunity for the legions of anti-American trendsetters to make their sentiments known. I've no doubt that team USA would have been a favorite to cheer against. We just aren't popular these days. What if one of our American guys head-butted an opposing player as French player Zinédine Zidane did to an Italian player in the waning minutes of the game? I'd hate to think about the global reaction to such an aggressive and bullying move like that. But that's what the world has come to expect of American now. If a Frenchman does it, it's just out of character from the grace and charm we expect from that nation. If an American were to do it, it would be on par with our current global indictments. I've tried over the last several weeks to write a bit from my heart about what is happening to America's image. I'm writing this as I reflect upon the military service of my father, Victor Snow, who died just last year. He was part of the Greatest Generation and a child of the Depression who grew up in rural Alabama. Dad's naval training included a Mediterranean diplomatic mission aboard the USS Missouri in 1946 to return the body of the Turkish Ambassador to the United States. Dad told me that the Americans were cheered by the Turks and then later by the Greeks. Thousands came out to greet the WWII victors. Everyone was thumbs up about the Yanks then, well, except for the Soviets and Chinese. But the masses across the planet seemed to link America with what was possible to achieve and the goodwill was widespread. Those weren't completely the glory days with nuclear bombs and burned out cities, but the American reputation was without par and our soldiers were seen as heroes and protectors. This will be my last entry for POV's Borders | American ID. Thanks for reading. June 15, 2006 In response to three suicides at the U.S. military prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Graffy told the BBC that the deaths were "certainly a good PR move to draw attention." | MORE... June 2, 2006 What's good offense to President Bush is becoming too offensive, and the U.S. can ill afford to continue to project an arrogance of power surrounding its own security to the exclusion of others. | MORE... Geography Schmeography: America and its Place in the World May 16, 2006 American youth (ages 18-24) received an "F" for understanding the world and America's place in it. | MORE... |