Miranda Bureau CAS 03

This is in response to Dan Seed’s Letter to the Editor on Tuesday, February 4: “Foreign Opinion Not Important.” I disagree with his statements that “most Americans could care less that we’ve become a running joke down there”, (in Ecuador) and that our country is “too concerned with what the French or Germans or idealists think.” Also, his comments about Iraq are questionable. First, government policies should not be confused with the actual citizens of a country. I doubt every person in Ecuador is a failed president in-waiting who spits on freedom of religion and freedom of speech. The opinions of the real people in Ecuador are just as worthy as those of the average American, including Mr. Seed. I spent the fall semester in Moscow, Russia. I met many wonderful people who were friendly and interested in America and Americans. I also met people who declared: “Most people here don’t like Americans.” It seems to me that the people who make up the foreign opinion Mr. Seed cares so little about have not much reason to like America. Often, they react similarly to Mr. Seed; they not only dislike American policy, they also dismiss Americans due to the actions of our government. I speak Russian with an accent. When asked, “Where are you from?” if I answered “the United States”, I expected a lukewarm, and possibly even negative response. It didn’t matter whether I was Pro-Bush, a Bush Hater, or a budding anarchist. I am proud to be an American, but I can also understand why we are not always welcome. The U.S. is currently the only superpower, and to people across the world our foreign policies sometimes don’t make sense. In addition, the U.S. entertainment culture can overwhelm a country’s own music, films, etc., making it seem as if Americans want to take over everything. I think not, but how to convince the world otherwise? An attitude like Mr. Seed’s only makes the situation worse. I agree that the U.S. accomplished its goal in the first Gulf War by getting Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. Like many Americans, I would like to see someone else leading Iraq. However, the first war is over, and there are valid arguments against Bush’s reasons for going to war now. Highlights of Saddam’s actions leading to the first Gulf War are not enough to defeat these arguments. Finally, Mr. Seed quotes Sean Dixon as wanting to see the “$100 billion spending to fight the war on terror put to better use”. I read Mr. Dixon’s letter, and he does not refer to the money as being spent on the war against terror, he seems to be referring to the war against Iraq. It is hard to determine how much a war in Iraq actually will cost, but I urge you not to confuse the war on terror with the war on Iraq. They are not one and the same.