MaxedOutMama
Saturday, October 30, 2004
The artifice of the Arte & other European matters
This is an excellent post from the Transatlantic Intelligencer blog, to which I have now linked. If you're interested in international media and why the US is perceived the way it is, this is more than worth a read. It describes the channel Arte, its programming, and what the influence of this coverage is in France.
Just for laughs (and this is a great one), you might also want to click on this link to the same blog. Read the short post that goes along with the cover and reflect on the fact that George Bush has ALWAYS been a cowboy in German eyes, just as Reagan was. So much for squandering goodwill after September of 2001 - the cover dates from April, 2001. The caption says "George Bush Jr against the rest of the world." A familiar theme, eh?
Bild endorsed Bush for reelection (among other things, it he's all grown up now and it will be cheaper for Germany), which caused Hendrik Zoerner of the Deutscher Journalistenverband to issue an impassioned cry for impartial journalism. It seems Herr Zoerner is afraid that the Bild endorsement might throw the election for Bush, because endorsements of Kerry are allowed if not required. The Danes chimed in on the idea that what's really needed is for the whole world to be allowed to vote in the American elections. That would solve the problem of America's pesky liking of blazing guns and cowboy boots, right?
No word on whether anyone in this "count every vote" movement has actually sat down and figured out that with over 2 billion of the world's population living in India and China, the result of a world vote in the US elections would surely favor Asian interests over those of Europe. Goodby Australia. I suspect that such a glaring logical error can only be explained by a type of European provincialism - deep in their hearts they believe they are the world. How do you say "oops" in Danish, anyway?
Oh, and I forgot to mention faith on the list of things that many Europeans dislike about the US. Many Germans are genuinely appalled by the hold America's churches have on a large segment of our population. Perhaps it's because their churches are tax-supported, and thus have relatively little effect on public opinion. (You have a captive audience which pays for your services with their tax dollars, so the crass type of what-we-live-by religion so common in the States is not required or necessarily respectable. If you want to secularize religion, there is no better way than to make it a subscription service with funds channelled through the government.)
And finally, I link to the Deutsche-Welle online response section to Wim Wender's portrayal of America and this brief and sad news item.
I may be offline for a while, because I'm having trouble with my eyes (which does explain why yesterday Bin Laden looked somewhat unfamiliar - by now I hardly recognize myself when I look in the mirror). But be of good cheer - one thing we can all agree on is that it's almost over. What bliss - no more political ads. No more polling calls. No more get-out-the-vote harassment. 'Tis a prospect devoutly to be desired.
Just for laughs (and this is a great one), you might also want to click on this link to the same blog. Read the short post that goes along with the cover and reflect on the fact that George Bush has ALWAYS been a cowboy in German eyes, just as Reagan was. So much for squandering goodwill after September of 2001 - the cover dates from April, 2001. The caption says "George Bush Jr against the rest of the world." A familiar theme, eh?
Bild endorsed Bush for reelection (among other things, it he's all grown up now and it will be cheaper for Germany), which caused Hendrik Zoerner of the Deutscher Journalistenverband to issue an impassioned cry for impartial journalism. It seems Herr Zoerner is afraid that the Bild endorsement might throw the election for Bush, because endorsements of Kerry are allowed if not required. The Danes chimed in on the idea that what's really needed is for the whole world to be allowed to vote in the American elections. That would solve the problem of America's pesky liking of blazing guns and cowboy boots, right?
No word on whether anyone in this "count every vote" movement has actually sat down and figured out that with over 2 billion of the world's population living in India and China, the result of a world vote in the US elections would surely favor Asian interests over those of Europe. Goodby Australia. I suspect that such a glaring logical error can only be explained by a type of European provincialism - deep in their hearts they believe they are the world. How do you say "oops" in Danish, anyway?
Oh, and I forgot to mention faith on the list of things that many Europeans dislike about the US. Many Germans are genuinely appalled by the hold America's churches have on a large segment of our population. Perhaps it's because their churches are tax-supported, and thus have relatively little effect on public opinion. (You have a captive audience which pays for your services with their tax dollars, so the crass type of what-we-live-by religion so common in the States is not required or necessarily respectable. If you want to secularize religion, there is no better way than to make it a subscription service with funds channelled through the government.)
And finally, I link to the Deutsche-Welle online response section to Wim Wender's portrayal of America and this brief and sad news item.
I may be offline for a while, because I'm having trouble with my eyes (which does explain why yesterday Bin Laden looked somewhat unfamiliar - by now I hardly recognize myself when I look in the mirror). But be of good cheer - one thing we can all agree on is that it's almost over. What bliss - no more political ads. No more polling calls. No more get-out-the-vote harassment. 'Tis a prospect devoutly to be desired.
