For the record, I'm not anti-american.

I'm critical to the administration up there and the way the US exploits it leading role in the world. My writings up here are observations of your system and meant as critisism. America is a great country and I have been there quite a few times. Most americans I know in person are very friendly and easy to work with.

Some of the things I wrote come directly from a book written by Charles Groenhuissen which is a very famous dutch journalist (married with children living in New york for more than 13 years). In his book called "Americans are not crazy" he describes the differences between the americans and europeans about all topics: Crime, Sex, Politics, Religion, Economy etc. Most of his stories can be verified easily because they often are detailed and can be easily found by google. You don't even need the extensive reference list in the back. He really likes america and his book was meant to show us "europeans" how americans live and think. He wants us to have a better understanding of the country you live in.

The stories are fun to read and to realize the contrast with our 'world'. The europeans: The uncurable pessimists. The americans: the uncurable optimists.

So, I'm called a pessimist. So I do have something to say when statements are made by the uncurable optimists.

I don't have to tell you that the view you have america is not widely shared by the rest of the world. America is the only superpower left. Economical and military. However, in their supremacy they also show utterly arrogance which is really making things worse.

- They go into iraq to spread democracy (Naive optimistic). You don't do that with scandals like abu graib and guantama bay.
- They don't recognize the international court in The Hague, making it impossible to convict american citizen when they commit crime against humanity.
- They reject kyoto on economical grounds
- An ongoing trend of corruption and other scandals arround the inner circle of the president.

Do you understand why the rest of the world does not see america as the ultimate friend?

I simply cannot understand why a lot americans (I do not say all) are blind for those things. Why are those americans blind for reality ?? Is it an instinct to survive? Is it because those silly damn liberals vs. republicans? Is it the best kept secret to success ?

>Well, the bit about Americans consisting of right (Democrats) and far right (Republicans) did take me aback. That was a new level of stereotyping.

It is an observation made by the journalist described above, not mine. Again he is certainly not anti-america. Both political parties would be set at the far right in any european country.

Maybe it is time to look a bit outside your country to understand the world a bit better. It is easy to debunk my statments as a natural reaction, it needs far more courage to actually find out what I'm trying to say here.

Walter,