Have some faith...this diary will have an important point, even if it begins with a little personal story.
Last week, we stood under the Pont du Gard in Nimes, France. It was cold, and there weren't many others there. Two old men walked toward us, and began to chat. Our French is pretty minimal, so at first all we got in was "Slowly, please..."
Finally we explained we were from the United States. That got us a smile, and "Ah...Booosh!" When we frowned and gave a thumbs down, we got another smile. "Clinton!" said one old man. We gave him a thumbs up, but I couldn't help responding "Obama."
Then they started talking quickly again. "We love Americans...you came...you came...you came..." It took us a few minutes to realize that the kids who died 60 years ago were still vivid memories to these gentlemen.
We spend a lot of time in France. We have never eaten "freedom fries" or wasted any good Sancerre in pique. In fact, we've done a lot of listening. During hurricane Katrina we were there, and had to answer the questions of good friends who couldn't understand our ineptitude. We were there right after the last election, too. Again, they couldn't understand. How could we do that to ourselves, twice?
These attitudes aren't exclusively French. The Pew Trust documents the dramatic decrease in favorable opinions of Americans around the world.
Global distrust of American leadership is reflected in increasing disapproval of the cornerstones of U.S. foreign policy. Not only is there worldwide support for a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, but there also is considerable opposition to U.S. and NATO operations in Afghanistan. Western European publics are at best divided about keeping troops there. In nearly every predominantly Muslim country, overwhelming majorities want U.S. and NATO troops withdrawn from Afghanistan as soon as possible. In addition, global support for the U.S.-led war on terrorism ebbs ever lower. And the United States is the nation blamed most often for hurting the world's environment, at a time of rising global concern about environmental issues.
But beneath it all, there's a respect for American hearts that remains. If the French still realize that, there may be hope in the world.
The Pont du Gard was built 2000 years ago. We think of the "fall" of the Roman Empire, but in fact it thrived twice as long as America has existed. Will what we've built last as long?
A third of the world is Muslim. What would happen if our President had a middle name, Hussein?
A fifth of the world's population lives in Africa. What would happen if our President had close family in Kenya?
Most of the world thinks we are a bully. What would happen if our President thought before he bombed?
No matter what Democrat becomes president, the fine details of every bit of legislation will be a negotiated process. Health care, FISA, even taxes will be some hybrid representation of multiple committees. It's really silly for progressives to parse phrases or argue about a line out of one candidate's health care plan.
What will be solely the President's will be the responsibility for becoming our image to the world. What image would you prefer? That's a choice you need to make.