"Ich bin ein Amerikaner"

"The world is waiting to love America again" ran the title of a recent London Observer editorial anticipating Barack Obama's visit to Europe.

Love may be too strong a word to describe the world's feelings for America when George W. Bush was first sworn in as president, but not by much. It's surprising, but irrefutable, to look back at the numbers he inherited. Polls taken in 1999 and 2000 show impressive majorities of people in nations all around the world holding favorable views of the U.S. In the immediate aftermath 9/11, when headlines declared "We Are All Americans" in many languages, those numbers went even higher.

But today, love is not much in the air. As the Pew Global Attitudes Project put it, "Since 2002... the image of the United States has declined in most parts of the world. Favorable ratings of America are lower in 26 of 33 countries for which trends are available."

Some examples: In Germany, our favorability has fallen from 78 percent, when Bush was inaugurated, to 30 percent in 2007; in Britain, from 83 to 51; in Slovakia, from 74 to 41; in Argentina, from 50 to 16; in Turkey, from 52 to 9; in Indonesia, from 75 to 29.

The Bush/Cheney doctrine, of course, was never about being loved. Instead, they said they wanted America to be respected, which turned out to be code for being feared. No one disputes that national security depends on strength, which includes military and economic strength. But it also depends on ideals, and it's in that department -- the values implicit in our actions -- where the White House has lost the world's respect and actually undermined America's power.

Everyone knows the list of horribles: Unilateralism. Name-calling. Cowboy diplomacy. Pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol. Declaring the Geneva Conventions irrelevant. Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo. Branding negotiation as "appeasement." Preaching a "freedom agenda" while undermining domestic civil liberties. Supporting authoritarian regimes in the name of spreading democracy.

It goes on. And it has had an effect diametrically opposite to its intention. "Ironically," says the Pew project, "the belief that the United States does not take into account the interests of other countries in formulating its foreign policy is extensive among the publics of several close U.S. allies. No fewer than 89% of the French, 83% of Canadians and 74% of the British express this opinion."

For years, the Bush State Department has pursued numerous misbegotten and unsuccessful efforts at "public diplomacy," based on the premise that what America has is a communications problem, that we need a more effective marketing campaign for our national brand. In fact, what we have actually had is a problem problem -- a policy problem, an actions problem, a contempt for differing points of view, an arrogance about human rights, a penchant for demonization.

Yes, there are evil people and bad states in the world, and they want to do grievous harm to us and our allies. But there is scant evidence that the approach of the past seven years has effectively contained or defanged them. In fact, the Bush State Department seems finally to have recognized this. In its dealings with Syria and Iran, there is a belated, twilight recognition that talk is not the same thing as capitulation. The agreement at the G-8 summit in Japan to halve greenhouse gases by 2050 -- 2050! -- may be pathetic, but at least it is less pathetic than denying their human causes and their lethal consequences.

There is a good reason that entertainment is America's number one export, even at this nadir of our international reputation. The stories that Hollywood's products tell, the values they embody, are hopeful, idealistic, celebratory of human potential and achievement. Yes, some nihilistic stuff is American-made and globally consumed, too. But by and large, people around the world like our entertainment for the same reason that we do: it comes down on the side of dignity, freedom and good triumphing over evil. That's what America can mean to the world - and in some quarters, despite the bullying and blundering of the Bush years - still does mean.

When John F. Kennedy in 1963 told the world from the Brandenburg Gate, "Ich bin ein Berliner," he was explicitly identifying with all people whose freedom was threatened. But there was an implicit message in his words as well: Here is what it means to be an American. Here is what the values of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution look like.

As The Observer observed, the world is waiting to love America again. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have a tremendous opportunity to change the face, and to change the meaning, of what "I am an American" has come to signify around the world. For the sake of our national security, and that of our allies, it can't come a moment too soon.

This column first appeared in The Jewish Journal. If you'd rather read about Sherry Lansing there than see my other JJ columns, well, ok then.

Comments

[Sportswoman]

Marty, great article per usual. You have a brilliant way of framing your ideas...

As to the JFK, taunts, you folks need to brush up on your Camelot 101. Read Schlesinger, white and the latest "Counselor," by Ted Sorenson. Don't buy into the conservative crapola that always is flung at Democratic leaders' morality--as if the far right isn't far worse.
JFK's presidency was a magical era in America and I am grateful that my adolescence thrived in great--and fully funded--public schools, while my parents paid 1% in taxes. My cousin went to the Phillipines in the Peace Corp. and our nation was at peace except for those 11 days which were Khruschev's doing. The Bay of Pigs was a poorly advised fiasco by Eisenhower's generals put into play before he ever took office, yet he took full responsibility and learned not to rubber stamp anything again. JFK gave us The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and ended Jim crow laws in the South, among many other things in only 1000 days. There's a reason the 60s started out so great and ended so horribly and it was his untimely death. Obama's presidency is a resurection of idealism from which we will gain our moral standing in the world--Exhibit A was this tour...

[pat52007]

Ich bin ein Ameriker is incorrect...the correct wording is; Ich bin Ameriker...also when JFK said Ich bin ein Berliner, was also incorrect---correctly said ; Ich bin Berliner...(ein Berliner is a pastry), thus if you say" Ich bin (ein) Berliner", you are saying that you are a pastry...lol. It is amazing that the person who wrote these words for JFK could have butchered the language so badly. Just goes to show you it is essential to have either a native or at least a ceritified fluent speaker of the language of the host country!! Just thought I would let you know the correct wording.

Auf Wiedersehen,

Patrick B. Lee

[Boris]

When Carter went to Poland, the translator supposedly said, instead of 'I love the Polish people' it was, 'I want to make love to the Polish people.' Now, that was a gaffe.

But, I do love JFK's mistranslation best of all.

"I am a Jelly Doughnut" has such a nice sweet sound to it.

[oogabooga]

How come all of those Germans understood Obama so well? Because they have bilingual schools - something that the NeoCon knuckledraggers in the US hate.

[prochange]

As far as I remember "Amerikaner" is a pastry in Germany too. It is a pastry which is half glazed white and half glazed brown (chocolate). Well, isn't that the perfect pastry for Obama?

[claudiam]

I am so ready for someone in the WH that can bring back our credibility. I have been greaving for my country for the last 7 years. 2000 was McCain's year - he should have stuck with his ethics and not sell himself to the Bushies and his followers - he may have had a chance. Barack gives me pride once again.

[MPeter]

Marty,
We were all proud to have Obama speak for us today in Berlin. In a single trip with a single speech, it felt surreal to see American flags waving to cheers for an American leader. Obama was able to heal half the wounds inflicted on this nation by neocons and rethugs in an instant! We witnessed history being made. What an extraordinary man!

[arthuride]

There was nothing great about JFK--save his rhetoric. He saber-rattled and nearly initiated World War III with the Soviet Union, was responsible for the abortive and internationally illegal Bay of Pigs fiasco, escalated the "conflict" in Vietnam, etc--and of course womanized far more than Bill Clinton. If Obama would become another JFK, not only the USA would be in trouble, but the world itself.

[DKLA]

Compared to Bu$h & chney? You must be joking. Over sexed is better than evil & malicious.

[berrycooda]

The Democrat and Republican parties should be done away with.....

In some cases the speeches sound the same...

I think 2 Presidents should be elected....One from each party.
Let them CO-CHAIR the Presidency.....Then maybe we would get something done if the two could
get together and agree on something before the Partisan politics could interfere.

[Garvagh]

Great piece! The name of Dick Cheney's game is the supposed gathering of supreme power when if fact it represents an astounding continuing squandering of American power and prestige. How much of this dreadful equation should be left at David Addington's feet?

A Syrian delegation wants to meet with the Secretary of State, or the Number Two, or the Number Three, in Washington, and they all hide. Pathetic.

Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad praised the style of the US delegate at the recent talks in Geneva. This is an opening needing further development.

[FarOutFish]

Obama should take a page from JFK"s visit to Berlin and declare "Ich bin ein beginner" it"s better than Kennedy declaring he was a sausage, the translation of his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner"

[flatus]

As a child, I used to not talk to my parents when I was mad at them. This, too, was lousey diplomacy. Kinda speaks to the maturity of the crowd now staining the White House furniture, eh?

[johnie2xs]

I like this analogy a lot. Thank you.

[Economike]

It seems like Cheney and Bush's antidote for 9/11 was to become more evil than the enemy.

[provoice]

Our joy of anticipation regarding a new President should be tempered by the knowledge that our media delights in creating heroes, and then systematically destroying them.

Whoever wins the election, (hopefully Obama), will most likely start with great flourishes and fanfares from the media... and then gradually the grumblers will start to make inroads, much as they did in the Clinton years.

Soon we can expect to see false allegations, half-truths, criticisms of the way certain things are phrased... all from the usual sources and all designed to neutralize the effectiveness of the new president.

We should already see examples of that in the way the McCain camp has attacked Obama's trip... first criticizing Obama for NOT going to the Middle East and Europe, then griping that the trip is getting way more attention than McCain's Town Hall Meeting in New Hampshire!

[johnie2xs]

Once Obama gains the Presidency (and he must), the "Hope" that it will bring, will be the long awaited ingredient that will allow the rest of the world to join hands with us to realistically address the problems wrought by terrorism in the way it should have been back after 9/11; as a policing action. The military "Hammer and Nail" response was never the right formula, and further, in the hands of these imperialistic Neo-Cons in the Bush administration it has only emboldened the "dark forces", those being Al Quieda and the Bushies.

[thefringecenter]

It is fitting that Obama would visit Germany to close the chapter on the Republican Party. The Grand Old Party began by drawing inspiration from Germany circa 1933 and died in 2008. RIP.

[DKLA]

From your mouth to gods ears! if there is a god......why was Bush selected our President?
What did we do wrong??

[daddysboy]

Nice choice of words to describe potentially the lowest point in our country's history. This is why I love to read your writing. I am thrilled that by some miracle, America may yet survive the left of everything by the current group of criminals in power and turn out to be the country we and the rest of the world all thought it was.

[terramartom]

Senator Obama can and will give America the opportunity to once again allow itself the respect it had in itself and around the globe by other countries.

McCain can only take the country down the dark abyss with more Bushisms and war mongering. Because for the republicans war for PROFIT is always good business regardless of the impact to human civilization.

[LittleGirl]

Well, there is no such word "Berliner" in German except for the one that refers to pastry. So JFK actually said, I am a pastry. Which is why most germans laughed about it. He thought he was saying, I'm a Berliner, like I'm an American, but it doesn't work that way in german. Just thought you'd like to know this. I just wonder who the brilliant german was that translated that for him.

[Economike]

He got a great response from the crowd so what does it matter?

[NBachers]

Hey, smear all you want, smallfemale, but forty-five years later, this speech is seen as a high point for our nation. It is still generating international goodwill worldwide. There are commemorative sites to Kennedy in Berlin, such as the John F. Kennedy German-American School Berlin and the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies of the Free University of Berlin. Also, the public square where Kennedy made the famous speech has been named "John-F.-Kennedy-Platz" and there is a small plaque dedicated to Kennedy near the entrance of the building.

Just thought you'd like to know this. Your hate got in the way of the real truth. Typical.