American news anchors have been virtually purring over the results of a BBC World Service poll that suggests love for the US has increased throughout the rest of the planet.[1] The poll shows those with a positive view of America have risen by a full 4% – from 31% to 35%.
Looked at another way, 65% of the planet continues to disapprove of this militant ‘superpower’.
It’s that old chestnut again – statistics. You can show ’em in a positive light, or a negative one. It just depends what you want to convey. Of course, American news programs want to broadcast the ‘good’ news angle. And, let’s not forget that latest edition to the US media circus, BBC World America. Thanks mainly to the best efforts of its lead anchor, Matt Frei, BBCWA has managed to rapidly metamorphose into just another NBC or ABC news slot, only with English accents.
Kurt Volker, a “principal deputy assistant secretary of state” at the US state department, said of the poll:
“……people look at the US and the electoral process here and are reminded that this is a major transparent democracy, a vibrant and diverse country, and that reflects really well on the image of the US.
He may not be very big in the state department, but Kurt Volker obviously enjoys a joke.
The true reason for this very slight rise, Mister Volker, is absurdly obvious to anyone not steeped in the process of persuading themselves and their fellow Americans that this nation is a wonderful, benevolent land unfairly misunderstood by outsiders.
The true cause of the four percent increase is due to George W Bush, and his cold-blooded, torturing band of distasteful hangers-on, vacating the stage in a few months, thus engendering the aspiration of replacement by some warm-blooded, mammalian, personages who are not intent on plunging the world into further violent chaos.
One can only hope the four percent are not being overly-optimistic.
[1] ” US welcomes just a little more love”, BBC, April 2nd, 2008.
Filed under: False love