Stardate 20010928.0941 (On Screen): I think one of the reasons that the US has a bad reputation in other nations is that we are such a mixed bag, so that someone looking at us can see in any given story nearly whatever they want to see. This report from the BBC is a beautiful example of that: The American Library Association has published a list of books which librarians have received requests to remove from library shelves because of what they contain. High on this year's list is the "Harry Potter' stories about an apprentice sorceror, because they might be teaching "satanism".
Someone who hates America will see closed-minded uneducated bigots who think that a marvelously written series of kids books should be censored because of narrow-minded religious sensibilities. On the other hand, someone who loves America will note that the list itself was publicized by Americans to show that such censorship attempts exist so as to try to make sure they don't succeed, and will also note that the Harry Potter books have sold extremely well in the US. All of those things are true. The US is difficult to categorize -- indeed, that is the whole point of the US. What this story really demonstrates is that the US is a nation which tolerates and even encourages an extremely wide variety of opinions -- and a wide variety of nearly everything else. Trying to put America into a small category becomes an exercise in "Blind men and the elephant".
Are Americans educated or uneducated? Open minded or bigoted? Intelligent or stupid? Vicious or kind? Creative or hide-bound? Reckless or cautious? Free spending or miserly? Forgiving or vindictive? Generous or stingy? Yes. Which can make the US come off as a loose cannon sometimes, which may be why even our friends fear us a bit. With so many voices speaking and saying so many different things, it can be hard for outsiders to determine which voices will prevail. (discuss)
