General Discussion

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts) Wed Sep 23, 2015, 02:28 PM Sep 2015

Why do we as Americans insist on viewing foreign leaders solely through American political lens?

(And I mean "we" in terms of Americans of all political persuasions, not just those here on DU.)

The pope is not an American liberal. Nor is the pope an American conservative. The pope is not a US citizen.

The pope is what the pope is. He's not running for President and has never been a member of the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green, etc. parties.

Same could be said about just about any other foreign leader or personality.

It's time to stop putting square pegs in round holes when it comes to foreigners and their beliefs. Not everything lines up neatly and according to plan in the American way.

6 replies

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Why do we as Americans insist on viewing foreign leaders solely through American political lens? (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2015 OP

We can be forgiven, I think HassleCat Sep 2015 #1

I remember growing up when the Pope was upaloopa Sep 2015 #2

THe Pope doesnt hate enough people, doesnt hate the earth, and is therefore unacceptable randys1 Sep 2015 #3

People have been trained very well to place all political figures into partisan boxes Maedhros Sep 2015 #4

Perhaps some of those sarisataka Sep 2015 #5

but the saying is "god bless america" IcyPeas Sep 2015 #6

HassleCat

(6,409 posts)

1. We can be forgiven, I think

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Wed Sep 23, 2015, 02:30 PM

Sep 2015

We are accustomed to religious leaders who dabble in politics, hang out with presidents, form PACs, etc.

upaloopa

(11,417 posts)

2. I remember growing up when the Pope was

Reply to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)

Wed Sep 23, 2015, 02:36 PM

Sep 2015

seen as an enemy to many Americans. Those who believed Catholics owed allegiance to Rome before they did to their country. When John Kennedy was running for President I was a freshman in a Catholic high school. If the Pope came to visit Kennedy in office it would have been seen as a conspiracy to over throw the country.
So I think we have always seen the Pope through our particular political paradigm.