New Zealand anti-Americanism on the rise: poll

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-11/08/content_1167726.htm

WELLINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- American music, food and clothing styles may still dominate New Zealand culture, but a new poll has found New Zealanders feel increasingly negatively toward the United States.

�@�@According to a Phillips Fox poll published in the National Business Review on Friday, the number of New Zealanders who said they felt "positive" toward the United States had dropped 25 percentage points in two years, from 54 to 29 percent.

�@�@Political scientist Barry Gustafson was quoted as saying that he suspected New Zealand attitudes toward the United States had been cooling off since the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

�@�@This had been accelerated recently with the Iraq war and publicity about US millionaires buying up prime properties in New Zealand, and further reinforced by television and film portrayals of the United States as "a violent, racist, crime-ridden and sex-obsessed society," he said.
<snip>

Thanks, Mr. pResident.

Xinhua. Right. Veeeeeeeery reputable, non-CHINESE STATE CONTROLLED MEDIA

I check it every now and then for laughs.

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Detained Iraqis are surrounded after attacking soldiers of the U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division during an early morning raid in the village of Maidan, 40 kms northeast of Baquba, Iraq, November 7, 2003.

I think foreign nationals SHOULD be pissed off at the U.S. - and I don't agree with those who say they should only take aim at George W. Bush. The apathetic majority has a lot to answer for, too.

Incidentally, I occasionally exchange e-mails with foreign nationals asking questions about my websites. I often bring up Bush, and it's amazing how reluctant they are to say anything about him. One individual from New Zealand told me he thought it best to comment, adding that New Zealand was already in hot water with Bush. I wasn't aware that Bush had put any pressure on New Zealand; maybe he declared it part of his Axis of Evil while I wasn't paying attention.

i always knew you were a savvy folk, and i am again amazed at your brilliance.

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that attracts mindless sheep that parrot the drivel of Oxy heads and hate mongers.

It's sad that so many of the less educated Americans can't see what the rest of the world sees: George W. Bush is a power hungry machiavellian corporate shill that doesn't have the brains to tie his own shoes.

that is one of THE best chimpass* desriptions I have ever seen on DU! Do I have your permission to use it? :)

Take it and slip it under the windshield wipers of ll the repigs you can find! :toast:

You're right, Mr. pResident's to blame.

The ending of the article:

Paul Buchanan, an American who has lived in New Zealand for seven years, said the findings on the United States were "alarming for a country-to-country friendship."

But he thought the public's feelings were more targeted at President Bush's regime than ordinary people.

Have NEVER seen any President with this level of negativity. Richard M. Nixon was a great humanitarian and healer, compared to this trash.

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than Nixon.Affirmative action was passed by a Dem.congress.Nixon was hardly enthusiastic about either piece of legislation.He just knew the public at the time was very much in favor of both.

rest of us a pass with a caveat: Vote him out and redeem yourself.
I have passport cover that says "I didn't vote for Bush" in Arabic,
French and English.

I wonder what the hobbit-elf-dwarf vote was. :)

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Johnson believed strongly in the Civil Rights Act and used all his formidable political power to ensure its passage.A number of arms were twisted,Democrat as well as Republican,to achieve this legislation's passage.He was aware of the consequences as well,saying to the effect that it would cost the Democratic Party the South for a generation(looks like we're working on the third)but he did it anyway because he knew it was the right thing to do.

By contrast,Nixon merely signed legislation he knew to be popular with the public but had no passion for.

"a violent, racist, crime-ridden and sex-obsessed society," because in reality - IT IS. Sorry if we all have the wrong impression out here in other countries.

There's been a strange mismatch going on lately, where the world is turning more and more against American policies but keeps wearing blue jeans, eating hamburgers, watching American movies and listening to American music. That has been an enormous but generally unrecognized advantage for the US, one that has helped make it possible for the US to get away with as much casual brutality and indifference as it has.

But what happens when all that changes? When there are movies in which Americans are unequivocally the villains? When there are new styles of clothing that assertively state, "I am not part of the American empire"? When the pop culture images that rule the world are no longer images of American dynamism and affluence but suggest a range of more appealing alternatives?

For starters, that could affect the bottom line of the MPAA and RIAA in ways that make the current file-sharing brouhaha look like a picnic.

But then what happens when American kids, hot for the latest in global cool and eager to flip off the authorities, start adopting the trappings of anti-Americanism? Will it become illegal to dress in certain styles or listen to certain songs? Will there be officially-sanctioned art and forbidden art? Will file-sharing be considered an act of political (and not merely economic) subversion and targeted under the Patriot Act?

It could get interesting.

...crime-ridden and sex-obsessed society"

That's putting it in a nutshell, hmm!

But they forgot to add religion. So it should read: "the United States as "a violent, racist, religiously wonky, crime-ridden and sex-obsessed society."

yes pat,
must never forget religion. fascism comes in many forms. some populations are intimidated and must silence themselves. but the worst form is the pro-fascist religious, fascism by popularity. nobody expects the spanish inquisition.

Today I read on Scoop, the great New Zealand news site, that a lefty activist there was arrested and jailed after sending emails to the US embassy. If the quotes of the activist's emails are accurate I don't agree with a lot of what he says, but so what? Scoop reports that it appears the Americans asked for or encouraged his arrest and the New Zealand authorities complied. Here we are playing the bully again.
There used to be a saying in this country--"you're entitled to your opinion--it's a free country."
By the way, Scoop has a must-read series: "A Very American Coup."

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Thanks newyawker99-- I am so new that I just now figured out how to get back to this thread.

NZ was the place in mind to "escape to" when marshall law was enacted. What the hell am I going to do now? F-ing frat boy, and his dream of running the big machine.

in case The Junta retains control in 2004, color us gone.