[quote]Originally posted by Azred:
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Originally posted by Yorick:
I would have to unfortunately disagree with you. It is a person with a positive self-image and who doesn't need the opinions of others for self-worth who doesn't care a fig what the rest of the world thinks. An individualist doesn't have to have a highly positive public opinion poll result in order to live life fully.
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It has nothing to do with self worth and everything to do with acting in a manner that affects the said people. American policy affects other countries. (See: Cold War, Iraq, Nuclear holocaust in Japan for further reading.) This then affects others policies towards you, which can trigger changes in your nation that lead to political issues - see: World trade Centre destruction/creation of homeland security dept.
You do not live in an island. Trade is important to the USA. Need I remind you you outsource jobs to India? Need I remind you your trade deficit with China is unthinkably large. Chinese policy influences American policy and you would be naive to think otherwise. Have you been following the recent speeches in Taiwan and the lack of US support for Taiwans proclaimations of independence? Need I remind you that America is a land of immigrant VOTERS and CONSUMERS who are influenced by Americans treatment of their homeland? See: Israel and Jewish America.
It has nothing to do with self worth, and everything to do with actions. America is no longer isolationist in foreign policy and has not been since WWII. I suggest those that do not care what the world thinks WAKE UP to concepts of international diplomacy and international relations and study nations that have ignored these in the past. He that ignores history repeats it.
You could start with GERMANY and how Wilhelm ruined decades of careful international relations, alliances and manouvering Bismark had orchestrated, and how Germany fell from an ascendant position in Europe following disasterous wars, that included Hitler thumbing his nose at international opinion. (He obviously didn't base his self worth on that now did he?)
When it unites, Europe will be richer, more populous and in a better location to influence global events. I would think it IMPERATIVE that America does not create an enemy where an ally once was. This is a very real possibility. Alliances have historically shifted. Read up on Bismark again. Fascinating.
Think about a world in which China, India, Europe, South America, Africa, Britain, Saudi Arabia and the Arab league etc were all actively antagonistic, both economically and militarily. Do you really want such a reality? Europe, China, India and Britain are all nuclear.
OF COURSE IT MATTERS WHAT THE WORLD THINKS!
Surely you have learned this with Iraq and Afgahnistan?? If one more war on a new front opens up, you will need the draft because your army is too small. Doesn't this ring a bell? 455 billion dollar budget deficit due to the war. Doesn't this mean anything to you?
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Since other world leaders don't consult popular opinion before speaking in public, why should ours?
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Er...they often do. International politics mate. Been around a long time.
[ 11-18-2004, 05:08 PM: Message edited by: Yorick ]