Every nation has a (historical) self-narrative, which informs its self-image. Such a self-image determines the perspective from which one nation views another.
This is why the translations at Watching America often say more about the authors writers and the homelands than about their actual subject, which is the United States.
In that context, of particular interest is this editorial translated from the Arabic newspaper Al Madina from Saudi Arabia, according to which,
… the American elections are a fantastical political film – not one produced by Hollywood, but rather by the American campaign with all of its contradictions and dissimulations. Because the candidates have no real knowledge of the world outside of America, they sometimes push the limit of foolishness…. The [American presidential] candidate – whoever he may be – is nothing more than a front man, a face for the election platform of one of the two major parties.
But this is not just an American-bashing piece. Rather, very much in line with Arabs’ narrative of historical defeat, turns blame inward:
As usual, the Arab-Islamic world just sits back and watches. We wait for the Presidential Film to wrap up and for the election decision to be made so that we can begin to bear the lesser of the two evils. On the contrary, the Jewish establishment is always successful. They successfully push election topics and direct the votes, as well as investing in and drafting the platforms themselves.
The writer suggests that the stupidity of the Arabs’ approach to the U.S. is evident given historical precedents concerning American action in the Middle East:
That capacity is penned up in the American administration’s international attitudes, which have always inclined towards colonial behaviors. The impression of its power and a sense of violent empire in the American popular memory exacerbate American dependency on an image of itself as a world dominator
Lest this seem polemic, the writer’s conclusion is considered:
… we have no right to reproach fate or the American people on their election of this or that candidate, for we do nothing. We wait to figure out their intentions and throw our lot in with whoever will be the least painful and do the least damage to our interests. And this, to no avail.
And this closing is surely interesting, since it could be said of all politically apathetic elements, even within our own nation. Perhaps people are not so different – even when we are.
Read the whole article here on WATCHING AMERICA.com
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.