The Biggest Threat to American Security

No, not enviable freedom, or wealth and power. It's bad TV.

By Paul Raines

July 17, 2006 — CSO —

A new Pew Research poll just came out that shows Americans arent much liked bywell, just about everyone in the world, really. The poll surveyed more than 16,000 people in 15 countries and found that, overall, Americans are liked about as much as the red-headed stepchild at the family picnic. Even in the ol mother country, Great Britain, only 56 percent of the population have a favorable opinion of the United States. Fifty-six percent doesnt sound that bad until you consider the fact that the Brits gave the French a 59 percent favorability. Yes, the French. You know, the ancient enemy of England and their all-time favorite target of parody and derision. It certainly doesnt bode well for our so-called special relationship with the United Kingdom when we rank behind the frogs on the British pop charts. Heres how we came out overall in the survey:

Why all this animosity? Thats something Id quite like to understand, since I work overseas and would rather get along with my neighbors. No sense in us a-fussin and a-feudin if a little common understanding could patch things up.

The first thought that popped into my head was maybe, like al-Qaida, other countries hate us because of our freedom. I considered that for about two nanoseconds and then thought, nah, Europeans look to be every bit as free as Americansin some cases much more so. (For example, see my April column about the Dutch and window shades or lack thereof.)

Maybe its because were the worlds only superpower and they resent us for being on top? I used to live in New York, and I know everyone loves to hate the Yankees because they have dominated major league baseball for so long. Maybe the same principle applies here. After a little thought, I ruled out that possibility as well. The United States has been at the top of the food chain for an awfully long time now, and its only been in the past six years that our favorability ratings have dropped off so dramatically. I dont think the United States suddenly became that much more powerful vis-à-vis the rest of the world to provoke that kind of resentment.

No, I think it pretty much stems from reality television. Ive traveled around the world, and U.S. television reruns tend to dominate whats on the airwaves in virtually every cable market across the globe. Think about it. Six years ago the United States produced very little reality television, and now its practically all thats on the tube. Imagine the chagrin youd feel if you were in a third-world country and suddenly your television programming switches from reruns of Gilligans Island, Love Boat and Dallas to reruns of Fear Factor, I Want to Marry a Millionaire and The Apprentice. I mean, wouldnt you be pissed off too? Sorry, but for entertainment value, The Donald firing a naïve, just-out-of-college 20-something doesnt quite compare with the professor finding a way to make a radio out of coconuts. Thats the reason. Its all about the television.

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