REINHOLD WAGNLEITNER
PUBLIC OPINION
ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE ATLANTIC
OVAL OFFICE 21 December 1970
International Herald Tribune
November 4, 2004
A global
'What now?'
Der Spiegel, online November 4, 2004
America is a
Strange Country,
with its own values.
Simon Schama, The Guardian,
5 November 2004
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In the wee small hours of November
3, 2004, a new country appeared on
the map of the modern world: the
DSA, the Divided States of America.
Godly America vs. Worldy America
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Retro States vs. Metro States
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The two coasts vs. Middle America
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The Christian right vs. the rest of the
United States
The United States of America against the
rest of the world
America vs. America
And finally the word of the year: battle
states
Timothy Garton Ash, The Guardian,
November 4, 2004
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Great Vote, Grisly Result
Many Europeans will conclude from
this result that George Bush is the
true face of America. That would be
a huge mistake. In fact, this election
has shown that America is more
divided than ever over essentials of
politics and faith. It's one country,
but two nations.
A UNILATERAL VOTE
Polls in the Netherlands in 2002
and Great Britain in 2003
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In a Dutch poll of October 2002 USAmericans were counted as one of the
most unpopular nationalities, besides
Moroccans and Turks.
And in a British poll of February 2003 the
United States were deemed to be the
most dangerous nation on the globe, even
ahead of Iraq and North Korea.
IMAS-Polls 2003 and 2004 in Austria
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The American way of life, US policies and
economics represent a model for Europe.
Is that correct or not?
Austrians in 2003:
8 percent yes
28 percent partially correct
53 percent incorrect
Austrians in 2004:
4 percent yes
27 percent partially correct
57 percent incorrect
IMAS-Poll May/June 2004 in
AUSTRIA
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What do you think: did the general attitudes towards
the United States recently improve, deteriorate or
remain the same?
Improve
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Deteriorate
Same
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Feb/Mar 1998
13
25
62
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Oct/Nov 2001
12
32
56
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March 2002
10
36
54
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June 2004
6
73
22
1026 persons over 16 polled face to face
http://www.imas-international.com/institut_report.htm
The downright dramatic growth of criticism
towards the United States since March
2002 leaves no doubt at all that it is based
on the US-war against Iraq and the violent
occupation policies of the Americans.
A crushing majority of nearly 80 percent of
Austrians followed the torture of Iraqi
POWs. More than 50 percent of the adult
population discussed these events with
friends or relatives.
These discussions were especially intensive
among the better educated groups with
high school diploma and academics as well
as top managers and civil servants.
Canadian Youth Poll June 2004:
http://www.torontofreepress.com/2004/weinreb063004.htm
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over 40% of Canadian teens
think America is "evil„
that number rose to 64 per cent
for French Canadian youth
WHY?
U.S. IS SEEN AS LOSING
ITS MORAL AUTHORITY
International Herald Tribune, 5 July 2004
Austrians, 12-13 years old
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stupid politicians who have no clue
President George W. Bush – a blithering
idiot
Bush is a dumb president
September 11, World Trade Center
addicted to war
budget deficit
election fraud
Austrians, 12-13 years old
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world power, biggest companies, biggest
crimes
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many dangerous weapons
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death penalty, lethal injections, electric chair
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ghettoes, racism, street gangs, KKK
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know-it-alls
Austrians, 12-13 years old
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full of fear
life in the fast lane
violence, drugs, poor people
bad English
fast food, bad food, fat food, fat
people
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US
since World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students,
age 19 – 63)
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What are the first associations
coming to your mind when thinking
about the United States of America?
Four years ago, I would have
answered MOBILITY.
Now the answer is HYPOCRISY.
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US
since World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students,
age 19 – 63)
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The Iraq war and George W. Bush
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Wars for oil, post-democratic situation
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Militarization of society, armament, largest
debts
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Torture
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Death Penalty
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
The most influential state in our time
Supervisor of the world
World power Number One, democracy,
ignores friends
Divide and rule – we and them
Divides world into good and evil
Distorts reality in its own favor
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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From dishwasher to millionaire
football, hot dog, statue of liberty
September 11
Fast food, terrorism, war
Music, country, jazz, rock
Pearl Jam, Pearl Harbor
Vietnam, Afghanistan
Ku Klux Klan, Hip-Hop, Blues
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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Did your attitudes towards the
United States of America change
during the last years?
74 yes, 4 no
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Why?
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I´m on the road from friend
to opponent.
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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Mostly because of the current president and
books and films of Michael Moore
Because of the acting of the U.S. government
Because of the strange politics of George W. Bush
Because of falsification of reasons to start war
Certainly because of the Bush administration and
the war in Iraq and because of president Bush´s
point of view concerning gun laws, homosexuals,
death penalty etc.
They changed because of the Bush administration
and all the changes that it caused (war,…). And I
want to emphasize that my attitudes didn´t
become better but worse!
My opinion concerning the USA changed a lot
since the government of George Bush because I
think that the wars that he led were not
necessary, but even a criminal act.
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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Too patriotic, manipulative (we are the best),
Bush!
Iraq War, treatment of prisoners and torture
(especially Guantánamo Bay)
Doubtful foreign policy, doubtful president,
cabinet and advisors, doubtful domestic and
social policies, enormous patriotism, does not
accept criticism.
The rise of political and military aggression, the
rise of conservatives in US-society, economy
without respect for ecology.
Doubtful way of decision making especially
concerning the Iraq War.
Distancing from values of US-constitution, for
which the United States had stood before.
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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The US have become less “friendly” towards
other countries, started apparently to perceive
themselves as totally self-reliant, independent,
not having to take other countries and
organizations into account
I can´t understand the politics of George W. Bush
in the last years. For me Americans are strange
people, because they always act very
conservative but in reality they have the biggest
porno-industry and they allow their kids to carry
pistols.
It changed from an unreflected admiration to a
more critical view on some aspects of American
policies (fight against terrorism, attitude to rule
the world, “we are Gods own country”)
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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I am one of few Europeans who think
that President Bush did absolutely
right in case of Afghanistan and Iraq.
U.S. changed but not so extreme as
most Europeans think. Inside the
U.S. it is normal as usual; photos
and fingerprints are not as evil as
seen by European media.
Reinhold Wagnleitner: Survey in Lecture History of the US since
World War II (Salzburg, 13 October 2004, 38 students, age 19 – 63)
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My attitude did not change, because
it does not depend on who is the
president. I think that Europe and
the USA have still a lot in common.
Sebastian Münster. “[Die Nüw Welt] Tavola dell’ isole nuove.”
From Cosmographia Universale. Cologne, 1575
America always has meant more
to the rest of the world
than the rest of the world
has meant to America