What does that have to do with us?

I'm not one that really pays much attention when fellow right-wingers complain about anti-americanism that exists beyond our borders or within the far-left groups within our borders. I try to differentiate between legitimate gripes about America's policies, and hatred that's there because somebody needs an object to tear down. But there are times when I have to wonder...

This page was lifted from the BBC website. And what jumped out at me was US this and US that. I'd expect this from an American news outlet not a UK one. Fine... I can accept that because the US is the lone superpower, it is naturally going to pop up more often for newsworthy events but today I was wondering, "Why?"

What really set me off was the article, "US hails Chavez referendum defeat." The United States has nothing to do with the story. The story is about Venezuela. The Venezuelan angle should have been taken. Okay, granted, more info followed in the actual article but there was absolutely no need for quotes from some schmuck in the US State Dept. Why the US? It has bent over backward to keep itself from taking Chavez's bait. If there's any type of story with the US in it, that's it. So why not Spain? Why not China? Why not Brazil?

Comments

Kapitano said…
I'm not sure dragging the US into a Venezealan story constitues being antiamerican - the US wasn't cast in a bad light by the article.

It might just indicate that the BBC regards the American reaction to a Venezualan event as more important than the event itself - which makes a kind of twisted sense, seeing as how the US is the superpower and Venezuela isn't.

Also remember that Chavez's defeat was also reported as a Venezualan event, with only a passing reference to the White House.

Having said all that...yeah, it is a strange way to report what happened.
Wed Dec 05, 08:38:00 PM EST
Sooo-this-is-me said…
Sometimes they do that here as well and I don't understand it, example when we elect a new Prime Minister one reporter will ask the other "what do the Americans say about our new PM?" I always think it does not matter, you only need to know the name of the guy that you will execute when you come to take over our oil fields and steal our fresh water!

Steven
Thu Dec 06, 01:19:00 PM EST
David said…
@kapitano: I think that linking the US to that story is sorta anti-american because it suggests that the two countries really are linked and the US is some sort of adversary when really, it's trying to keep its hands off. Kinda like a wink, wink, nod, nod to the readership.

@steven:I can answer that ques. The answer, is that American's don't... think about your PM. Over half could not tell you who the PM is. Half of those wouldn't even know if Canada had an election. Half of those wouldn't be able to point out Canada on the map. And half of those probably never even heard of it.
Fri Dec 07, 05:04:00 PM EST
Anonymous said…
Strange, yes, but the media tells us that Chavez hates the USA along with her idiotic President (I know you like him sorry!) and that the feeling is mutual. So that's an angle to run with.

I'd like to know what King Juan Carlos of Spain thinks of him/it.

André
Tue Dec 11, 08:16:00 AM EST
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