The Great American Apology

I would like to take this moment to make a political statement. Naturally, if any of you have actually followed the writing of this blog, you will know that it is full of political statements, personal misgivings, and despair over the bleakness of my own personal future; therefore, my admission to making a political statement should come to be about as surprising as the the horrible start to the football season for the Chicago Bears. Here goes, in no short terms.

I REFUSE TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING AN AMERICAN. Having been in Europe for the past four weeks, I have encountered many people from many different lands, likewise on a European escapade or perhaps as ex-patriots now operating a barber shop in Munich. As soon as I open my mouth, if not before by the way I am dressed, it becomes obvious to everyone that I am a(n) (north) American. This fact has not led to my being treated with any disrespect. People do not hate me because I am from the U.S. They just one thing about me: I come from the country that has George W. Bush.

Go ahead, you neo-conservative apologists. Decry Europe for being a collection of not-so-powerful countries. Stand up and say that Germany and Russia were against the war in Iraq because Saddam had contracts with them. Say what you will about the French (it's probably true), but understand that you exist within the context of the world, and your worldview differs dramatically from that of people who look surprisingly similar to you, but live 4500 miles (that's right, miles, not kilometers) away. One does not need to look beyond the U.S. headlines to find Europe's headlines. A paper in Oslo had the W. vs. Kerry debate on the front page (in a side note, should Kerry win, I recommend that everyone who votes for him receive a share of the Nobel Peace Prize). This morning, in Stockholm, the local station, as well as CNN World, showed the ENTIRE Vice-Presidential debate. Perhaps most damning of all, a group of friendly Germans I met in Bergen asked me if I would be back in the U.S. in time to vote...on November 2nd. They knew the exact date. EVERYONE in Europe knows the EXACT date, and they are dumbfounded that Bush and Kerry are even CLOSE in the polls. Their opinion of Americans must have sunken even lower.

In Munich, I got my haircut by some Iraqi ex-patriots, who, upon realizing that I was an American, asked (while holding scissors, mind you)..>"George Bush?" Fortunately, I was able to give an honest answer, and the haircut was amazing. GEORGE W. BUSH MUST GO. The rest of the citizens of the world await November 2, 2004 with even more anticipation than even the most politically zealous Americans. Spread the word. Don't apologize for being an American. Vote against Bush and let the rest of the world hate the US for what is HAS, not what it HAS DONE (unilaterally and against the UN, of course).