Changing Opinions on America

Reflecting on a memory from the 1980s, I recall reading an article in a French publication that discussed the American border patrol’s practices at the Mexican border. The reporter, with an air of approval, noted that police dogs were not employed, citing a commitment to a certain conception of human rights. Despite my efforts, I have yet to identify that article.

This memory leads to a larger observation: for many years, critics of American ideals and lifestyle—those who might even label themselves as anti-American—held a significant degree of respect and admiration for the nation and its foundational principles. There was a palpable undercurrent of regret among some for not being American.

However, there has been a notable shift in sentiment. A stark example lies in the recent incident involving South Korean workers at an LG-Hyundai facility in Georgia. Following a police raid, these workers—who were simply pursuing their jobs—were shackled and detained for an entire week before being allowed to return home. A report from the Wall Street Journal highlights the emotional distress this incident caused. One wife expressed her devastation:

“I was heartbroken to hear my husband was in shackles. Treating him like a felon—it made me so angry.”

Ultimately, her husband was among 330 workers who flew back to South Korea thanks to a government-chartered flight. Upon his return, she poignantly declared:

“I don’t want him to go back there.”

“There” refers to the United States. In what can be termed a damning indictment, a report from the Financial Times elaborates further: during their flight delay, former President Trump made a last-minute proposal for the workers to stay in the U.S., but only one chose to remain, with many vowing never to return. South Korean officials acknowledged that while companies may have misused visas for their workers, the U.S. government had left them with “an impossible position” regarding temporary work visas needed for their projects.

Another worker remarked, “We should have followed the rules properly,” but he added, “I don’t want to go back to the US.”

In a recent discovery, I found a list on a foreign university’s website indicating countries with elevated cybersecurity risks. This list, interestingly, ranked the United States as the top contender, followed by countries like China and Russia. This classification indicates a prevalent cultural shift. It raises concerns about America’s overall international perception; in light of recent border practices, perhaps this isn’t a matter to be dismissed lightly.

We live in dangerous times, and those who cherish America should take these trends seriously.

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* This notation brings to light concepts from my past readings, including Georges Suffert’s influential 1984 book, Les nouveaux cow-boys. Essai sur l’anti-américanisme primaire (The New Cowboys: Essay on Crude Anti-Americanism), which discussed the complexities of anti-American sentiments in France. Observing the state of affairs in both France and America today suggests we might well inhabit a different geopolitical landscape.

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