Sunday,
October 01, 2006
Booklet Hopes to Re Educate 'Ugly American'
-Relief for
The
ANNOTICO Report
The
spread of anti-American sentiment throughout the world is not only a threat to
prospects of commerce, and the enjoyment tourists,
but "The rise in anti-Americanism is a threat to our
national security, along with the threat of being targets for terrorism.
The more people dislike us, the more easily they can be recruited by our
enemies. In this global world, we need all the friends we can get."
Too
many Americans have scarce knowledge of and little regard for the cultures and
norms they venture into.
All
too often, they talk down to their hosts.
"Researchers
asked people what they do like about Americans and what they don't like, and
the positives are what you would expect -- youthful enthusiasm, a can-do
spirit.
"But the negatives were very consistent across all regions. That we were exploiters. That we promote
values that were not in concert with social mores of other countries.
That we were arrogant, ignorant, totally self-absorbed, unwilling to listen and
uninterested in other cultures."
The
By
Joe Burris
Sun Reporter
October 1, 2006
A New Zealand man asked that if we Americans can't learn to shut up and listen
more often, "could you at least lower your volume?"
Reports out of the
These are a sampling of sentiments that Keith Reinhard
gathered from across the world while probing the depth of anti-American
sentiment.
The former international marketing executive is convinced that such perceptions
are widespread and growing.
He worries that such attitudes could usher in behavior that would give
Americans who travel abroad another cause for concern -- along with the threat
of being targets for terrorism.
Problem is, he says, American travelers are often at fault for such sweeping! stereotypes; too many have scarce knowledge of and little
regard for the cultures and norms they venture into. All too often, they talk
down to their hosts.
Reinhard believes he has a way to dispel such
perceptions: He founded the Business for Diplomatic Action, a group of
educators, executives and citizens working to combat the spread of
anti-American sentiment.
Though its primary focus has been business travelers, the BDA recently extended
its efforts to all Americans going abroad with its World Citizens Guide,
booklets and pamphlets that offer a crash course in nations' histories,
religions, views, traditions, peoples and languages.
Reinhard says some folks ask why Americans should be
concerned over such perceptions. He considers the recent alleged terrorist plot
to blow up American jetliners that was thwarted in the
Then he asks why shouldn't we? "The rise in
anti-Americanism is a threat to our national security," he says. "The ! more people dislike us, the
more easily they can be recruited by our enemies. In this global world, we need
all the friends we can get."
Global facts
The World Citizens Guide is colorfully illustrated and includes images of
nations' flags, loads of facts about each country and common sense tips that probably
would benefit any traveler.
The 60-page, passport-sized booklet was created for students who study abroad.
Its success ushered in the pamphlet, an abridged version, for business
travelers.
The booklet, which also includes an interactive mini-CD, includes the 50 most
useful words in Italian, Arabic, French, German, and Spanish.
It suggests that Americans should learn the norms of the countries where they
travel and imitate those norms. Doing so, it says, may prevent someone from
unintentionally sending the wrong message.
For example, it says: "In most European countries, the correct way to wave
hello and goodbye is palm out, ! hand
and arm stationary, fingers wagging up and down. Common American waving hand
moving side to side means no -- except in
The pamphlet begins with an FYI: "In other countries, you are more than
just an American. You are
"The guide really talks about how we might have a more enriching
experience abroad if we are able to open ourselves up and embrace other
cultures more," says Patricia Alvey, a Southern
Methodist University professor who oversaw the creation of the guides.
The guides have been distributed to 300 colleges and universities as well as
more than 20,000 businesspeople in 800 companies.
The Marines use them, and the federal government is considering distributing
the guide with every American passport.
"The latest I heard ... was that the State Department is still
considering! this," Reinhard
says. "They certainly want to include some of our content in some way,
whether it would be handing out these guides or modifications of them."
Alvey says the guides are not intended to relay
all-encompassing information about a particular country.
"We're saying, 'If we could get your attention: Here are some ways we
might be more different than you think,' and 'Here is another way of looking at
travel.'"
Image facelift
Reinhard says such efforts could not come at a better
time. He says
"We asked our researchers to go out and ask people what they do like about
Americans and what they don't like," he says, "and the positives are
what you would expect -- youthful enthusiasm, a can-do spirit.
"But the ne! gatives were very consistent
across all regions. That we were exploiters. That we promote values that were not in concert with social mores
of other countries. That we were arrogant, ignorant, totally
self-absorbed, unwilling to listen and uninterested in other cultures."
Reinhard says that unless Americans address those
perceptions soon, "this is going to go into the realm of prejudice. And
prejudice means that no matter what you do, there is still [prejudgment]
against you."
Reinhard travels throughout the country, spreading
the word about the World Citizens Guides. He's giving reasons why they seem
necessary, telling stories he's received from around the world about American
tourists behaving badly.
During a July 12 speech at the National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in
"Out of frustr! ation, one of the men revealed
that he was a minister," Reinhard said,
"and that he had been looking forward to the trip for a long time. 'I
don't see what the big deal is,' he said. 'If God can accept me wearing shorts,
why can't you? I'm sure God is wearing shorts right now. Just wait until
Judgment Day. You'll pay for this.'"
"Maybe so," Reinhard said, "but they
didn't get into the
Reinhard remembers traveling to
When he visited
"German engineering. Swiss innovation. American nothing."
DaimlerChrysler's South African division said the ad was not meant to sound
anti-American and that it merely spoke of S! outh African's preference for smaller, more
fuel-efficient European cars over huge American gas-guzzlers.
The advertisement was removed after officials from DaimlerChrysler's
"American origin used to be a selling point," he says.
Reinhard says he's had success in convincing
Americans across the country that anti-American sentiment abroad is a concern.
But not everyone's willing to listen.
"I was on a radio show in
Not so, Reinhard says.
"As a parent and grandparent," he says, "I wouldn't want my
children growing up in a world where they can't travel freely about the world
without being harassed."
When
you go abroad
A few tips from the World Citizens Guide:
Show your pride, but respect theirs.
Think as big as you like, but talk and act smaller.
Leave the slang at home.
Listen at least as much as you talk.
Speak lower and slower.
You'll never go wrong with a smile.
For more information, go to worldcitizensguide.org.
The
ANNOTICO Reports
Can
be Viewed, and are Archived at:
Italia
Italia Mia: http://www.ItaliaMia.com
Annotico
Email: annotico@earthlink.net