Everyone Wants to Come to America

I have been told this several times since arriving in Uganda.  I have heard it before but this time I had an interesting discussion about it.  First off, a good number of Americans mistakenly believe that people in other countries wish to come to the USA to change it.  That is complete rubbish, they do not.  You could argue the point with me but bear in mind I have been to over 27 countries and spoken to countless folks who admire the USA.  So, unless you have similar experience, to counter my observation, just accept that I am right on this point and you are wrong.

I was having a conversation the other night with a local.  she pointed out that everyone wants to come to the USA.  It is heavily driven by media, by film, by news, the net... all things point to the USA as a bastion of personal freedom on a level not seen elsewhere.  But now there is a new wrinkle in play.  Most Americans don't fully appreciate the role the USA plays as a global leader.  I am not talking diplomatically or militarily, but culturally, politically and economically.

Other countries try to rally their populations around new policies that will help them be more like the USA.  They see that USA as stable, and despite our issues, as less corrupt.  A role model.  But this is not set in stone.  There is concern from as far away as East Africa that the recklessness and lack of consistency displayed by the current administration does not bode well.  When the top leadership of the USA presents itself as accepting of greed and happy with inconsistency that attitude bleeds over to other countries as well.  On one hand it lowers the global opinion of the USA but more importantly it lowers expectations across the globe in many, many countries. 

We can proceed as we have for most of our history and lead toward the promise of the American Dream.  It is a dream held far and wide by folks across the planet.  Or we can allow inconsistency and ignorance, a hostility toward science and an acceptance of corruption to lead the world ever closer to the abyss. 

Here is a thought for you... should everything end badly as a result of the current administration it will ripple across the planet.  As life gets worse for humanity all citizens of the USA will own a piece of the responsibility.  Personally, it is not a karmic debt I want to hold!