US State Dept. promoting fear in ex-pats instead of encouraging dialogue
August 3rd, 2009 by Wil Robinson
Foolishly, for years I assumed “globalization” meant the spread of ideas, commerce, communication, and interaction between people around the world. I thought the shared experience of movies, fashion, and eventually language could overcome cultural and religious differences. I believed that it signaled a new era for mankind – that people would have friends in different countries – and, over time, could create a brotherhood to replace the arrogant nationalism that had caused so much violence in the 20th century.
But over time, it became apparent that globalization was just a euphemism for American economic imperialism.
We weren’t interested in exchange – we only wanted to open up markets. We didn’t care about sharing ideas – we simply wanted to export our capitalist-driven democracy. And at an individual level, we weren’t concerned with human relationships that could bridge cultural divides – we would rather remain ignorant of others who don’t look, talk, or think like us.
If you need proof, consider the role that the U.S. State Department now plays – a government office whose sole purpose is to improve America’s relationship with the world. They actually seem to be discouraging Americans going abroad (unless it’s a European/white/Christian destination).
Every six months, the U.S. State Dept. sends a mass email to ex-pats living abroad (the only communication that I, living in Mumbai, receive from them). Since ex-pats are not subjected to U.S. television and the unbelievable fear-mongering that has twisted America’s view of the world, I think the email is only sent to make sure we cannot escape it.
“The Department of State has issued this Worldwide Caution to update information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against American citizens and interests throughout the world…Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning.”
Glad they cleared that up. Because I hate it when rioters don’t Twitter first before they burn some American flags or hang a president in effigy.
“Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.”
That’s pretty much everywhere…except for the U.S. So al Qaeda isn’t interested in attacking Americans in the U.S. “homeland” anymore? Someone might want to tell the Republicans and Security Moms.
“Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests.”
Extremists may also choose either paper or plastic when at the supermarket check-out, sit in smoking or non-smoking sections, and drive manual or automatic transmission vehicles…
“Examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays. Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems.”
But holing yourself up in your house and duct-taping the windows and doors is a safe bet.
“[Terrorists’] actions may include, but are not limited to, vehicle-born explosives, improvised explosive devices, assassinations, carjacking, rocket attacks, assaults or kidnappings.”
They also might ring your doorbell in the middle of the night and then run away and hide in the bushes.
And under the “Middle East” section:
“[T]errorists may target movie theaters, liquor stores, bars, casinos, or any similar type of establishment…Americans should be particularly vigilant when visiting these establishments.”
I would think it’s common sense to not frequent “liquor stores, bars, and casinos” in countries where alcohol and gambling are illegal…but the State Deptartment just reminds us to “be vigilant when visiting these establishments.” Is our government encouraging us to break laws in other countries?
So what actual advice – instead of mere fear-mongering – does our government give ex-pats living abroad?
“[R]egister with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate…to obtain updated information…By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.”
Why? So I can get more helpful fear-updates every six months like this? Because they sure didn’t do a damn thing for me last November when terrorists attacked the city.
So what concrete steps can our government provide?
For starters, they can help move the visa process along so that I don’t have to bribe the immigration bureaucrat and be stuck in India without a valid visa for two months. They can provide Americans access to basic medical facilities, such as vaccinations and medicine not always available in all countries.
But what we really need from the American State Department is for them to embrace globalization in all its aspects. We need more Americans – not less – visiting, living, and working abroad, especially in the Middle East, Africa, and Central/South Asia. We need the people of India, Pakistan, and Yemen to see more than corporate logos for our fast food and billboard advertisements for our designer clothes. We need real human faces – which will create real human relationships.
Yet, ironically, globalization has created more obstacles to human communication.
Immigration throughout the world has never had stricter controls. We no longer welcome those “tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” The hospitality is reciprocal and many countries make it equally difficult for Americans to live and work in their nations.
After spending 30 years trying to tear down one wall in Berlin, we have convinced ourselves of the necessity to build two more – in Palestine and on the U.S.-Mexican border. Some Americans working in non-European countries build their own walls, living in gated compounds and isolated from the local population. They ride in chauffeured minivans the short 400 yards to their office (I mean, it’s Mumbai – it’s not Baghdad…).
YouTube and the Internet have allowed right-wing extremists to spread their lies, and our ever-shortening attention span means a 30-second propaganda video influences our thinking more than the historical reality. We are happy to believe that we are at war with a religion we don’t understand, yet unwilling to listen to anyone offering dialogue. The media feeds our voyeuristic appetite for the “other,” and real stories about the shared experience of humans are eschewed in favor of fetish pieces about women wearing the burqa.
Our State Department, whose sole charge has always been to improve international relations, now can only find time to issue blanket warnings that instill fear and discourage interactions between people. The U.S. government seems to be saying that while the rest of the (non-Christian, non-white) world is safe for our McDonald’s, Exxon-Mobils, and Halliburtons, it’s not safe for actual American people.
How secure can any future be when much of the world only knows our drive for profit under the guise of “globalization” and not our true humanity?
Tags: fear mongering, ex-pats, India, imperialism, economics
Wil, I think I am going to come out and defend the State Department on this one.
Lets start at the top. The State Department has several roles beyond the one you name. While Public diplomacy is an integral part of the State Department’s job, State works on much more than improving American relations with foreign publics. Among other things, State is charged with coordinating bilateral or international meetings of U.S. agencies with their foreign counterparts, visits overseas of U.S. officials, making and sustaining contacts within foreign governments, facilitating the formation of treaties and other transnational agreements, monitoring and implementing foreign aid or assistance programs, assisting U.S. businesses and citizens in foreign market places, assisting U.S. citizens in foreign courts of law, coordinating exchange programs, managing immigration and emigration, as well providing visas or passports, and protecting American citizens abroad.
So really, State is doing quite a bit more than you credit them for, and most of that on a shoe string budget.
You complain about State’s “fear-mongering.” Such complaints seem silly once you realize why State sends out e-mails like this. As noted, it is State’s responsibility to protect American citizens abroad. This means that every time a hotel in Jakarta or Mumbai is attacked, every time an American citizen dies in foreign environs, State is held accountable. It is State that has to answer all the Moms and Pops back home who ask why their kids were in a place that is not always friendly to white folks.
Thus State sends out these annoying little e-mails. Was State trying to discourage you from going to a non-Christianized, non-European place in the third world? Heavens no. The amount of money State spends each year on exchange programs is enough to convince me that the idea is absurd. No, the meaning of the e-mail is clear. By sending you this notice, State is simply saying, “We warned you – if you end up dead because you were spending your time in a Saudi bar, it is not our fault. Responsibility for your safety lies solely with you.”
And do you know what the sad thing is? Most Americans need to be told this.
T Greer–
All of the tasks you listed that the State Dept falls under “improving international relations.” Every single one of those tasks can be improved, enhanced, or enabled by increased communication between Americans and people in other countries, on all levels.
And as for the money the State dept spend on exchange - that’s spend on bring “them” to America - very little is spent encouraging American emigration abroad. In fact, it’s discouraged.
I have encountered American embassies abroad and not received one bit of help. I assume if I lose my passport, they will help with that, but when it came to assisting me in the paperwork for foreign visas, they wanted no part of it. Wouldn’t even answer a basic question about the laws.
Half the time I do have to call a consulate abroad, they fail to answer the phone. And that’s during business hours. Heaven forbid I’m in an actual emergency late at night.
And what’s wrong with prohibiting Americans from visiting alcohol bars in countries that outlaw alcohol? Instead, they actually encourage it. In Kabul and Pakistan, there are bars that cater to American ex-pats working abroad. All it takes is one order from the State Dept. to forbid any employees from going to these places - but instead, they promote it and then when the place is bombed, the media quickly omits the fact that the place was serving alcohol illegally in the first place.
Yes, Americans need to understand that “if they end up dead because they were spending time in a Saudi bar, it’s their own fault.”
But the e-mail didn’t say that. The email simply listed as many possible attacks on Americans (dating back to 2004 - even though it said it was updated) and telling us every possible way a terrorist could try to kill us.
There are so many constructive things the State Dept could be doing instead - and so much more constructive dialogue it could be having with our own American citizens abroad to improve relations.
But this lousy e-mail is all I get.
That and a “I can’t help you” when I actually ask a question that doesn’t entail issuing a new passport.
And when I say “promote” going to illegal bars, I mean “they have a photocopied list they distribute to people listing the names and addresses of all the places that illegally serve alcohol like it’s the yellow pages.”
Well Wil, at least you haven’t lost your sense of humor about it. Thanks for the chuckle anyway