Perception

Last week I noticed a news item on the BBC website. It referred to comments made by John Gray, a retired professor of political philosophy at the London School of Economics. He suggested that American geo-political eminence in the world, which it has enjoyed since the second world war, was now ended, because "The American free- market creed has self-destructed while countries that retained overall control of markets has been vindicated".

The former American ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, was asked for his comments. part of which follows:
"If Professor Gray believes this, can he assure us that he is selling his U.S. assets short? If so, where is he placing his money instead? And if he has no U.S.assets, why should we be paying any attention to him."

It is the last sentence which caught my attention. Unfortunately, I think there are a great number of people outside of the United States who would think that Ambassador Bolton's comment implies a lack of interest in the opinions, and concerns, of other than Americans. I do not believe this attitude is typical of ordinary Americans, but the rhetoric of powerful, public people, such as the ambassador, is the voice the world has heard over the past few years.