Stormy Present - I personally want thank you so much for taking the time to write your thoughts down, both here and further above. To me, I think it did come across a little like "why are we bothering to talk about America? b-o-r-i-n-g...", which I also don't think you meant to say (though, I too often have similar feelings...though just not about this article). But dialogue is important, so we all understand each other...and I have found the conversation here really informative.

I do think you have a unique perspective, for one, that you have lived and traveled in Africa extensively, and secondly, that you are currently living in Cairo and working in Beirut. I don't think most of us can fully understand the impact of the experience you may be having in Beirut right now. That the people you are having contact with now are being friendly and gracious is truly amazing. Somehow I can imagine having mixed feelings myself, if I were there...like, "what the hell did we just do??"

For me, as an American-expat living in Europe, who was kindly invited to participate as a volunteer administrator of this Pan-European culture & politics blog we call ET, I have tried...and will continue to try...to do my damnest to write articles & promote diaries that focus primarily on European and International topics over American topics here on ET. Its not about being anti-American, as much as having to do with the fact that there are TONS of American politics blogs already. What we need is more Pan-European blogs. Of course, I am also the guy who often pesters people about writing more diaries (punkt), so beggars can't be choosers so much. I'm glad Americans come here and participate as readers, commenters and writers...but I do hope (and have frequently asked) that we keep the focus on European and the international issues, first and foremost. Occasionally we have to remind people...but in a sensitive way, so they don't get pissed off and leave...but just change the focus away from US topics so much. And for the most part, when this has been brought up, people have responded. Maybe it is just another one of those times...I personally want to see more European diaries, and with all the variety of countries and cultures, there is SO much to write about...we really don't need to focus on US stuff so much. But...we are also continually being bombarded by US politics, economics and culture here too. I mean, I often shake my head at how much the Swiss seem to want to become more like "Americans" (or their picture of Americans), ie, Paris Hilton, fashion, free-market bullshit, corporate hostility towards workers, etc. The Swiss right wing seems to think the Republicans are worth copying. So...I only hope an alternate vision prevails (and in this respect, the dialogue here is important).

Anyway, now I'm rambling...but having myself for the first time in the last year taken trips to Egypt and Eastern Africa, one really gets that it is a big, rather different world out there. Though, perhaps different from your experiences, I have mostly been met with indifference (which I prefer) or with "shh, don't tell too many people you are American", or "you didn't vote for him, did you?". As for gracious Lebanese, I have made a friend here in Switzerland who is from Lebanon...who is an avid watcher of Hesbollah TV. And unfortunately, it appears that network is as full of bullshit as the worst that Fox network in the US comes up with...the things he thinks are true about America and AMericans are obviously propaganda based, that it is maddening. So we don't see each other too much these days...he's too damned conservative and angry...though I suspect, there are many who feel/belive just like him...which as an expat, is quite disturbing.

Anyway...take care of yourself out there TSP...and please keep talking about your experiences, as you add important views!!

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia