Sine I began visiting this site, I have noticed that there is now very little American news about Europe.  Or about any foreign affairs in general, unless Rice or Rummy visit somewhere.  Aside from the Middle East, the only time I see our MSM prominently cover an in International story is when there is some awful tragedy, such as a famine or plane crash (and yes, there was a sorry attempt to turn the "No" vote into a tragedy too).  Which only reinforces the belief that we should just be glad we live in America.  (And I have to say, even the BBC World News, which many Americans watch, seems to be slacking off a bit these days...)

It is kinda creepy.  I remember my childhood in the American heartland being filled with news about Russia, Poland, Germany, (then) Czechoslovakia, etc..., Glastnost, Perestroika, the Berlin Wall, buzz about this whole EU thing, and gobs and gobs of Euro-Pop music.  What happened?  When did we become such an isolated, self-centered, Europe-hating country?  

I cannot help but suspect that we are following in the footsteps of so many other awful regimes, not letting our citizens know what is going on in the rest of the world, particularly in Europe, so that they don't realize how bad they have it.  Because that would put a bit of a damper on the myth that we are the Greatest Country in the World.  Sure, the enlightened class, the well-educated and moneyed people living on the coasts and in the cities are well aware of what's happening in Europe.  But the rest of America, those folks who voted for Bush, not only do not know, they don't care.  

Their interest in Europe ends where the US of A came in and saved your asses from the Nazis (this kind of history buff is common throughout America.)  Plus, these folks often do not have the money or vacation time to travel to Europe, do not have the language skills to read your newspapers because foreign language education in America is a very very low priority, do not have the intellectual curiosity to care because intellectual curiosity is scorned here, and lastly, a lot of them do not realize the Cold War is over and they continue to associate unions, universal healthcare, and any kind of social investment or redistribution of wealth as smacking of Communism.

I don't know what we as Americans can do to change this.  That is, I think it will have to get worse before people get upset enough to make some serious changes.  They need to feel like they are being short-changed.  Americans hate that.

That's where you come in.

Make this new "European Dream" a success story.  Despite everything I said above, it is a small world and nothing can stay a secret for long.  Eventually, word will get out.  And eventually middle America will start making demands.  Our sense of entitlement is obscene.  Lead the way, and I bet we will follow.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire