I don't know. I guess it is easier to see how poor leadership can cause damage to our reputation rather than how good leadership can enhance it.
(In the following all references to the masculine refer also to the feminine.)
I am hoping, perhaps forlornly, that we might get a leader (or a whole bunch of them) one day who exemplifies all that is good about Americans, and that as he strides the world stage the people of other countries would see him as a model of how we are, or would at least like to be. I think this man would need to be highly charismatic, intelligent, educated, worldly, sophisticated, humorous, sexy, and charming - not much chance of someone like that making it through our Presidential elections. This is getting depressing!
I don't think our leader needs to be a deeply religious person but he must embody the Christian values that are still dominant in the USA, while at the same time respecting the religions of other citizens and countries. The leader must understand the history and politics of Islam in particular and be able to make up his own mind about what is right there, and be able to articulate it to Americans and the world. We need an honest broker who has a sense of humour and can defuse tense moments with some light relief.
Our national chief executive will not have much international cred unless he can manage our finances properly. Indeed, he must be able to steer us out of the financial mess we are in now. Great personal wealth should not be a requirement, but it is now for the President and we need to do something about that.
I think we need to be seen to have turned the page on a difficult era that we handled with a firmness that we don't need to apologise for, but do not wish to maintain any longer than is absolutely necessary. As victims of the war on terror we gained enormous support immediately after 911 but in my opinion we squandered that capital by applying it to Iraq for a poor return - for us at least because I am not discounting its value to the good Iraquis.
Something like this kind of leadership change has happened in Australia where a tired, backward looking divisive leader (John Howard) was replaced last November by a new face (Kevin Rudd) who immediately changed the direction of many former government policies (notably on industrial relations aboriginies and environment) with the intention of restoring fairness, equity and responsibility. Krud, as the Aussies affectionately call him, has seen his popularity sky rocket and many Australians who were ashamed for the previous small minded policies on immigration, the native people, and Kyoto are now proud again.
America has been extremely generous with its tax-payer dollars in providing assistance to other countries, but this does not seem to be enough to improve our image. In fact, some claim that it is partly the cause of the problem. I don't see how that could be true, but perhaps it indicates that we need to sell this aid better - I mean have coordinated PR but be modest about it and try not to use it to serve our own interests. Charity is a delicate matter.
Personally, I think it would help if the USA participated more cooperatively and enthusiastically in the UN and all its organisations instead of being so judgemental. We have to ensure that its funds are well managed, but I suspect that can be assisted by greater participation in the financial management councils. It amazes me how often the USA stands against the world on multilateral agreements. Our case is always so different from the rest of the world that we can't let the same rules apply to us. The Kyoto agreement was not a UN deal, but it illustrates the point. We must keep better control over the industry expert advisors in our delegations to these multilateral meetings. Too often they lobby selfishly in their own interests and against ours and the world's.
The ugly American tourist is changing and hopefully will fade away as time goes on. We could facilitate this with a fun education program in schools about how to behave in another country. As European and Asian standards of living improve they are getting their quota of fat, loud, angry tourists as well.
I don't really think our soldiers have much to apologise for. If they look smarter and have more self confidence, then that is how it should be. They are already given some training in how not to upset the locals. Perhaps that could be refined a little.
I think it is doable and worth doing, but it won't be easy.
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What is the face of this "good leadership
I don't know. I guess it is easier to see how poor leadership can cause damage to our reputation rather than how good leadership can enhance it.
(In the following all references to the masculine refer also to the feminine.)
I am hoping, perhaps forlornly, that we might get a leader (or a whole bunch of them) one day who exemplifies all that is good about Americans, and that as he strides the world stage the people of other countries would see him as a model of how we are, or would at least like to be. I think this man would need to be highly charismatic, intelligent, educated, worldly, sophisticated, humorous, sexy, and charming - not much chance of someone like that making it through our Presidential elections. This is getting depressing!
I don't think our leader needs to be a deeply religious person but he must embody the Christian values that are still dominant in the USA, while at the same time respecting the religions of other citizens and countries. The leader must understand the history and politics of Islam in particular and be able to make up his own mind about what is right there, and be able to articulate it to Americans and the world. We need an honest broker who has a sense of humour and can defuse tense moments with some light relief.
Our national chief executive will not have much international cred unless he can manage our finances properly. Indeed, he must be able to steer us out of the financial mess we are in now. Great personal wealth should not be a requirement, but it is now for the President and we need to do something about that.
I think we need to be seen to have turned the page on a difficult era that we handled with a firmness that we don't need to apologise for, but do not wish to maintain any longer than is absolutely necessary. As victims of the war on terror we gained enormous support immediately after 911 but in my opinion we squandered that capital by applying it to Iraq for a poor return - for us at least because I am not discounting its value to the good Iraquis.
Something like this kind of leadership change has happened in Australia where a tired, backward looking divisive leader (John Howard) was replaced last November by a new face (Kevin Rudd) who immediately changed the direction of many former government policies (notably on industrial relations aboriginies and environment) with the intention of restoring fairness, equity and responsibility. Krud, as the Aussies affectionately call him, has seen his popularity sky rocket and many Australians who were ashamed for the previous small minded policies on immigration, the native people, and Kyoto are now proud again.
America has been extremely generous with its tax-payer dollars in providing assistance to other countries, but this does not seem to be enough to improve our image. In fact, some claim that it is partly the cause of the problem. I don't see how that could be true, but perhaps it indicates that we need to sell this aid better - I mean have coordinated PR but be modest about it and try not to use it to serve our own interests. Charity is a delicate matter.
Personally, I think it would help if the USA participated more cooperatively and enthusiastically in the UN and all its organisations instead of being so judgemental. We have to ensure that its funds are well managed, but I suspect that can be assisted by greater participation in the financial management councils. It amazes me how often the USA stands against the world on multilateral agreements. Our case is always so different from the rest of the world that we can't let the same rules apply to us. The Kyoto agreement was not a UN deal, but it illustrates the point. We must keep better control over the industry expert advisors in our delegations to these multilateral meetings. Too often they lobby selfishly in their own interests and against ours and the world's.
The ugly American tourist is changing and hopefully will fade away as time goes on. We could facilitate this with a fun education program in schools about how to behave in another country. As European and Asian standards of living improve they are getting their quota of fat, loud, angry tourists as well.
I don't really think our soldiers have much to apologise for. If they look smarter and have more self confidence, then that is how it should be. They are already given some training in how not to upset the locals. Perhaps that could be refined a little.
I think it is doable and worth doing, but it won't be easy.
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