Not All Americans Are "Ugly"!

Not All Americans Are "Ugly"!

by Erick San Juan

Amidst the growing military tensions in different parts of the globe, especially in this continent, the largest in the world, it is good to hear that the Filipinos are not alone in criticizing some foreign policies of the US . I am referring to the news item – America seen as “arrogant, uncaring,” says US top brass (PDI August 29, 2009) “The Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has written a searing critique of government efforts at ‘strategic communication’ with the Muslim world, saying that no amount of public relations will establish credibility if American behavior overseas is perceived as arrogant, uncaring or insulting. The critique by the chair, Adm. Mike Mullen, comes as the United States is widely believed to be losing ground in the war of ideas against extremist Islamist ideology.”

It is imperative to understand that not all Americans are "arrogant and uncaring” as described by Adm. Mullen, for he, a man with conscience, took the signal that the US must change its foreign policy as not to be perceived as what he described in dealing with the extremist Islamist ideology. As an ally in the “war on terror” and the decades-long fight for peace in the south, different administrations always turn to the Americans for assistance and as a result our nation is divided, like the burning issue on the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).

As a sovereign nation, we have to gather our act together and specify to our friend, the American government, the need for more transparency on their part in dealing with the problem we have with the secessionist groups in the south. So as not to raise speculations that we are being led to a war that we ourselves will regret in the end. As what Billy Esposo kept reminding us that our country could be the “ground zero” for the future unrestricted war.