Ignorant, Oblivious, or Both ?

According to Mark Hertsgaard in The Oblivious Empire, Americans are oblivious to the countries and governments around us and overall it is our actions overseas in these countries that makes foreigners not only hate America, but mainly the American people. However, I seem to disagree with Mr. Hertsgaard. I believe that Americans are not oblivious, but that they just are flat out ignorant to the core of their soul. I don't believe that we as Americans intentionally try to disregard others needs, or that we intend to be inconsiderate, I just feel that we feel that what ever is best for America is best for everyone else. This misconception is a very common American flaw, but all in all I feel that most Americans mean well. In fact, I believe Mr. Hertsgaard is right about something and that is " the embarrassing truth is that most of us know little about the outside world, and we are particularly ill-informed about what our government is doing in our name overseas" (Hertsgaard 783). So there is no way that we can possibly be blamed for everything our government does. The American people only have so much control over their government and it's actions. The problem isn't just that Americans are ignorant in foreign countries but that we are ignorant in our own country. We even ignore our own people's needs, wants, and feelings. I love America and I myself can be considered ignorant in some ways, but everything has faults. No one ever said America had to be perfect.

The Demand for the "Magic Kingdom"

Hollywood and places like Disney Land which can be referred to as the "Magic Kingdom" are the way the mass media portrays America. I agree with Todd Gitlin that the whole world is "speaking American by wearing jeans, drinking Coca Cola, and eating at the golden arches" (Gitlin 825). In a sense this is transforming other cultures and their values too. I mean it is possible that American culture and necessities are globalized so much that it is universal to find American entertainment, clothes, and food almost anywhere you go. However, it isn't the same for other cultures. If people from other countries say from places such as the Middle Eastern countries, it is going to be very hard for these people to find authentic Muslim entrees, or clothes. I mean think about it. How many malls can someone walk into in America that carry a Hijab (the Arabic term for "cover" or veil for a woman)? Yet, I could go almost anywhere in the world and eat a hamburger and drink Coke, or buy a baseball hat or all types of Western clothing. Globalization is largely based around American culture. Each time something is created in another country, we as Americans utilize it and Americanize the product. We even Americanize food from other countries. We may have Hispanic Food, but that doesn't mean that it is authentic. There is too much demand for American products in my opinion, but not enough demand for foreign products. America is dominate in countless ways across the world through popular culture, through things such as clothes, food, entertainment, and even the "English" language has been Americanized. In a way globalization should be called Americanization.