Today, on a flight from Salt Lake to Denver, I sat within earshot of a guy who is deeply concerned about America's global image. Euopeans, he argued, see Americans as a bunch of pick-up driving cowboys, and that the Muslim world sees us as promiscuous lot. His big idea to remedy our reputation abroad is to make Europeans watch MTV and the Muslim world watch CMT, as if Jersey Shore will make the French and the Swedes think we're classy, and that songs about how "it's five o'clock somewhere" and images of busty blondes in daisy dukes and leather boots will make the Khalifs and Imams see that Americans really do have high moral standards.
I wonder if he's considered the fact that MTV already has European satellite stations, or that Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol and promotes (if not requires, depending on the culture) female modesty.
No, no, my dear friend. It's fools like you with ideas like yours that give our country it's bad reputation.
Cue Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
