R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Americans take pride in not really worrying about what the world thinks about them. Especially France.

Well, the times they are a changing.

The Pew Center, who does all the best polling, for the first time ever finds a majority of Americans believe it's important that the U.S. has lost respect in the world. The results are quite interesting. In 2004, 43% thought it was a big deal. In 2008, 56% think it matters. Among those who think the U.S. has lost respect in the world, the number of people who see it as a "minor problem" has dropped dramatically, from 23% to 14%. Wow.



Maybe we're thinking a little more internationally after all, or the drumbeats of (especially) Democrats are having an effect on the general public.

Ambrose Bierce said: "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." Perhaps it's also God's way of teaching Americans to worry about how they are perceived overseas. Maybe all we want now is a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Sing it, Aretha!