We’re Number One!*

*the number one nation that the world considers the greatest threat to peace, that is.

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In an annual global survey reaching 67,806 respondents across 68 countries, conducted by the Worldwide Independent Network and Gallup at the end of 2013, citizens were asked “Which country do you think is the greatest threat to peace in the world today?”. The U.S. topped the list, with 24 percent believing America to be the biggest danger to peace.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. was rated most highly in areas recently targeted for American intervention: the Middle East and North Africa. A majority in Peru, Brazil and Argentina expressed concern about the U.S., which was also flagged as the greatest threat by 32% in Eastern Europe, 37% in Mexico,  17% of Canadians, and 13% of U.S. citizens.

Being a threat apparently doesn’t make America any less desirable as a place to live, as it was still voted as the country that people would most like to move to by a narrow margin of 9%. This doesn’t necessarily mean America is the “best” place to live, but being the biggest threat does give it certain privileges, such as having the most concentrated wealth, being the largest consumer, having the power to dominate and exploit resources of other nations and bomb/embargo those who don’t cooperate, etc.

Belated Dose of Patriotism

Because I tuned out all corporate media yesterday I completely forgot about showing my quota of patriotism (now a required and integral part of annual 9/11 observances).

To make up for that, here’s possibly the most patriotic music video ever made:

In case that expression of patriotism was too unsubtle, here’s something a little more abstract (hint: think of Frank Pacholski as a personification of U.S. political leadership):