Some of these things we would not have heard a few years ago and that they are being said are an indication of just how far we have fallen recently as the world turns to embrace China as their new leader. What's worse the United States seems to have become decidedly un-cool. That’s the cruelest cut of all.
-Am
China or the United States?
Still largely confined to the academic domain, discussions on the future direction of Korea's diplomacy seem to show a split in the intellectual field into two groups, one looking up to China and the other remaining focused on the United States.
Debaters are apparently stimulated by the result of a recent poll of the new members of the National Assembly, which revealed that 55 percent favor closer relations with China rather than the United States. A "Northeast Asia group," in consonance with the majority of the political rookies, argues that Korea should value China's future role in the region and that the nation's foreign policy should be designed on the basis of friendship with this giant neighbor.
They call themselves the "independent" or "nationalist" school in contrast to the "(U.S.) alliance-oriented" or "internationalist" group. The latter calls for utilizing the "imperial" role of the United States in the 21st century as it will remain the world's only superpower willing, and capable of, resolving global problems.
The former group is reluctant to recognize the U.S. power, citing its present struggles in Iraq and inability to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. They point to the current positive efforts of China to promote the multilateral process to tackle the North Korean nuclear question. They insist that Korea should appreciate Beijing's leadership role in the region and formulate a continent-oriented foreign policy in place of the long-standing maritime relationship with the U.S.
Future-oriented academic searches for the direction foreign relations should take are justified, but we are afraid the debate is also an extension, or a reflection, of the anti-Americanism rising in certain segments of our society.
Already we have witnessed its shadow in the recent friction between the "internationalist" Foreign Ministry and the "nationalist" staff of the presidential National Security Council over the value of the alliance with the United States.
At this point we suggest everyone ask themselves if we will really do have to make a choice between the two supposed alternatives. The discussion is premature and unnecessary.
WASHINGTON, April 16 (UPI) -- Viola Tasch spent a year working as an au pair in New Jersey, polishing her English before returning to Germany to study English and American Studies at the University of Potsdam.
Tasch stayed connected with the United States after her stay, working for an organization that lines up U.S. au pair positions for Germans.
When she decided to study abroad, however, Tasch didn't go back to the United States. Instead she is studying English-language literature -- in English -- in Budapest, Hungary.
Tasch is not alone in her decision. German students, who have long competed for coveted spots at U.S. universities, are turning to other options at an unprecedented rate.
A report issued by the Institute of International Education shows the number of German students in the United States fell 8 percent from 2001 to 2003.
That decrease breaks a steady climb in German academic exchanges reaching back to the 1970s.
The 8 percent drop in German students is modest in comparison with the decreases of students from some other countries -- a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education said applications to U.S. universities from China are down 76 percent -- but German students have their own set of reasons for not coming to the United States and their decisions have different implications than those of students from some other countries.
Every lost international student hurts universities financially and gives the United States one chance fewer to make a positive impression, but German students' decision not to consume U.S. education may be an especially ominous one for those who export other aspects of American culture.
The first reason usually cited for the decrease in foreign students in the United States is the increased difficulty encountered by students seeking to obtain visas post Sept. 11, 2001.
Christina Meyer, who is spending the year studying at Columbia University in New York City on a German government DAAD fellowship, said her visa took weeks longer to be approved than it should have, even though she traveled to deliver her application personally in Frankfurt.
"It was kind of hard and annoying because it took such along time to get (the visa)," Meyer said.
She added, however, that she did not know anyone who had been kept out of the United States by a failed or delayed visa application. In fact, none of the German students interviewed by United Press International had heard of a German student being denied a U.S. visa.
Bureau of Consular Affairs Spokeswoman Kelly Shannon told UPI most visa delays only affected applicants who came from countries identified as state sponsors of terrorism or who wanted to study fields related to security.
Shannon added that visas are now being awarded at the regular rate.
A further factor in the overall decrease in foreign students to the United States is increased competition from foreign universities.
The American International Education Foundation reports that Britain, Australia and Canada are heading the push to attract students who might otherwise study in the United States. Some countries have special recruitment policies to streamline the visa application process for potential foreign students; other programs encourage international university applicants.
Recent statistics on German foreign study destinations are not available, but anecdotal evidence indicates Eastern Europe provides additional strong competition for many German students.
Tasch said small, high-quality classes, good public transportation, an interesting international student body and cheap living sold her on the idea of heading east to study.
Several students told UPI Eastern Europe is a more interesting destination than the United States because it is less like Germany and travel was restricted there (for West Germans) for such a long time.
Tasch added, "The political situation didn't exactly make the USA more attractive."
Overwhelmingly opposed to the war in Iraq, U.S. environmental policies, and what they see as a general political arrogance, many German students say they are simply not tempted to get closer to the United States.
"It's difficult to take the United States seriously," said Anna Schreiber, a student in Berlin who studied abroad in Moscow. "I guess people just don't really want to go there."
Schreiber, who grew up in the former East Germany, said many of her older friends resent the Russian they were forced to learn in school, but she finds the language fascinating and welcomes the chance to learn more about Russian culture.
Russian classes are also easier to get into at German universities than English classes, Schreiber said.
She added, however, that even if she were studying English, she would rather study in Britain, Ireland, Australia or even in an English-language program in Poland than come to the United States.
For many German students, the United States seems to have become decidedly un-cool.
In the past, German students, raised on U.S. movies and pop music, have prized study in the United States for the educational opportunities -- and the youth-cultural cache.
Although it is impossible to prove, it seems a reduction in the United States' pop culture desirability may be helping to drive the decrease in German foreign students -- a development that can only have negative implications for those looking to sell U.S. intellectual property abroad.
It is certainly not impossible U.S. universities and colleges are feeling the sting of a European sentiment that will eventually strike U.S. intellectual and cultural exporters of all stripes.
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