When I sat down recently to chat with a reporter from a Finnish radio station, she asked a question that struck me: "While many Europeans see this election as a chance for the U.S. to repair its image abroad, do you think Americans regard it in the same fashion?" I was a bit stumped, because while I had my own answer, I realized I couldn't speak on behalf of all Americans because I simply didn't know enough of my fellow citizens' opinions on the manner. So, with a nod to Sini Vartanen of the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation, I thought I might co-opt her question for this, my second-to-last regular assignment (not counting Election Day) for MTV's Choose or Lose program.  

Lea Palmieri, a 23-year-old Brooklynite, told me, "I think we are viewed as one of the most powerful countries, but people need to be reminded that we can and will use our powers for good."

"Why do people need to be reminded of that?" I asked. 

"I don't think we've done a whole lot that other countries are pleased with," Lea said. "I've heard so many stories of people in other countries being really excited about Obama. While I believe both candidates are qualified, I think it will restore some hope for the US in the eyes of other countries to have Obama in office."

Meredith Modzelewski, 25, also of Brooklyn, said, "Well, it seems the Bush Administration has done everything in its power to make everyone else hate us, except the republic of Georgia, that is. They love us, and some parts of Africa are pretty psyched, but otherwise, we are much reviled. In some ways I think people are just very, very disappointed, which can be worse than hate or disgust or contempt. I think we have a great opportunity to make a giant step toward improving that image and it's clear that the rest of the world loves Obama as much as 50-some percent of us do." 

I asked Meredith why she thought that, as she put it, "everyone else" had a very low opinion of the United States.

She responded that she thought "the war in Iraq that was built on falsities, and the way in which we behaved toward UN member countries who had the audacity to have a differing opinion from us" took part of the blame. In addition, she named "the holding of prisoners without arrest or charge, and normalizing torture of them, at Guantanamo and the other secret prisons across the globe." Finally, she said she felt that the power of the evangelical movement and its impact on politics might not make sense to Europeans, who are generally more secular. 

Pat Stango, 26, also of Brooklyn, said, "You know, I don't think the rest of the world wholly hates the US as much as liberals would lead you to believe, and I don't think that negative foreign opinion should be disregarded as much as conservatives always say . . . our image is going to be defined by how we handle the energy crisis, the economy, Iran and Pakistan, etc. I think Barack has a great chance of handling those issues really well and restoring relations with the rest of the world. But hey, if McCain wins I think he'd at least do a better job at that than Bush did . . . so as far as the next president, I think the rest of the world is just praying we get it right."