Dear Emperor Bush

One of the things that really gets up the noses of people living in the other 190 countries is when George W Bush says that America is "the greatest country in the world".

Not because America isn't a great country, but because it is. Because if the head of a really lousy country said it, it would be risible, but when the President of a great country says it, it's arrogant. And because most people in all the other countries, who make up the vast majority on this planet, probably also think their country is the best. I think Australia's the best, even if it isn't, and even though I can't stand a lot of it. It's natural to have love of one's country, but it's not nice to rub other people's noses in it.

Bush should read this article, America by the Numbers, written by one of his fellow Americans. Then we would like him to get off his high horse and maybe stop thinking empire. We don't want it, and I don't believe most Americans want it either.

Just three snippets:

"The United States is 49th in the world in literacy (New York Times, Dec. 12, 2004)."

"The U.S. and South Africa are the only two developed countries in the world that do not provide health care for all their citizens".

The United States is 41st in the world in infant mortality. Cuba scores higher (NYT, Jan. 12, 2005).