Disney put this "Portrait of America" video together for the U.S. State Department to showcase America on television screens in various airports, embassies, and consular offices around the world.
Karen Hughes, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, wrote about the video here.
I really like the video even if it's just a fluffy promotional piece.
I think the video successfully captures a slice of the American people, our natural wonders, and our communities - at least the smiling, happy, glorious aspects of American life.
Today's Scrabble word is pe, the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
It is a slick, pretty video, but I wonder if the world really needs to be shown life in the US from the State Dept. Isn't the planet already completely saturated with images of US life from TV, movies, magazines and commercials?
I'd like to suggest that the State Dept. show this video of Baghdad street life made two weeks before the invasion.
Watching it, I couldn't help but wonder which of the happy people in the video is now the 1 in 6 who is a refugee in another country, and which 1 in 2 has since lost a family member to the war, and which of those happy people are now tortured or dead.
Well, despite Chuckle's sour take on the video I happpened to like it. After all, it's meant to get people enthused about a visit to the U.S. while they're waiting at consulates for a visa, at Customs & Immigration at ports of entry, etc.
What this country really needs to do is actively promote the USA as a destination. I don't know the amount but I know what is spent to advertise the array of good reasons to come here is very low compared to what other countries spend.
The Travel Industry Association is lobbying for an increase in spending for that very purpose. With the U.S. dollar trading at historic lows, it's an excellent time to market the country to foreign visitors. Plus getting more to visit the U.S. helps to create understanding and inform other countries that there is more to the U.S. than the WPE (worst president ever) we're stuck with until January '09.
-- Greg
The terrific Talking Points Memo (which I read daily, and recommend to others) creates daily video compilations. Here's one that addresses Karen Hughes' resignation (she's referenced in Dan's blog item).
It's a short video, but about halfway through they show a bit of the Disney promo video. I think TPM has a similar sour take as I do on its effectiveness.
I agree with promoting tourism, Greg. However, I believe it's going to take more than a marketing video to overcome the world's overwhelming negative opinion of the US. It's going to take ending the Iraq occupation, halting torture, closing the CIA black sites and Guantanamo, and much more.