The mainstream media (MSM) have left the impression in recent months that the U.S. image in South Korea has deteriorated badly. See this Christian Science Monitor article on Yahoo News for recent polling evidence that South Korea is still a solid U.S. ally, that the U.S. presence in South Korea remains popular and that South Koreans still view North Korea as a major threat.
The survey results also contradict the impression of an increasing public tilt toward China. In fact, one of the most striking findings is that the public strongly prefers the US over China.
When asked which of the two countries Korea should maintain close ties with for the sake of its national interest, 20 percent picked China, while an overwhelming 79 percent selected the US.
Those findings don't exactly fit the horrible international picture the MSM is trying to paint. Is it possible to pinpoint the moment when the MSM moved from reporting the actual news to "selling" a world view of the U.S. as a monster.
No sole superpower can be universally popular, neither the Brits nor the Romans were. Nevertheless, as superpowers go, the U.S. has left relatively light (or no) footprints in most parts of the world. We have mostly been what Mark Steyn calls below "a benign hegemon." Wouldn't it be nice if our MSM reported the glass to be half full once in awhile? I, for one, would find that refreshing.
