If We're so Messed Up, Why are they Copying from our Paper?
Filed under: International Institutions
The New York Times reports that despite its alleged contempt for American attitudes and values, and its repeated claims that America is in decline, the world is falling all over itself to have us provide its education:
When John Sexton, the president of New York University, first met Omar Saif Ghobash, an investor trying to entice him to open a branch campus in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sexton was not sure what to make of the proposal -- so he asked for a $50 million gift. "It's like earnest money: if you're a $50 million donor, I'll take you seriously," Mr. Sexton said. "It's a way to test their bona fides." In the end, the money materialized from the government of Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates. The demand from overseas is huge. At the University of Washington, the administrator in charge of overseas programs said she received about a proposal a week. "It's almost like spam," said the official, Susan Jeffords, whose position as vice provost for global affairs was created just two years ago.
From business to engineering to computers, from China to the Middle East, the world says one thing and does another. It says it hates America, then it wears our blue jeans. It says it doesn't respect America, then it begs our teachers to come and shine their light. It applauds terrorist attacks, then it shudders when American purchases tail off and local economies head south.
When will they ever learn?
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