Voice of America' Director Says Unclear Goals Limit U.S. Appeal

The main difficulty in transmitting the American image lies in the fact our goals are undefinable in specific terms, Henry Loomis '41, director of Voice of America, declared last night in the second 20th Century Week panel discussion.

Speaking on the topic, "Transmitting the U.S. Image," Loomis noted that the underdeveloped countries of the world are seeking a system which will produce specific goals. These countries, he said, can look at the progress China has made Communism and see the rapid strides toward material ends which they themselves are seeking.

The American appeal to these people is limited by our lack of such specific goals. The goal of democracy, Loomis suggested, is individuality. Thus by definition we can have no specific national goal. This fact, he asserted, "places the United States at an extreme disadvantage in appealing to a country which wants immediate goals for rapid progress."

Harold Isaacs, lecturer on Political Science at MIT, suggested another difficulty in communicating a true American image to the world. The U.S. he said, emerged from World War II in a position of great power. Many nations expected us to transmit freedom throughout the world overnight. While this was an extremely unrealistic expectation, Isaacs noted, the failure of the U.S. to make any significant improvements shattered the image of the United States as a miraculous nation that could accomplish anything.

Must Define Image

Our task now, Isaacs declared, is a "realistic definition of the American image, not merely an alteration of our ideals to meet another's forms." If the United States were itself clear about its image, he maintained, people would not question it. "Certainly we are going to flounder around," he asserted, "if we are so insecure in our image of ourselves that we have to ask others what it is."

Disagreeing with Isaacs, George Pettingill, director of the International Student Association in Cambridge declared, "We must listen to what other nations desire in us. We cannot talk to ourselves alone." One of the basic problems in transmitting our image, he declared, is that we are too self-assured in our opinions. We seldom bother to see our actions through the eyes of the rest of the world.

Added Problem

Americans have an added problem in defending their ideals to the rest of the world, Pettingill maintained, because of racial and cultural ties with Europe. New nations expect a positive stand against colonialism. Our political ties with their former colonial rulers blur the line between the United States and France. The African nations feel that we must add to our praises of freedom a strong concrete stand for Algerian independence. In their eyes, he declared, the United States must "take the blame for the actions of Europe if we do not take an anti-European stand."

The American appeal to these people is limited by our lack of such specific goals. The goal of democracy, Loomis suggested, is individuality. Thus by definition we can have no specific national goal. This fact, he asserted, "places the United States at an extreme disadvantage in appealing to a country which wants immediate goals for rapid progress."

Harold Isaacs, lecturer on Political Science at MIT, suggested another difficulty in communicating a true American image to the world. The U.S. he said, emerged from World War II in a position of great power. Many nations expected us to transmit freedom throughout the world overnight. While this was an extremely unrealistic expectation, Isaacs noted, the failure of the U.S. to make any significant improvements shattered the image of the United States as a miraculous nation that could accomplish anything.

Must Define Image

Our task now, Isaacs declared, is a "realistic definition of the American image, not merely an alteration of our ideals to meet another's forms." If the United States were itself clear about its image, he maintained, people would not question it. "Certainly we are going to flounder around," he asserted, "if we are so insecure in our image of ourselves that we have to ask others what it is."

Disagreeing with Isaacs, George Pettingill, director of the International Student Association in Cambridge declared, "We must listen to what other nations desire in us. We cannot talk to ourselves alone." One of the basic problems in transmitting our image, he declared, is that we are too self-assured in our opinions. We seldom bother to see our actions through the eyes of the rest of the world.

Added Problem

Americans have an added problem in defending their ideals to the rest of the world, Pettingill maintained, because of racial and cultural ties with Europe. New nations expect a positive stand against colonialism. Our political ties with their former colonial rulers blur the line between the United States and France. The African nations feel that we must add to our praises of freedom a strong concrete stand for Algerian independence. In their eyes, he declared, the United States must "take the blame for the actions of Europe if we do not take an anti-European stand."