Experts Discuss Global Perception of US Following 9/11, War on Terror; Virtue Foundation Hosts Symposium Exploring Meaning behind Events Leading to 9/11, Lessons Learned

9/9/2003

From: Sally Gifford, 202-557-0823, for the Virtue Foundation

NEW YORK, Sept. 9 -- A recent survey sponsored by the Virtue Foundation found that nearly half of all Americans believe that the world opinion of the United States has worsened since September 11, 2001, and less than one in five think it has improved. The survey also found that more than nine out of 10 Americans polled said that it is important to have a good understanding of other cultures and their value systems in order to resolve international conflicts. Yet, more than 66 percent of those polled believe that that other cultures do not have a good understanding of and appreciation for American culture and values, and over half (53 percent) believe that Americans do not have a good understanding and appreciation for other cultures and values. The results are from a survey of 600 American adults conducted by Andres McKenna Research that will be released at a symposium held today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

On the second anniversary of the tragedies of September 11, the Virtue Foundation is bringing together experts from around the world to discuss how the events that have transpired since 9/11 have negatively impacted international perceptions of the U.S., and how improved understanding and communication among cultures can help to bring global peace. The symposium is sponsored in collaboration with UNESCO, The Rockefeller Foundation, the Nour Foundation and the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations.

The first panel of the day focuses on the ramifications of the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th and the ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Moderated by MSNBC anchor Forrest Sawyer, the panel will examine how the Administration's actions and policies have impacted the manner in which the U.S. is perceived by other nations around the world.

The second panel, moderated by NBC anchor Ann Curry, will focus on the phenomenon of globalization and what could perhaps be referred to as the "globalization of culture." Americans are generally positive about engagement with the international community, with almost three in five (57 percent) of those surveyed indicating that the growing interdependency of the world is a good thing, and about the same number indicating that they are personally more informed about world affairs now than they were two years ago. However, Americans are commonly perceived as having little insight to problems and events outside of the U.S.

The purpose of the symposium is to explore the lessons that we can collectively learn from the 9/11 tragedy in order to work towards building a culture of peace and tolerance founded on universal ethical principles that transcend such boundaries as race, culture, gender, and religion.

Panelists participating in the symposium include Ambassador Joseph Verner Reed, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations; U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, former President of the UN Security Council; Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo from South Africa; Gordon Conway, President of the Rockefeller Foundation; James Rubin, Former Assistant Secretary of State; Chris Cramer, President of CNN International Networks; Ann Curry, NBC "Today" News Anchor; Christina Lamb, Writer, The Sunday Times; Jessica Stern, Author and Public Policy Lecturer, Harvard University, and Shashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, in charge of Communications and Public Information.

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The Virtue Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the research and development of a universal body of ethics that transcends such boundaries as race, culture, gender, and religion. Recognizing that the formulation and adoption of universal standards of ethical behavior necessitates a greater awareness and understanding of the essential nature of human beings, the Foundation seeks to identify and explore the universal dimensions of the human spirit. Through a variety of multidisciplinary events by accomplished experts and professionals, the Foundation highlights and reinforces all that we share in common in order to lay the groundwork upon which we can collectively build towards a global ethic.