I read an article in today’s NY Times with some interest: Giving Young French Muslims a Close Look at the US.

While working a lot in Amsterdam, I came to realize that many Europeans view our government policies and the opinions of people on the street as the same; so, I’ve wondered how we could change that kind of thinking, because its not true. If anything, I think we’re more similar to the Danish than the rest of Europe, in that we tend to have fierce individual independence.

There is a program run by the US to bring young future leaders of Europe here for 21 days to experience the US (I was going to say culture, but I’m less sure we have one). I think this is a great idea; I wish we could find more little ways to influence world opinion.