Elizabeth Lennard
Artist, 52
Arrived in Paris in the mid 80s from New York City

     When you watch the news in America it’s pathetic, you are not getting any idea of world events. Geography does play a role. If you’re living in Idaho, it’s hard to have a multicultural view point, it’s understandable. But the broadcasters aren’t playing a roll to educate. The coverage of Iraq doesn’t give any understanding, so no wonder people have fear. I think someone who is French and anti-American, doesn’t understand that. It’s really not peoples’ fault.
     There is a lot more propaganda going on in America than people really think, but at least now it’s being talked about more.
     There is more of a class system in America than people pretend there is. I was in The Colony Club, they were all white and that is in the middle of New York City. Here, there are old aristocrats with long names, but no one takes them seriously.
Democracy in America was created in a very special way. It was a country of immigrants; there were religious reasons, geographical reasons. Iraq was a huge mistake, even if Saddam was a horrible dictator, you just can’t go and impose democracy like that. I think the Bush administration is a bad combination of ignorance and greed.