This line in the newspaper caught my attention the other day, “U.S. Government Partners with Disney to Welcome International Visitors Portraits of America to be Featured in International Arrivals Areas, U.S. Embassies and Other Venues to Welcome Visitors to the United States.” Here’s the article. It’s good to see awareness that the United States needs to work on improving its image, but I’m not sure a film is going to make up for the tone of signs – and staff – in airport arrivals. I find myself irritated by those who greet me, in the U.S. Citizens line, with, “Welcome home.” Why not just welcome everyone (with proper security in place, naturally), instead of creating a sense of separate identity? I feel this all the more strongly after hearing the story of a British friend’s 14-year-old son who was left alone in a detention room for two hours because he’d arrived with a passport that had been through the washing machine more than once!