NEW YORK -- So bad has been recent publicity for the United States and its foreign policies that the visitor arriving in the U.S. nowadays has come to expect a grim reception and a nation of inward-turning people who care nothing for the world beyond America's shores.
The visitor would therefore be delighted and surprised to find that the arrival lines at JFK Airport are short, the immigration officers polite, the customs officials relaxed and the atmosphere as warm and welcoming as it used to be.
The visitor would perhaps be further surprised to find that New York City is cleaner, safer, more vibrant and more welcoming than ever, making many a European city dull by comparison.