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North Korea has made "The Diary of Anne Frank" required reading in its middle schools.

However, according to CBS news, instead of teaching how Anne suffered at the hands of German Nazis, it is being used to warn students how they could suffer at the hands of those they call "American Nazis."

Recently published for the first time in North Korea, the book has become a symbol of propaganda to fuel the fire of hatred toward the U.S.

"After reading this book, I had a hatred for the American imperialists," one student said.

"That warmonger Bush is just as bad as Hitler," another said. "Because of him we will always live in fear of war."

But instead of reacting with anger, it seems necessary that we, as Americans, turn the spotlight instead on ourselves and the way our own nation breeds contempt for certain foreign countries or cultures.

It was just a year ago when the U.S. plunged into war with Iraq, calling on its usual allies for support.

But France told us no.

At a time when the U.S. could have responded, "Well, thanks anyway," it didn't. Instead, Americans chose to bash all things French.

Need a few examples?

-- Some in the government called for French fries to be renamed "freedom fries."

-- A Las Vegas radio station used an armored vehicle to crush photographs of French President Jacques Chirac, photocopies of the French flag and a loaf of French bread.

-- David Letterman joked on "The Late Show," "France wants more evidence. The last time France wanted more evidence, it rolled right through France with a German flag."

But guess what? Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Greece, Ireland and Luxembourg all said that they too would prefer to give U.N. weapons inspections more time. In effect, these countries agreed with France -- invasion of Iraq at that point in time was not in anyone's best interests.

Perhaps we were a bit more subtle than North Korea, or our propaganda was further from the surface. But the fact remains that Americans wasted no time in targeting the French, which serves as evidence that this country is far from perfect.

Americans have responded to the news of North Korea's use of "The Diary of Anne Frank" as appalling. But propaganda exists in the United States, too, whether we choose to admit it or not.

Instead of judging the way North Korea is fueling hatred for the United States, we should be taking a long hard look at the way we behave on the political front.

Editorials serve as a platform for Barometer editors to offer commentary and opinions on current events, both national and local, grand in scale and diminutive. Opinions here are a reflection of the Editorial Board's majority.

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