As Nirvana says, this was meant as figurative for how I imagine our brains will pick this up. Basically "who are these people that they want to tell us the law?".

That wasn't an objective statement, that was more a characterization of the way americans see the rest of the world.

Imagine how north koreans have misconceptions about America. America is equally awash in propaganda and many americans have never spend significant time outside the country enough to realize it.

It sure surprised me once I did.