At first glance, 2008 appears to have been a good year for speaking truth to power, with politicians, the news media and the man in the street gleefully savaging Wall Street tycoons, Washington lobbyists, auto company chieftains, predatory lenders, AIG executives, do-nothing congressmen and, of course, President Bush.
Only one powerful group ”” arguably the most powerful in an election year ”” has escaped this orgy of truth-telling: the American people themselves.
To criticize the public would require starting at the top. People expect examples of their leaders making sacrifices, how large was the check that Bidden wrote the treasure after telling others they needed to chip in more for the national government. Did I miss the announcement that Obama was going to give the royalties from his books to the government as an example for Hollywood and other Rich supporters to help get the country over our current problems? Seems some progressives can only desire to gain power so the huddled masses can be made to support their projects.
Set the example and we will follow, continue to complain and you will be all alone.
IMHO the article touches on an important issue. I have noticed on this very website that any comparison of the US with other countries which finds that the US might have anything to learn meets a ferocious response. It is right to be proud of your country (and Americans have a lot to be proud of). But I find that citizens of most Western countries these days can stand back and assess their own nation with at least some degree of perspective. But try on this site to question, for example, US gun laws or judicial executions or health care and compare that with other countries and good grief you had better duck. It brings me to a question, which is neither rhetorical nor one to which I have an answer: is such fierce patriotism a sign of strength or a symptom of insecurity?
Terry Tee, you asked a very good question at the end of your comment. I think only Americans can answer that one. I, like yourself, have encountered a lot of fierce defensive statements whenever I disagreed with methods used in some American organizations. Health care is one big one which I question, but whenever I dispute it here I get some really nasty responses. I think we ALL need to truly examine ourselves and the way our countries do things. I truly believe that all countries have many good ideas, but also many areas that need improvement. Humility is what is called for, not patriotism.
Terry Tee & Mugsie: You make fair points about insular and xenophobic tendencies in American culture. But don’t let them dissuade you.
The blogosphere is full of people debating things about which they have little or no expertise. Why, then, should debate end abruptly at national borders? If we can make pronouncements about drug research, running school systems, Patristic studies, canon law, tort reform, and the gold standard—much less about how other countries should manage their own affairs—we ought to be able to sit still for ideas drawn from experience abroad. All the more so on a blog dedicated to honest, civil, thoughtful discussion of ideas and issues.
#4, Irenaeus, Thank you! for this statement:
I believe that all countries can learn things from other countries; both from mistakes and from accomplishments. It is not right for one country in this whole world to believe that they have the right to tell another country how they should do things, nor is it right for one country to proclaim to the rest of the world that they are the best country in the world. In my own experience, this is how American’s come across on the international scene. It is seen as arrogance. It does not win them respect from those in other countries, but just makes many in others countries feel a distrust and “distaste” for them. Like I said in my comment above, “all countries have many good ideas, but also many areas that need improvement. Humility is what is called for, not patriotism.”
I sincerely believe that if more Americans were humble in their representation of themselves to those in other countries around the world, they may find a lot more respect and trust come forth from those countries.
As to blogs, you are right about many in the blogosphere debating about things they know nothing about. That is a huge part of the problem with blogs. It’s too easy to just spew venom from your own personal computer without checking the facts. In a face to face debate, you’re more likely to be called out on your lack of knowledge and then find yourself in a position to own up to that fact. On blogs that sort of accountability is not taken to task, unfortunately. I often just prefer to not get into debates on blogs due to this very problem. I’ve attempted to debate certain issues in the past (those I’m personally educated and experienced in) and found so many hilariously false accusations and statements thrown back at me. It was clear that the people throwing out those statements did not know the subject of the debate and it was pointless to debate with them. I would prefer to debate with those who have genuine expertise in the issues they are debating. Differences of opinion are why debates occur, but outright statements of total nonsense off the top of one’s head just seriously reduce the quality of the debate for those who are earnestly qualified and know the subject of the debate well.