In which FHC evokes America self-confidence

The US does not value sufficiently humility. America teaches very early on to its kids to loudly brag about their achievements and embellish them. It confuses discretion for meekness and politeness for fear. This is illustrated by the fact that young graduates will send you five pages long resumes which tell you nothing about their real faculties but a lot about their misperceptions of themselves. Resumes are the American corporate version of the French “soufflés”. This is also very clear in the university “class notes” (always submitted by the alumni themselves) where Christopher Malagisi as an example, SPA/BA ’03 takes credit for “putting together the only American government led election observation delegation”. I personally trust much more the self-deprecating approach of young European interns who sit silently in their cubicles, reading books and taking notes, until their mid-thirties at which time they let their actions speak for themselves. Humility makes stupidity and lack of wisdom so much more bearable. America also considers bluntness and self-confidence as extremely important characteristics for success. Consequently, we all find ourselves having to listen to voices who feel entitled to contribute to discussions even when they have very little to say and no relevant knowledge or experience. It reminds me of my ex, yet another ivy-league graduate waiting tables, who, when he was 20, came out furious of a dinner party which included older and distinguished guests because in his own words ”nobody paid any attention to him” even after he decided to take his shirt off. All American have this hidden belief that they are someone or might become someone, that they are too the chosen ones. Actually they were told so, often by Mark Twain himself. Unfortunately this is a great lie: most of them are called to a mediocre and obscure existence which could only make sense as part of a greater organization or community. However that terrible quiproquo alone motivates Americans, blinded and deafened by their self-awareness, to take too much room in the street, talk too loudly and fight for a business class seat even when they fly economy. They mistake their own racket for talent and sacrifice the common goods to their small interests and personal hopes. That also explains why they are so numerous to apply for “American Idol” and why you can’t find a plumber anymore. As a friend of mine put it “we think that the people that get ahead are the people who are aggressive”. Unfortunately in the words of Goethe: “There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity”. It also explains why so many Americans have very little humor because they were engineered to ignore their flaws and never laugh at their talents. I think that the main explanation is that Americans were unfortunately deprived of the wonderful experience of communism, or at least socialism, by McCarthy. The capitalist individuality and egotism might have been instrumental to the US relative economic success but it also came with the constant unbearable noise of these empty inflated egos colliding against each other everywhere.

Comments

[LL]

FHC and I always disagree on this point: I think Americans are taught an embarrassing false modesty and I for one know that because of this my contribution is undervalued.

[Carlos U.]

So if I am an egotistical socialist who was born and raised in this country, what does that say about me?

[bryan]

CU: socialism in the U.S. is another form of egotism, as you point out...

wait, is this a serious discussion? i can never tell...

[Fagat]

Isn't the very act of tearing down one group of people while building up yourself a symptom of an inflated ego?

But say what you will about Americans. At least we know how to use paragraphs.

[txdave]

Your blog is very interesting with some provocative ideas.

I have 2 blogs that might also interest your audience:

http://assertivenesssucceeds.blogspot.com

http://browniesforbreakfast.blogspot.com

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