I was listening to a senior officer of an overseas organization tell me what is wrong with Americans. It was the usual litany:
We are ignorant of foreign culture, history, language, and politics. Almost everyone in his country knows the American president’s name, but most Americans don’t even know where his country is.
Nevertheless, we interfere where we have no business, no standing, and no knowledge. We mean well, and really think we are doing good, but still generally make a mess of things. We undermine our authority by violating at home the standards and values we preach abroad.
Just then he mentioned, quite oblivious of the incongruity, that he wanted an American consultant from my organization. I was a little surprised, because I knew he had one, and I mentioned that.
“Oh, him,” he responded. “I mean, a real American.” After a moment, I realized he was alluding to the fact that his advisor was a black man.
Subsequently, I’ve heard countless such people recite with utter certainty our many failings. It doesn’t make it any easier to know that many of these critics have sent their children to US universities, or arranged to have them born there as American citizens. Some have pre-positioned resources there, in case it becomes prudent to suddenly relocate.
But they see no contradiction between this and their extraordinary criticisms. And always prominent among those is our supposed ignorance of them, in starkly painted contrast with their own purportedly sophisticated, nuanced familiarity with us.
But since that first conversation, I’ve learned to listen more closely, to probe for evidence of that supposed superiority. It’s not there.
Instead, I hear the most stupefying characterizations of Americans that reveal a callow incomprehension of our national identity and view of ourselves. The prejudices shared by my first lecturer are widespread: members of minorities based on anything from recent immigration to race, creed, or national origin are not “real Americans.”
I’m sure I’ll still experience these conversations, as an expat, in the future. But after today, with a real American becoming the 44th President of the United States of America, they should be more enjoyable. I certainly look forward to them.
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10 Comments
Well one black man took down and entire system designed to separate white and black. 40 years later, than man is celebrated as a hero, the system is gone, and the country just elected a half black half white man with the middle name Hussein to be our leaders and commander-in-chief. That is the real America.
Rob, I’m writing this just after noon, at which moment the Presidency has officially changed hands, while the musical piece commissioned for the occasion is being performed, and just before the oath of office is about to be administered. It is indeed a special moment.
I was ready to put my dress blues back on and give a salute. I don’t think they would fit these days, but I was proud of my country.
Very thoughtful and thought provoking. I’ve posted it on my blog together with the thoughts of a few other bloggers.
Rob, I knew someone once whose original dress blues fit him perfectly well into his 90s. With decades to spare I’ve lost that battle. But the pride still fits, and always will.
Thanks John – I saw the post – a great collection of commentary. I hope everyone clicks through!
Hi Jim,
I think you might like the book, “Values for a New Millenium,” by Robert L. Humphrey.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/Values-New-Millennium-Robert-Humphrey/dp/0915761041/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232636582&sr=8-5
The book, written by an Iwo Jima veteran, talks about combating the perceptions of what he calls “ugly Americanism.” It talks about why the world sees us the way it does and what we can do about it. Professor Humphrey’s ideas are currently influencing the Marine Corps approach to creating ethical warriors, so I think you would find it interesting on several levels.
On another note, I’ve been chewing on your series on capitalism. I haven’t commented yet because some ideas are still stewing, but I have been enjoying it.
Gannon
Hi Gannon,
Thanks – that book is going on the list.
Thanks for your kind words about the series – its presence and form are largely shaped by a previous comment of yours – always looking forward to more!
I have to disagree with Rob on one thing. NO “one black man” took down anything. The Civil Rights movement was the work of thousands, many of them just plain folks, as well as leaders and legislators and people from just about every part of the country and socioeconomic strata.
The big dangers today are thinking that electing another Black man as President of the US is some kind of final step or that the one man we elected as president will have some magical powers and set everything right instantly.
Hello Wally,
While I’ll leave it to Rob to respond directly, I will say that, on the one hand, I had understood him to be speaking symbolically, telescoping the achievements of this movement onto these two men at their respective and significant points in its progress.
On the other, I agree that your point about just plain people from every nook and cranny of this society making it happen is indeed one that it is most important to make at this juncture. The value of symbols isn’t in what they do, but in what they remind us is in ourselves to be done. We create them – not them us – for that purpose.
Thanks for that!
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