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garranI'd heard a few mentions of Barack Obama, so the other day I followed a link to a transcript of a speech he had given. He begins by talking about his childhood and his heritage for a while, and in here he drops a few rather extravagant mentions of how cool he thinks America is.
And so on for a little while. I read this with a feeling of mild distaste, waiting for him to come to the statements he believed in, but I wondered how it would read to the proud Americans that I know. Is it commonly accepted that, as I assumed, this sort of hyperbole is a political formality, etiquette demanding that any statement of "we have some improvements to make" (which he does go on to say) must be preceded by "of course we already live in by far the best place that has ever existed, but"?
Or is there a general belief that this is at most only slightly overzealous, that these oft-repeated American ideals really are American realities, and that in no other country in the world can your average person expect to be treated with fairness and respect?
(I noticed a couple of people in the recent Canadian election speaking as though Canada had some inherent greatness, and I assumed there, too, that this was really a sort of politeness, like they were calling the whole public by a particularly gracious honorific. For myself, there is nowhere I have seen that I would rather live than Canada, and I have a quiet but surprisingly deep fondness for the place, but I have never found myself composing inner paeans to it in the abstract, if you see what I mean.)
Mr. Obama also on a couple of occasions is sure to make it clear that he's Christian, and my general (limited) impression of American politics leads me to believe that this almost certainly is a political formality (regardless of whether he really believes it), something that he feels compelled to include because if he does not, the things he really wants to say will be dismissed. If the nationalistic remarks are indeed the same sort of thing, then I wonder why it is considered necessary that a politician adore his country with such unusual fervor. It doesn't seem to me like it would be bad to have someone in charge somewhere who is more vociferous about his love for people in general than his nation in particular.
The second part of my Otakon report remains upcoming.
But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place, America, that shone as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before.
...
My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or ”blessed,” believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success. They imagined me going to the best schools in the land, even though they weren’t rich, because in a generous America you don’t have to be rich to achieve your potential.
...
I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible. (My emphasis.)
And so on for a little while. I read this with a feeling of mild distaste, waiting for him to come to the statements he believed in, but I wondered how it would read to the proud Americans that I know. Is it commonly accepted that, as I assumed, this sort of hyperbole is a political formality, etiquette demanding that any statement of "we have some improvements to make" (which he does go on to say) must be preceded by "of course we already live in by far the best place that has ever existed, but"?
Or is there a general belief that this is at most only slightly overzealous, that these oft-repeated American ideals really are American realities, and that in no other country in the world can your average person expect to be treated with fairness and respect?
(I noticed a couple of people in the recent Canadian election speaking as though Canada had some inherent greatness, and I assumed there, too, that this was really a sort of politeness, like they were calling the whole public by a particularly gracious honorific. For myself, there is nowhere I have seen that I would rather live than Canada, and I have a quiet but surprisingly deep fondness for the place, but I have never found myself composing inner paeans to it in the abstract, if you see what I mean.)
Mr. Obama also on a couple of occasions is sure to make it clear that he's Christian, and my general (limited) impression of American politics leads me to believe that this almost certainly is a political formality (regardless of whether he really believes it), something that he feels compelled to include because if he does not, the things he really wants to say will be dismissed. If the nationalistic remarks are indeed the same sort of thing, then I wonder why it is considered necessary that a politician adore his country with such unusual fervor. It doesn't seem to me like it would be bad to have someone in charge somewhere who is more vociferous about his love for people in general than his nation in particular.
The second part of my Otakon report remains upcoming.
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Date: 2004-08-15 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-15 10:29 pm (UTC)Let me start off with, I am a proud american, I am proud of a lot of what america has been able to do, and I also feel shame at a lot of america has done. Honestly, is america reall the best place to live? I donno. Is it a good place to live? I say yes it is.
All I can say is, politicions really need to say the 'standard' line, it's just how it is. Do a lot of americans think america is really the best? likly. Are they wrong? /me shrugs.
Does that mean no other country can be good? not really.
Of course, maybe it's cause I grew up hearing it all too.
Just some thoughts.