Think outside the country

“Every day we’re told that we live in the greatest country on earth. And it’s always stated as an undeniable fact: Leos are born between July 23 and August 22, fitted queen-size sheets measures sixty by eighty inches, and America is the greatest country on earth. Having grown up with this in our ears, it’s startling to realize that other countries have nationalistic slogans of their own, none of which are “We’re number two!” The French have decided to ignore our self-proclaimed superiority, and this is translated as arrogance. To my knowledge, they’ve never said they are better than us; they’ve just never said that we’re the best.” - David Sedaris, Me Talk Pretty One Day pg. 157

This is when I feel like looking too much into things. I’ll admit, I’m not much of a patriot to begin with, but I’m feeling even more ex-pat right now. I’ve been listening to a lot of David Sedaris’ audiobooks recently in my car in the place of traditional sing along music. At the present moment, I’m on disc number four of Me Talk Pretty One Day and just finished the chapter of the book that this lovely excerpt originated.

Okay. Back to seriousness. This is a serious post. Stay with me people.

Every morning before class officially started in my twelve years of public schooling, it was expected that my classmates and I recite The Pledge of Allegiance in unison. I never put much thought into it, but what the hell was that really for? Was it giving thanks for all that liberty and justice? Pledging allegiance sounds very cult-like if you ask me. The fact that I said this so many thousands of times without ever giving it two bits of thought makes me feel brainwashed in a way. This and the David Sedaris quote above are what is prompting me to think aloud in the means of a weblog.

Why should you believe anything people tell you? Do you trust everything you’re told? While I like to think the best of everybody, I’m not easily kidded and usually need to trust my sources. I’m not denying that we are the land of the free, but rather raising the question of “says who?” It’s been beaten into our heads every day for most of our lives that we are this wonderful supremacy and it saddens me that most of us just took this for granted. We Americans are born arrogant. We know for a fact that we are the best country with the most opportunities. The place where all the foreigners come to live the life they’ve always wanted. I’ve never questioned this before, but why are we (myself included) so inclined to just roll over and believe all of this? What if our country really sucks and we just think it’s great? The way Mr. Sedaris says this is meant for humor, but it really got me thinking.

If there’s one thing that I do believe in, it’s that all men are created equal. What does this tell me? It tells me that no matter who you are or where you live, you are just like me. You feel the same things I do. Worry about the same things I do. Fear the same things I do. Want the same things I do. Sure we’ve got a number of differences in preference and taste, but we’re all carved from the same wood.

Knowing this, then how come I’ve been so inclined to believe that the French are arrogant assholes who hate everybody from America? Why am I supposed to believe that all Muslim people want to sacrifice themselves for the sake of killing in masses? Does the man at your local convenience store get questioned on a daily basis? You bet your ass he does. All because of a bunch of radical assholes in his home country went and ruined things. Those guys are pricks, yes. But there are racist, ignorant, asshole dickheads that live here too. There are racist, ignorant, asshole dickheads that live everywhere. Remember. All carved from the same wood. Take Timothy McVeigh for instance (the Oklahoma City bomber guy.) He did some fucked up stuff. Is it fair to say that because of this man’s actions that people in Kenya have the right to assume all Americans do these kinds of things? Are you catching my drift?

The only answer I’m coming up with right now is ignorance and patriotism. You are told from a very young age that you are privileged to live in this country. That everybody else should be so lucky to have the things that you do and there are starving children in Africa who would love to have that broccoli right now. So naturally, you grow up as an American believing only what you’ve been taught - that this is the best country in the world.

Maybe there is some truth in this stuff. Maybe we are privileged. I’ve seen what goes on in third world countries and yes it does suck. Yes, I’m thankful for what I have. But do you think that French kindergarten teachers regularly discuss how great America is? No. There are a lot of not-suffering countries out there who are, or should be just as nationalistic as ourselves. We then credit them with being arrogant and self righteous for not recognizing how great we are. I’m willing to bet money that the kids in the Czech Republic don’t salute their flag every morning and chorus “we’ve got some cool stuff, but America’s the free place with all the jobs.”

For the record, I’m not crediting David Sedaris with being some incredible, deeply moving and thought provoking author. I’m also not proclaiming any hatred for my country. I like it here. I’m just thinking aloud how foolish I feel for falling into a trap and believing exactly what “they” want me to believe instead of formulating opinions of my own. I am disheartened.