Trinidad, on 2012-November-07, 17:59, said:
Before I say anything, let me acknowledge that it was an excellent speech and that I was not offended by it. I saw the whole speech and I found it impressive rather than offensive. Please keep that in mind when you read my answer to your question:
Well yes, that is typically what leaders in Northern European countries do. They will say things like: "This is a fantastic night for our party." or "We are going to make this a better place.". But you will never, ever hear anything like "Switzerland is the greatest nation on Earth.". And "We will show the world." is absolutely out of the question. It is just not something we would do. In fact, if any politician would say something like that, he would be laughed at and drop 10% in the polls. People are simply to aware that "We could show the world, but why would the world be interested enough to look?".
The general emotion that lives in Northern Europe is not "We are the greatest nation". It is more like: "We live. We happen to live in Sweden, which is nice. If we would live in Germany that would probably be nice too.". Nationalism and pride only exist in sports. Outside sports the whole idea of "We are the best" (whoever "we" might be: the country, the company that we work for, our family) simply does not exist.
In America this "We are America and America is the best" is continuously reinforced. The extreme (from a European point of view) American nationalism is not exclusive for American leaders. You see it everywhere in American culture. You practically can't organize a spelling bee without the American flag standing on the stage and the Star Spangled Banner being played. In Europe, you might hear the national anthems on the national holidays and before sports matches between two countries the anthems of both teams will be played. Most people don't know the lyrics of their national anthems. (I studied in the USA and you bet that I know the lyrics of the American anthem... and I will not forget them.)
In the USA, everybody is continuously aware that they live in America, the greatest nation on Earth. (Whether this is actually true or not is irrelevant. The awareness is continuously there.) You can see the examples everywhere. After 9/11, "Take me out to the ball game" in the seventh inning stretch is replaced by "God bless America". Northern European cultures don't even have songs like that, let alone that they play them in the middle of a fun family event. Nobody will think in terms of "God bless Belgium". (If someone would say those words, Belgians would instinctively wonder "Why would He?".) This kind of nationalism doesn't exist here. Only in France, you might hear people say "Vive la France". In other European countries, that is simply not done.
American school kids pledge allegiance to the flag. In Europe that would be perceived as creepy. The idea would make people feel sick. In America it is normal. I can go on and on with examples of American nationalism that do not exist in Northern Europe.
Obama's speech was fine. It was meant for Americans and it should appeal to Americans. It did. But in Europe a speech like that would not work at all. It appeals to a sense of nationalism that we don't have and that we are uncomfortable with. This is something that Americans should keep in mind when they go outside their country (or speak to the world, rather than the USA). The American pride can be very offensive. Americans are unaware of that and that doesn't help them to achieve their goals.
Rik
interesting post thanks for putting it up.
Yes, there appears to be a huge difference between your European view and being American.
fwiw I strongly disagree with your last sentence but then that is the whole point of your post.
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But in Europe a speech like that would not work at all. It appeals to a sense of nationalism that we don't have and that we are uncomfortable with. This is something that Americans should keep in mind when they go outside their country (or speak to the world, rather than the USA). The American pride can be very offensive.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
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Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth
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