Lisa Wade at Sociological Images posted a fascinating chart on the level of patriotism citizens of different countries exhibit – details here. Predictably, the USA ranks #1 in thinking they are #1 (although not by much). But what was more interesting was a passage Wade quoted from Claude Fischer:
We believe that we are #1 almost across the board, when in fact we are far below number one in many arenas – in health, K-12 education, working conditions, to mention just a few. Does our #1 pride then blind us to the possibility that we could learn a thing or two from other countries?
When does national pride become an unproductive hubris? This isn’t a new question, but the data makes concrete a key paradox in American culture. How can a country be both innovative, dynamic and multicultural while at the same time exhibiting a reluctance to embrace ideas from other countries? Is it just sunny optimism to believe erroneously that your culture is better than others, or is it a lack of national and personal maturity to cling to a myth of national superiority? I prefer to live in a country with a relentless optimism and even maybe arrogance to a measured realism, even if a bit misguided. There’s a certain charm in thrusting oneself headlong into an uncertain future. However I do wonder at what point does national conceit turn into a farce? As the US loses its share of global output and productivity, does a maturing of national character need to take place to keep us from becoming a caricature of our current selves?
