I recently heard a comedian, I think it was Lewis Black, talk about Americans' persistence upon repeating the mantra that America is the "greatest country in the world". I'll paraphrase what he said:
Can you imagine working in an office and having some ass-hole come to work every day and announce, "I'd like to remind you today that I'm the greatest worker in this office?"
The joke was funny, but I wonder how the rest of the world feels about this perpetual hubris exhibited by Americans, especially politicians.
What, indeed, does it mean to be the "greatest country in the world"?
Dictionary.com uses the following list of characteristics in their definition of "great" (I'll note whether a particular characteristic might define the average American's definition of "the greatest country in the world"):
1. Very large in size. (True, but it's nothing to brag about.) 2. Larger in size than others of the same kind. (Larger than most. Is this what Americans mean? Others can see on a map that the former United States of America (the FUSA) is large in size. Innocent people were slaughtered on behalf of that "accomplishment".) 3. Large in quantity or number (Definitely not the largest population.) 4. Extensive in time or distance (This just doesn't seem to fit.) 5. Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent (This looks like something that might be in the minds of those who repeat that mantra but it's just an abstract that defines another abstract.) 6. Of outstanding significance or importance (The number of nukes we possess surely makes us important. Other than that, it's, yet, another abstract) 7. Chief or principal (This also looks like it fits, what ever "chief or principle" means when comparing America to other nations. Does the rest of the world consider America "chief or principle"? If so, why? It is the nukes?) 8. Superior in quality or character; noble (Another abstract.) 9. Powerful; influential: one of the great nations of the West. ( Pass on this one.) 10. Eminent; distinguished: a great leader. (American research has led to technological advances. We've put people on the moon. What has that done for us? Are there positive affects almost 40 years later? If this is what Americans mean, then we have to find another reason because this one has to be tapped out by now
If we looked to the rest of the world, would we find any other nations that have helped advance human kind technologically?
Is technological advancement the "greatest kind" of advancement? What have we done with our technology? It was not used for the good of human kind in Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
It may be used in the not too distant future in Iran or North Korea, but it won't be for the good of human kind no matter who's at fault or who "starts it".)
11. Grand; aristocratic. (Are all Americans "aristocratic"? Don't class and wealth present problems in the FUSA, although not only in the FUSA?) 12. Informal Enthusiastic (Americans can be enthusiastic. They seem most enthused about war. When America is at war, that was during 60% of the 20th century, many Americans start waving flags and putting "patriotic" paraphernalia where ever they can stick it. War, indeed, helps to bring out America's enthusiasm. Does enthusiasm for war make us great?
Let's go back to the comedian. "I'm the greatest worker in this office and I can kick all of your asses."
That would not describe a person who's popular around the water cooler)
13. Informal Very skillful (We used to be but American owned multinational corporations obviously don't believe that anymore.
They're sending jobs to other nations because the labor is cheaper. Do they admit Americans are more skillful but they'd rather sacrifice quality in favor of labor costs? That flies in the face of Americans' enthusiasm.)
14. Informal Very good; first-rate ("First-rate" is yet another abstract.)
Are we the "greatest country in the world" because we have the most deadly military in the world, especially if technology is considered? We have the most nuclear weapons, those things that we don't want anyone else to possess. That makes us the most militarily powerful country in the world and, if we have a mind to, we can obliterate other nations. It also makes us hypocrites.
Michael Bonanno is a published poet, essayist and musician who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some of his poetry can be found at The Poetry Corner at OpEdNews.He is an associate editor for OpEdNews.
Bonanno is a political progressive, not a Democratic Party apologist. He believes it's government's job to help the needy and that leaving the people's well being to the so called "private sector" is social suicide.His CDs may be purchased at CD Baby.
Must Read (
Well Said (
News (
Touching (
Funny (
Supported (
Interesting (
Inspiring (
Valuable (
