War is Cool and Big Swinging Dick Theory
It’s Olympic Time everybody, and that means it’s now time to
finally talk about something that has lay dormant in my mind for the past
several years, only to prop up again during this gathering of Nations.
Nationalism
When we think of the above what are we reminded of?
If you are thinking of well orchestrated rallies held in
North Korea, the answer would be YES!
China during New Years Day Chunwan….absolutely!
And on and on and on…..
Except there is one place that should scare others the most. In my view there is one nation more
nationalistic than most, more self assured and confident, brimming with swagger
at all the seams, less leary of telling
a foreigner to “piss off” than any other other.
America
When commentators speak of the extreme nationalistic
rhetoric of Chinese media, or the unpredictable actions of North Korea, they
show more than a glint of ignorance of the World’s Truly Nationalistic
Society. Always simmering just below
the surface, todays commentators, both American and Foreign, are ignorant of
the Big Swinging Dick attitude existing in American society today.
They tell us to be sensitive when dealing with the Chinese. They ask we show restraint and caution when
discussing North Korea. But no one ever
thinks more than twice about the emotions within the USA.
Maybe it’s best I just not say anymore. For anyone who doesn’t believe me can just
watch the Olympics this weekend. Can
you hear the chant?
USA! USA! USA!
View the crowd. Most
likely, half of them will be drunk, loud and obnoxious. And none of them will give a shit. Yes, I know most countries have similar
chants abt themselves(whatever they are), but in my view the USA is more apt to
display wanton patriotism, cum ugly nationalism, on a impromptu basis far more than
anywhere else. At the drop of a
hat. And this is a dangerous thing.
Unlike China, or anywhere else, no mass planning is
needed. No buses need to be arranged
to bring in students.(China?)
But back to the commentators of our day. The lazy among us fret with worry abt
“disturbing the masses” when we discuss China, or unleashing the “nationalistic
furor” when discussing armed conflict.
Yes, it may be true. These things
may occur. Yet the Media uses these
phrases as a way to express to others around the world that China is not to be
tangled with.
I say “you’re right”, but if we want to talk good old
annoying, irritable Nationalism, the USA has China beat hands down. Not in numbers, but in “attitude”. WTF?, you ask?
Here are the differences between Chinese and American Nationalism. And
why American Nationalism is more dangerous.
And why it’s a good thing.
In America,
nationalism is real.
It’s not fake. It’s
not contradictory. Today in China you
have too many Chinese that hate Japan yet drive a Honda. Or have a Japanese camera. The USA, meanwhile, has long since gotten
over it’s internal conflict with Japan.
As long as they build their cars in America we’re all good. Honda now exports more cars from the USA
than it sells. For all practical
purposes, Honda is an American company now.
It’s been “co-opted”. (is Toyota next?)
The Chinese have yet to solve the internal contradictions of
hating people that employ them. Their
nationalism is too specific. It’s mostly
Japanese focused. It’s not broad
enough. So in a way you can say it’s
“convenient nationalism”.
Not in America. (See
above) We may show nationalistic
resentment towards China, but we have very little internal contradictions.
For example,(segue time) very few Chinese companies are here. Those that are, like to hire Chinese. It’s a joke
really. I used to call Chinese suppliers
up all the time. Suppliers with
“American” offices (read LA, or NY).
More often than not, the “employee” was a Chinese national who spoke
English I could barely understand on the other end of the phone line. After awhile, I realized most of these “companies”
were just like that.
“Just great”, I thought.
“Another fucking Chinese company hiring only Chinese to work in their
ofc”. So with few exceptions, most
Chinese companies in America only hire Chinese.
(ZTE and Haier are notable exceptions) So you see, it’s easy to be nationalistic
towards Chinese in America if they don’t hire American workers.
A decade ago in Vegas, during the biggest electronics
exhibition of the year, I finally unleashed on a Chinese “supplier” and started
berating him in Mandarin. Pretty much
all I said was “all you guys do is come here and hire people just like you.( ie
non American citizens). Why don’t you
hire Americans? Do you look down on us
or something? Why would I want to work
with you?” All he did was smile his
stupid smile. Now, was I being
racist? (American’s are sensitive abt
things like that) No, I don’t think I
was. I was just stating a simple fact,
that pissed me off: you come here to get
our business, and won’t even take the time to hire an American in your ofc, who
speaks English. Remind me why I want to
work with you ? Instead you hire
someone I can barely understand. (maybe a green card holder, not an American)
And the reason you hired this person was simple: it’s convenient for you, and their CHEAP!
(Not to pick on the poor Chinese. I find the Koreans the same way. )
Do I hire Americans when I open an ofc in Shenzhen? Nope.
I hire Chinese.
So as you can see, American nationalism has few internal
soul searching contradictions towards the Chinese. If China created 10 million jobs in America,
it might. (See me in 70 years)
The point above also illustrates American Nationalism has ATTITUDE.
Chinese nationalism doesn’t.
(unless you’re Japanese) One
often hears the Chinese Media screaming at God knows how many countries, but
you never hear the Chinese complaining as such.
American culture is
ARROGANT. It has SWAGGER. Why is that?
Is it because we’re King of the Hill? Not really. It’s because American Culture has
grown up knowing it’s #1. Is this taught
in schools? Of course not, Silly…..But
it’s in the movies!
American Cinema has
had a far more reaching impact on how Americans see themselves than Mom and Pop
could ever give to their children.
American Cinema is the Black Hand behind American Exceptionalism. (still another post) All Americans grow up knowing
how badass they are. It’s naturally
internalized from an early age. From the
time of John Wayne to Clint Eastwood, to Independence Day and Saving Private
Ryan, American’s have always kicked ass, and unless American Cinema goes the
way of the dodo bird, always will.
Whose Ass have Chinese kicked in the Movies? Despite the near total extinction of MODESTY
amongst many Chinese youth today, modesty is still considered a virtue in
Chinese Society. American Cinema doesn’t
teach modesty. Modesty isn’t
entertaining. Killing the Bad Guy is. So
what does China have as a society that can impact the way Chinese think of
themselves? Cinema? (nope)
The only thing rivalling the impact of Media in America is
the good ole CCP in China. 中国人民万岁！
American Media does a great job of retelling the American
West. The stories of America at
War. American Cinema is the American
version of China’s Communist Propaganda Dept.
Except America simply has a better story to tell, and tells it
well. Too damn well. Thus Americans grow up with PRIDE, and quite
frankly, an exaggerated view of themselves.
We’ve drank as much of our koolaid
as anyone.
China’s movie industry loves to talk about it’s ancient
history, or make a movie abt yet another KMT spy, or maybe even another movie
about how many Japanese they killed in the 30’s. But does Chinese Cinema inspire the Chinese? Does it instill an attitude? An identity?
As for America, add up our arrogance and our swagger, and
our sense of Nationalism. And what do
you get? 300 million people that think
they are unstoppable, and can achieve anything they want, if only the
politicians would get out of the way.
The below link in 90 seconds perfectly summarizes American
Fervor. (I wonder if they show this
overseas? I doubt it.)
And what does arrogance and swagger breed? For better or worse it breeds confidence.(or
is it HUBRIS?) Chinese Nationalism lacks
all these things. This is why in my
view, Chinese Nationalism is a bit hollow.
It’s Entertaining, but certainly not Frightening. The Chinese as a
people just aren’t self confident enough yet.
They have too much doubt amongst themselves. Though 5000 years old, they are STILL trying
to figure out their place in the world. (this is a good thing).
America has no such qualms.
For better or for worse, we know who we are. We know we’re number one, and we know it’s
not even close.
But why is China after all this time still so unsure of it’s
self? Simple. They haven’t kicked anyone’s ass, in a very,
very long time. Korea was a nightmare
the USA gracefully ended. Even Vietnam’s
2nd Team bloodied China’s nose. There is no Chinese Commander today that has
seen one second of combat. No platoon
that has driven anyone out of a town. So what is there in Chinese Cinema to “celebrate”?
What about China’s recent moves in the South China Sea? Is that the action of a confident nation? Nope, that’s the action of a bureaucratic
class that can makes decisions without accountability. The
Chinese Masses just follow along. Thus the
potential for HUBRIS. In the West, it’s
hard to have HUBRIS when there is freedom of the press within your society.
(trust me, it’s still possible) One
simply cannot escape accountability. However,
HUBRIS is always more apparent in CLOSED societies. And that’s why closed societies as a rule are
always more dangerous(unpredictable?)
Finally, America is in
your FACE. A whole generation of
kids have grown up on violent video games.
Nearly every generation since 1917 has been to WAR. It’s as if it’s a population in perpetual training for combat. But with the
popularity of military themed video games, the Youth of America damn near are
starting to think War is Cool. There is
great prestige in America society if one is a former soldier. (like in many
countries, but esp so in the States’)
Hollywood loves a Winner.
It loves to tell a good story. It’s
an neverending cycle. America goes to
War. Comes home the Jaded, Wounded Warrior. Emotionally Scarred. (Only Hollywood can make it a dignified
event. ) Next generation see’s the great prestige these soldiers have, the free college education, the chicks, and
high on the latest Video Game and Hollywood movie, can’t wait to get into the
fight.
Scary, scary stuff.
The USA thus is ever producing a generation anxious for the same
prestige bestowed upon an uncle, or an older brother.
When will it stop?
And here is why it can’t:
The world needs a Big Swinging Dick. A people with attitude, high on the latest
military video game, with the gleam of a relative’s medal in his eye. Quite often for worse, but sometimes for
better, it needs a nation on the planet willing to send it’s youth into harms
way. More importantly, Hollywood needs
it, too.
nice post :)
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