Generalisations get a bad wrap these days, which is unfortunate. As far as I can tell a generalisation is a statement that can be seen to be generally true. Why then are we are so concerned by stating what is generally the case as if we were making some terrible assertion?
So here is my generalisation: by comparison to kiwi’s Americans are loud, brash, egocentric, arrogant and overly optimistic. However, they don’t see themselves that way. In return Americans view Kiwi’s as friendly but negative, capable but understated, and too blasé about life in general.
It appears our view of everyone else is determined by our own sense of self.
All cultures are unique and I like to understand why they view life the way they do. In doing so I hopefully gain insights that expand my own horizons. God appears to love diversity, so it seems there are things to learn from those who are different.
One of the significant thinkers and writers in American history was Waldo Emerson. What made him stand out among his peers was his “man’s man” stance in life. He was gung-ho, positive and had a “can do” attitude to almost everything, which made him the exact opposite of most writers and philosophers.
Emerson was the chief advocate of individualism. He challenged people to forget society and think for themselves. He claimed, “Society everywhere is a conspiracy against the personhood of every one of it’s members …. The virtue most requested is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion.” His basic moto was to, “Forget everyone else. Nothing is sacred except the integrity of your own mind.”
A modern version of Emerson is the L’Oreal hair colouring commercial encouraging women to spend the extra because, “you’re worth it.”
His other significant offering to the world was his deeply held belief that we should constantly change our minds. Emerson reckoned that, “foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” I’m with him on that front. I have no belief that my life is a pre-ordained script that needs to be lived out. In lots of ways life is more like improvised street theatre; we make up the plot as we go along. Life for most people resembles the game of Snakes and Ladders more than it does some clearly defined highway.
As you can imagine, Emerson has been a crucial stake in American culture. Yet he offers us the same challenges.
First, there’s a fine line between totalitarian conformity and narcissistic individualism. I think we are called to walk that line despite its difficulties. Jesus statement that we treat others as we treat ourselves surely means our own thinking has the same value as those around us; as much we need to listen we also have a voice that needs to be heard.
Second, the capacity to change our minds is simply an acknowledgement that all knowledge is only provisional, a point the Bible picks up when it says, “We know in part and see in part.”
So there you go. You’re worth it and you can change your mind – even men.
Digby Wilkinson 2010