“When I or anyone else says, “America is (this)”, or “Americans are (that)”, instantly there’s a kind of violent reaction.”
Maybe the reaction isn’t violent. Maybe it’s just weary disdain. It’s ludicrous to try to reduce the breadth and depth of “America”, its culture and its people, to a single dimension.
“America as it exists today is to make more billionaires, not, say, scientists, artists, philosophers, poets, or even just wise, gentle, humane people…”
See how ridiculous that attempt to reduce “America” to a single purpose is? Yes, there are Americans obsessively focussed on getting rich for no other reason than to be rich. But there are also people profoundly devoted to science, art, philosophy, poetry or even just becoming and being wise, gentle, and humane.
By all means, lament the short sighted, viscious, greedy, destructive people and behaviours you see around you. But simultaneously celebrate the brave, honest, compassionate, cheerful people who also surround you. And whatever you do, please stop trying to reduce a whole nation, or even a solitary individual, to a one dimensional caricature.
