There Is No ‘Greatest Country In The World’
There’s just; The WORLD. Be part of it.
Nothing screams insecurity more than someone who needs to keep telling us how wonderful they are.
Achievements are a wonderful thing, something to applaud, something to admire, something to celebrate. They are not something to cast up at others as a pronouncement of one’s greatness.
What does it say about a person or a society that insists on beating their chest and yelling to humanity, “Look how great I am”?
‘Greatness’ is a trait meant to be seen by others, shared as an inspiration to strive for the betterment of all. No one denies the fine achievements that have come from great minds in American society.
But, to proclaim some false sense of superiority, merely serves to undermine the wealth of achievements that have been produced by others. It only fosters resentment and festers in the souls of those you try to convince.
“Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies” — Nelson Mandela
It’s funny how the ones shouting the loudest, are rarely the ones that did all the pulling. Is this the legacy that a ‘great nation’ wants to project?
Contests for superiority are great on the playing field. There’s nothing wrong with competition in the proper forum. But, for most of the people living on this planet, life is no game. Survival for them is a struggle where others are playing by a set of rules which they don’t have access to.
As the clock keeps ticking ever so slowly toward a defining moment in one nation’s history, we have to remind ourselves this election is not a referendum on Democracy. That notion went out the door when a few people were given the power to alter the ways others can voice their opinions and cast their votes.
There is something far more fundamental involved with the outcome of the coming days. Humanity is at the crossroads, and the course will not change as long as flags, monogrammed hats, and jingoistic symbols override the suffering of real people.
Everything we have witnessed and been part of in the last several months since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of our collective consciousness, is pointing us to face the mirror and take a hard look at ourselves.
Slogans and sound bites will never serve to cure the infection that grips humanity. The legendary cartoonist Charles M. Schulz said it best in one sentence.
“There’s a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker.”
The human race is not a contest. The construct of ‘nation-state’ or even ‘corporate-state’ for that matter, is nothing more than a grand exercise in narcissistic control. My friend, Myriam Ben Salem, has written at length on the subject of Narcissism, and she is far more competent in explaining this character flaw than I.
Myriam then ably takes her concepts a step further when exploring solutions for releasing ourselves from the binds of self-absorption.
The question is, when will we stop beating drums and learn to listen to each other?
The louder one proclaims their greatness, the more resentment they create. There’s not much point in being awesome if there’s no one left to be awesome for.
You are not alone in this world!
And, you are not put in this world alone.
True greatness is in the giving without expectation of reward. Muhammad Ali loved to say for the cameras, “I am the Greatest!” His bravado was meant to infuriate his opponents, and fire his desire to win. But, never was there a more giving and community-conscious individual in the world outside of the boxing ring. His philanthropy is what made him truly legendary.
Here’s one last thought from an individual who many may not remember. For many years this comedienne brought joy and laughter to audiences with her self-effacing brand of humour. She was an unusual creature that took great pleasure in making herself the butt of most of her jokes.
Her name was Phyllis Diller, and her legacy was to give joy to others at her own expense. She dressed wildly and colourfully, she always looked like she’d just fallen out of bed. It was all for effect. She also had a way with words.
“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
In her lifetime, Ms. Diller put smiles on the faces of millions, and laughter in their hearts.
So, my takeaway is simply this. When every citizen of the world sees genuine Humility as a strength rather than a weakness and finds ways to create happiness for others, maybe we’ll finally know what it means to be Great.
As always, thanks for taking the time. Thanks to my friends at ILLUMINATION for giving me a voice. Dr. Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon, CPA, CGA Liam Ireland Britni Pepper Carol Price Agnes Laurens Jill Reid, of course, Myriam Ben Salem and all the new people I’m grateful to call friends.
