In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy there is abundant anger and critical reflection going around. I’ve seen two targets of criticism that seem to be polar opposites but fit together perfectly depending on one’s worldview of life. One is our nation, the other, human nature.
I’ve never been a fan of the “great nation” attitude our politicians and corporate media so love to foster. In a sense, I don’t get it. Think about your children. Do you love them? Do you think they are great? The answer is probably yes to both, and are tied into each other. Your children probably do not come in at the top for any objective measurement of greatness, yet for you the combination of traits they possess amount to the greatest thing out there, with an important caveat. If you truly love your kids you will acknowledge their flaws and seek to help them through their troubles, with tough love if need be.
That’s not the type of attitude cultivated by the “great nation” mantra. We fancy ourselves the greatest by concrete, measurable objectives … and we are for some things. We are the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the earth, yet who should care whether we are or not in terms of love of country? More important to that love is acknowledging the flaws. By existing measurable objectives we are not the happiest, nor the healthiest, nor the most just, nor even the most democratic, at least if democracy is to be gauged as a participatory process.
I still love this country, precisely because being the greatest by measurable objectives is no more important for my country as it is for my children. That’s why I’m not supportive of people viewing the Sandy Hook tragedy as a blemish on our great nation status. Here’s the thing. Having something that others don’t have–like wealth, or power, or greatness–can be viewed as a blessing. However, wanting those things to the extent that one becomes obsessed usually amounts to a curse. The cultural attitudes behind a “great nation” obsession more likely contributes to tragedies such as Sandy Hook, rather than prevents them. At best they are unrelated, for preventing tragedies such as Sandy Hook has more to do with the social structure known as “community” rather than “nation.”
More next time on the other target for blame in the Sandy Hook aftermath, human nature.
