The Image We Love

I got cursed out once on a stone bridge in Dublin. My friend and I were just walking around, merely exploring the city. Still, two guys pretty much lost it on us for one reason: they could hear our American accents. I was in college at the time, but never having traveled outside the country before, this exchange was unsettling. Not just because we felt unsafe, but it dramatically altered my view of our country.

Like many Americans, I had been fed a healthy diet of American exceptionalism growing up. My education translated into the idea that the United States was the savior of the world. You know: rescuing Europe in WWII, stopping the spread of communism in Vietnam, or telling the rest of the world how to live from our “shining city upon a hill.” I subconsciously assumed when I studied abroad that everyone loved us. ‘Cause I was American, after all.

So, that exchange unsettled me. From someone else’s perspective, maybe my country wasn’t the savior of the world. For the first time in my life, I considered the possibility that my country was not exactly who I imagined it was.

Sure, we’ve done good things in the world. For instance, the Marshall Plan, which provided financial assistance to help rebuild Europe after the devastation of WWII. Before it was gutted last year, USAID was the lead international humanitarian aid and development agency in the world. And that’s the image of the country I love.

Which brings me to Narcissus. Yeah, I know. That was an abrupt transition. Just stay with me for a minute.

If you don’t know the story from Greek mythology, it reads like a soap opera. The river god Cephissus ravaged the nymph Liriope. She gave birth to Narcissus who was gorgeous even as a young child. Liriope consulted the seer Tiresias about the boy’s future, who predicted that the boy would live a long life only if he never “came to know himself.” (Wikipedia)

Narcissus was self-absorbed and had a callous disregard for those who loved him. Echo, for instance, fell madly for Narcissus, who spurned her love. Heartbroken, she faded away until all we could hear was her voice; this put him on the bad side of Nemesis, the goddess of retribution. She led Narcissus to a reflecting pool, where he fell in love with his own image. He realized that his love would never be reciprocated by the image in the pool, so he took his own life. Yep. Cheery story that is.

But here’s the lesson we take away. It’s a cautionary tale about being too absorbed in your own image and ignoring the importance of empathy and being mindful of others. Or as Paul said, “Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

But the part that some of us miss is that he didn’t fall in love with himself but a reflection of himself. And like Narcissus, we have fallen in love with the image we have of this country. At least some of us have.

I’ll admit that I thought something was wrong with me this last 4th of July because I wasn’t feeling all patriotic. Not running around in a flag t-shirt, wearing streamers in my hair, and eating hot dogs. Not waving the flag and setting off a boatload of fireworks. Instead, I was wondering who this country is after 250 years. I remembered those guys on that Dublin bridge, and I didn’t quite feel like celebrating.

It’s not that I don’t love my country, but reading Trump’s speech at Mt. Rushmore, I realized I wasn’t buying the image he was selling:

“We gather tonight to herald the most important day in the history of nations: July 4th, 1776. At those words, every American heart should swell with pride. Every American family should cheer with delight. And every American patriot should be filled with joy, because each of you lives in the most magnificent country in the history of the world, and it will soon be greater than ever before.”

I think this is a pretty great country to live in, but the greatest since the dawn of time?

I mean, every country has its problems, and the U.S. is no exception. Sorry to burst your bubble, but we’re also a country who exploits foreign workers and immigrants for our cheap goods (State Department). We are the second biggest polluters in the world behind China (World Population Review). And as for quality of life, we don’t even crack the top 15 (World Population Review).

Trump is selling an image that we want to believe in, but it doesn’t tell us who we really are. And it doesn’t leave room for self-reflection. Until I traveled outside our borders, I didn’t understand there might be a problem with our image.

If I were walking down the streets of Dublin today – or Tehran or Caracas or Rome – I wouldn’t be surprised if I were cursed out for my American accent. The rest of the world sees the parts of us that we don’t. Instead of hearts swelling with pride and an unrealistic view of ourselves, I’d love to see our hearts filled with humility. That, too, would be the image of the country I love.

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