David Brooks - Interesting, But What About Me?

In an very interesting column David Brooks launches with a discussion of the muted response to the Allied victory over Japan in 1945 and then draws Big Lessons about cultural changes over the years that followed:

On Sunday evenings, my local NPR station airs old radio programs. A few weeks ago it broadcast the episode of the show “Command Performance” that aired the day World War II ended. “Command Performance” was a variety show that went out to the troops around the world.

On V-J Day, Frank Sinatra appeared, along with Marlene Dietrich, Jimmy Durante, Dinah Shore, Bette Davis, Lionel Barrymore, Cary Grant and many others. But the most striking feature of the show was its tone of self-effacement and humility. The allies had, on that very day, completed one of the noblest military victories in the history of humanity. And yet there was no chest-beating. Nobody was erecting triumphal arches.

“All anybody can do is thank God it’s over,” Bing Crosby, the show’s host, said. “Today our deep down feeling is one of humility,” he added.

And by way of contrast:

And there was something else. When you look from today back to 1945, you are looking into a different cultural epoch, across a sort of narcissism line. Humility, the sense that nobody is that different from anybody else, was a large part of the culture then.

But that humility came under attack in the ensuing decades. Self-effacement became identified with conformity and self-repression. A different ethos came to the fore, which the sociologists call “expressive individualism.” Instead of being humble before God and history, moral salvation could be found through intimate contact with oneself and by exposing the beauty, the power and the divinity within.

Everything that starts out as a cultural revolution ends up as capitalist routine. Before long, self-exposure and self-love became ways to win shares in the competition for attention. Muhammad Ali would tell all cameras that he was the greatest of all time. Norman Mailer wrote a book called “Advertisements for Myself.”

Today, immodesty is as ubiquitous as advertising, and for the same reasons. To scoop up just a few examples of self-indulgent expression from the past few days, there is Joe Wilson using the House floor as his own private “Crossfire”; there is Kanye West grabbing the microphone from Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards to give us his opinion that the wrong person won; there is Michael Jordan’s egomaniacal and self-indulgent Hall of Fame speech. Baseball and football games are now so routinely interrupted by self-celebration, you don’t even notice it anymore.

"Baseball and football games"?  I take it he has tuned out from NBA and its "Enough about my last slam-dunk, let's talk about my jumper before that" knuckleheads.

Anyway, I don't intend this as a rebuttal, but let me throw out one possible caveat, three names, and a group:  Nuclear weapons, Tom Hanks, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, the Rat Pack.

As to people feeling awed and humbled by our victory over Japan, well, look how that war ended.  Quite possibly it was not just the Japanese that were stunned by the wrath unleashed upon them.  Beyond that, in 1945 it was obvious to many observers that the looming problem of the Soviet Union had not exactly been resolved with the victory over Japan.

My impression is that a national attitude of "Rah-rah, we're off to war" more or less ended with the carnage of WW I.

As to the names - Tom Hanks is celebrated for portraying Everyman.  David Brooks will find that many, many people point to Jeter and Rivera as role models for self-effacing yet madly successful sports superstars.  And the Rat Pack of Sinatra, Martin et al were many things, but self-effacing was not one of them.

Well.  I am sure examples abound of different role models from different eras; it's a helpful way to illustrate a point but tricky way to prove one.

Brooks might also have considered relating his theme rise in income inequality from the mid 60's, since changes in societal norms have been put forward as a possible reason by Krugman and others.

MORE:  Jennifer Rubin of Commentary adds to her already vast trove of astuteness points.

Comments

[ROA]

David Brooks could have also mentioned President Obama who told his supporters "I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. I want you to argue with them and get in their face."

[bishop]

Didn't he do this column some monthes ago, with the names changed out,

[Thomas Collins]

Unconditional surrender by one's enemies makes it easier to be humble in victory. The style of arrogance in athletes and entertainers may have changed over the years, but the basic arrogance is the same (Babe Ruth once justified making a higher salary than the US Prez by claiming he had a better year). Brooks goes to the head of the pack in the competition for the 2009 award for the "Most Ridiculous Column by a Middle Aged Fart Lamenting the Decline in Civility."

[ben]

So much for the bounce. Rasmussen has Obamacare approval at pre-speech levels again. Good luck with the get in your neighbor's face approach.

[Ignatz]

So if Brooks longs for humility why has he been suckling at the teet of the man who declared "we are the people we've been waiting for", amongst a legion of other Olympian grandiosities?

[BB Key]

Columns were back at yesterday's speech in NYC

[Porchlight]

"Most Ridiculous Column by a Middle Aged Fart Lamenting the Decline in Civility."

Well, there was the George Will blue jeans column...

I would agree with Brooks that there has been a decline in civility. I think that's undeniable. Societal norms of public behavior have changed. My problem with Brooks here is that I don't know that it's relevant to the point he's making, or that he's provided good examples.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

As to people feeling awed and humbled by our victory over Japan, well, look how that war ended. Quite possibly it was not just the Japanese that were stunned by the wrath unleashed upon them. Beyond that, in 1945 it was obvious to many observers that the looming problem of the Soviet Union had not exactly been resolved with the victory over Japan.

Hell, my Dad was flying combat missions against the Russians in the Sakhalin Islands within weeks of the surrender.

[Old Dad]

I think Americans were exhausted from the war effort, and relieved. We had just won a horrifically bloody and horrible 15 round prize fight. So many dead, so much destruction. The Holocaust, Hiroshima, Dresden. I think folks must have felt lucky to be alive.

[Dave (in MA)]

Here's a better column on essentially the same topic.

[Thomas Collins]

I would agree, Porchlight, that George Will's columns must be given due consideration for the award. However, neither Will nor Brooks is in competition for the "Tingling for Obama" award, which has been retired by Chris Matthews!

[bishop]

From Beck's part of a Breitbart TV comment,
Valerie Jarrett, who was born in Iran, turns out she is tied through her mother, who worked with Thomas Ayers, father of Bill Ayers; on an educational foundation she in turn was on a board with Bernadine Doehrn, and her father was tied to Frank Marshall Davis through their work with the Chicago Defender. Van Jones, pops in this narrative as well in first Black Radical
Congress at the U of Illinois in 1998

[Dave (in MA)]

BB Key

Columns were back at yesterday's speech in NYC

These were actual structural columns at Federal Hall on Wall St., not the styrofoam Vero Possumus ones designed by Britney's stage crew.

[Steve C.]

I guess "Our Mr. Brooks" forgot to check the covers of Life Magazine, circa May and August 1945. Millions around the world celebrated VE and VJ days with flag waving, cheering and kissing in the streets. I won't even mention the hundreds of victory parades celebrating homecomings of various and sundry regiments, ships and squadrons.

Our leaders (and by extension celebrities from Hollywood) were right to be humble in public. Unlike the GIs and swabbies who put their lives on the line from Guadalcanal to Bastogne, they played a small part in final victory.

[DebinNC]

It's hard for me to think of someone less self-effacing and less humble than Obama.

[daddy]

Why doesn't this guy just go smoke pot with Andrew Sullivan and the 2 of them together disappear into irrelevancy.

[clarice]

He should be modest, Brooks is where he belongs-- in the company of a ship of fools.

[MICHAEL SPENCER]

From Beck's part of a Breitbart TV comment,
Valerie Jarrett, who was born in Iran, turns out she is tied through her mother, who worked with Thomas Ayers, father of Bill Ayers; on an educational foundation she in turn was on a board with Bernadine Doehrn, and her father was tied to Frank Marshall Davis through their work with the Chicago Defender. Van Jones, pops in this narrative as well in first Black Radical
Congress at the U of Illinois in 1998

Bishop, when you were typing this, were you able to count how many times your head spun around.

Beck has about 6 months before he crashes and commits to mental hospital or some rehab program

[Charlie (Colorado)]

These were actual structural columns at Federal Hall on Wall St., not the styrofoam Vero Possumus ones designed by Britney's stage crew.

Somehow I don't find his using Federal Hall, at pretty much the exact location of Washington's Inaugural, all that much of a distinction.

[Bruce]

Later, in an address to a crowd that had gathered outside the White House President Truman said: "This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor. This is the day when Fascism finally dies, as we always knew it would."

Is that humility?

Or is David Brooks just a bullsh*t artist.

(Rhetorical question)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/15/newsid_3581000/3581971.stm

[bishop]

You should be proud, MICHAEL, not dismissive
how this progressive element has been able to scale the establishment, instead of being
so dismissive

[Ignatz]

--Beck has about 6 months before he crashes and commits to mental hospital or some rehab program...--

If he hasn't, will you, oh one of the shouted name?

[dependent on the kindness of crazed weasels]

Could be that if David ever pulls his head
out of his anaerobic chamber, he might broaden his perspective. Or, could be he'll just stick it right back in his comfort zone.

[Thomas Collins]

I just had a disturbing thought. What if, a couple of thousand years from now, the only written work that is preserved from our civilization consists of Dowd, Will and Brooks columns? What will the folks of the future think of us? I'm sure the Greeks had their Dowdzes, Willzes and Brookszes, but we tend to think of Plato and Homer and Sophocles and other fine thinkers when we think of ancient Greek civilization.

[bishop]

That reminds me of that scene in Star Trek IV, when Kirk comments on the late 20th Century literature, and the courseness of the language, referring to Jacqueline Susann
and Harold Robbins, to wit Spock saids 'ah
the classics'

[clarice]

Don't go there, Thomas. Just don't.

[Porchlight]

OT,

For those of you following the ACORN scandal, there is a tasty thread over at HotAir right now about the House bill to cut off funding to ACORN. Toward the end of the thread there are comments on Beck's radio show where the new San Bernardino tape was just played.

I couldn't listen but following the comments of those who were, let's just say Boxer's name came up, plus a teaser about a confession of murder (seriously).

Per Breitbart, BigGovernment will have the video up tonight one hour before Beck's show begins, and Beck will devote the first hour to it.

HotAir ACORN thread

[clarice]

If Beck succeeds in getting Boxer defeated, I will forgive him anything his detractors come up with--

[Dave (in MA)]

Somehow I don't find his using Federal Hall, at pretty much the exact location of Washington's Inaugural, all that much of a distinction.

At least he didn't have to cover up any religious iconography.

[Dave (in MA)]

I just had a disturbing thought. What if, a couple of thousand years from now, the only written work that is preserved from our civilization consists of Dowd, Will and Brooks columns?

E Plebnista...

[maryrose]

No wonder Boxer voted against funding Acorn yesterday in the senate. I knew there had to be some clandestine reason.Boxer is going down in the 2010 election.

[clarice]

You mean against "defunding ACORN" I think. She really should be a bra saleswoman in Brooklyn and in a perfect world where people's jobs reflected their abilities, she would be there right now.

[Captain Hate]

I'm sure the Greeks had their Dowdzes, Willzes and Brookszes, but we tend to think of Plato and Homer and Sophocles and other fine thinkers when we think of ancient Greek civilization.

Well the Greeks begot Diogenes, Hermias, Eulalius, Priscian, Damascius, Isidor and Simlicius, who thought Justinian was being a meanie (Justinian lied and academia died) and Persia under Chosroes was a learned Utopia. That worked out well!!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

VE Day was a red letter day since it is the day I was born. :)

My Mother told the story of how my Dad had planned every route to the hospital, had a long check list of all expected of him on the big day. When the time came, she says he was nervous as a cat and hovering to distraction as she got her bag and they headed to the hospital. On the way, the announcement the war was over, Germany had surrendered came over the car radio.

When they got to the hospital, the intake nurse informed my Dad that with a first baby it would be hours and hours, and he was sent off to the waiting room. He detoured to the pub across the street to join the big celebration that was starting.

Neither my Mother nor I cooperated and I was born 20 minutes after my Mother was admitted. I was 4 or 5 hours old before someone thought to go across the street and inform my Dad that he was a new Dad.

My Mom tells how the halls of the hospital were alive with singing, cheering, and people beating on bedpans in celebration. Of course, when I was little, I was told that all the celebration was for me.

[Captain Hate]

You mean against "defunding ACORN" I think

I think maryrose was correct.

[clarice]

Happy Birthday,Sara.
So Maryrose was saying Boxer voted against funding ACORN as a cover?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

This is the man who the left thinks made Sarah Palin look stupid? Who looks stupid and uninformed now?

In AM Radio Appearance, Charles Gibson Unaware of Five Day-Old ACORN Controversy, Senate Vote to De-Fund

[Captain Hate]

So Maryrose was saying Boxer voted against funding ACORN as a cover?

When I saw the list of 7 people voting against funding ACORN, Durbin was the most familiar name I saw. btw, McCain and Bugeyed Graham abstained; thanks for nothing, Rinos.

[maryrose]

Yes Boxer knows she's got a legit challenger so she now needs to look more moderate and senatorial"don't call me ma"m"

[Captain Hate]

"the list of 7 people voting against DEfunding ACORN"

Sorry about that.

[BB Key]

Dave
Are you insinuating that Axleturf did not know there are columns in Fedreal Hall?

[Porchlight]

New ACORN video is up at BigGovernment.com, and it's a smoker. Seriously, the jaw-dropping moments just keep coming.

[centralcal]

Heck, Porch - they found a real doozie at the San Bernadino Acorn office. I like that she is white - for a change, lest it look too racial. grin.

[clarice]

Wish I'd gone there..I'm watching it on Beck who really is annoying--sounds insane frankly.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

The corruption in San Bernardino county is rampant. This is the county I had to fight with for six years during my police brutality lawsuit. In addition to all the phony delays, they were not above constant harassment to try to frighten me into dropping my suit. It took a new judge (who came on when the 1st judge had to recuse himself over conflict of interest, but not until we were 5 1/2 years in) to the case to finally lay the law down and tell them to stop playing games. They settled 2 days later.

[clarice]

Place looks like prog hell or the part of the Siennese painting in the Townhall that signifies Bad Govt and what it means to the denizens who live under it.

[Captain Hate]

House votes to admonish Joe Wilson. Thanks alot, Pelosi Galore; 11/2010 can't come soon enough. LUN

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

This is also the county where my Mother lived when she had her stroke. I have plenty of experience with their health care for the elderly (put her in a nursing home and visit once a month on Sundays) and the network of physical therapists (they hate you Sara because they can't pull the wool over your eyes, they're used to dealing with dropouts, dopers, and dummies) and to the whole social work structure for the elderly. Since my Mother had legally prepared herself for a time when she might not be able to speak for herself, they were hamstringed, but that didn't stop them from trying to ride herd over me and trying to scare me into violating my Mother's wishes to satisfy some sick idea of their own about someone her age and her needs. The worst was when I went on the warpath over the 15 of 17 unnecessary drugs they were filling her up with each day. It was at that point I was told they were discharging my Mother since it was obvious that neither she nor I wanted to be good patients and do what we were told.

This is a county where the "system" is king and if you try to buck their "system" and do what you know is right, watch out!

[Captain Hate]

If you want to know why nobody gives a damn about the MSM, I can't find any site that gives a fucking list of who voted for the rebuke/admonishment/whatever of Joe Wilson. Lots of worthless blah blah that a trained monkey could write but nothing that gives any useful information. To hell with them all including the WSJ.

[MayBee]

bishop-

I would like to go on record that I have always been suspicious about the Valerie Jarrett/Michelle Obama/Barack Obama how we met story.
Jarrett and Michelle say she came to interview for a job, and had to bring her fiance in to check it out. They all approved of each other.

I don't know. Perhaps it because I don't believe some low-level political job requires a fiance's approval. Mostly, though, I think it's because its the only story of how they made an acquaintance with *anyone* that they ever tell.
It just has the whiff of hurrying up to tell a cover story so the real story doesn't get out.

So for that reason, I kinda believe she and Ayers met Obama sometime before he went to Harvard, and he was getting Michelle the job. That's certainly how the rest of their lives went.

[MayBee]

Because that was rambley-
I believe Michelle and Barack met the way they said they did.
I just don't believe Barack and Valerie met the way they said they did.

[JorgXMcKie]

I suspect Brooks has a point, and if he combed his hair differently, after extracting his cranial cavity from his anal aperture (I'd expect the resulting sound to deafen anyone within several yards of the event), we could all see it.