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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009

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OPINION

Brooks: Humility Is Dead

Kanye, Joe Wilson lead age of attention-seeking

By Matt Cantor| Posted Sep 15, 09 10:45 AM CDT|

(Newser) – What happened to humility in America? In the past few days, we’ve seen Joe Wilson interrupt a presidential speech, Kanye West steal Taylor Swift’s microphone to voice his opinion, and Michael Jordan offer up an “egomaniacal” Hall of Fame speech, writes David Brooks in the New York Times. “Today, immodesty is as ubiquitous as advertising, and for the same reasons.” But it wasn’t always this way.

Brooks looks back on VJ day: The overarching feeling was one of “humility,” as Bing Crosby put it. But as the years went by, “self-effacement became identified with conformity and self-repression,” leading us quickly down the path of “self-exposure and self-love.” But on that eve of victory, “It’s funny how the nation’s mood was at its most humble when its actual achievements were at their most extraordinary,” Brooks writes.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Singer Kanye West takes the microphone from singer Taylor Swift as she accepts the "Best Female Video" award during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC, speaks to reporters outside of his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

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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. - David Brooks

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39 comments

VIEWING:

osu1067
Sep 15, 09 10:59 AM CDT

Interesting perspective Reply

IN RESPONSE:

bewilderbeast
Sep 16, 09 4:40 AM CDT

Funny, I doubt anyone outside America has EVER associated the two words "American" and "Humility" - EVER!

| 0 minutes ago

jbcorny
Sep 15, 09 11:01 AM CDT

YOU LIE!! brooks, i'll let you finish in a minute, but i have to tell everyone that slate.com wrote the best column on this ever in the history or journalism. Reply

+11

IN RESPONSE:

passinthru
Sep 15, 09 1:59 PM CDT

LOL...

| 0 minutes ago

BeatBlaster
Sep 15, 09 11:03 AM CDT

If you were born within the last 30 years in America there is a real good chance the notion of "me first" has been beaten into your head since birth. Our individualistic society would have nothing less than what we are seeing today. Also, people just don't give a F anymore. As long as nor personal physical injury is coming their way I think a lot of people don't even mind sitting in jail over their actions. it's just me, me, me. Just my opinion. Reply

+16

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 11:05 AM CDT

it's called capitalism.

-7

IN RESPONSE:

Forderon
Sep 15, 09 11:19 AM CDT

No, it's called individualism. And in many cases, pure narcissism. That's what Facebook is for.

+14

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 15, 09 11:29 AM CDT

This is especially true of Republicans. Just look at the draft dodgers in the Bush administration, and Rush Limbaugh's reaction to the 9/11 day of service. Obama calls on Americans to volunteer and serve their community, and Limbaugh calls it sinister Nationalism. This also applies to Republican's hatred of taxes. They hate it when taxes are spent on things that are good for the community as a whole. Their "me first" attitude tells them that they should keep all their money for themselves, even though they use public resources as much as anyone else. Worse yet, they're the first to bitch when things go wrong due to budget cuts. They point their finger at "government" and say, "See? Government is the PROBLEM."

+14

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Sep 15, 09 11:35 AM CDT

wow. nice synopsis, odude80. you sure save me a lot of typing (pretty much all the time)

IN RESPONSE:

osu1067
Sep 15, 09 12:29 PM CDT

@odowd80: This article is about an assessment of the changing character of the entire nation. all you can see is politics. That's a shame. And maybe that is part of this problem, Americans who view the others through labels. It's easy to go through life categorizing people into simple, easy to define groups/labels. It makes it much easier to dismiss and ridicule them and think you are "holier than thou" (hence the lack of humility)

-4

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:30 PM CDT

Yes and they're using their invidualism, narcissism and platform to capitalize

-1

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 15, 09 12:39 PM CDT

@osu: I see that you are better than me for rising above politics and labels. Congratulations. You should announce your superiority on Twitter and Facebook.

IN RESPONSE:

osu1067
Sep 15, 09 12:56 PM CDT

@odowd80: I never contended to be better than you. Just pointing out a glaring error in your perspective. You feeling inferior to me is unfortunate and revealing. I detect some bitterness in making you more self aware of any failures you feel you have. perhaps there is some self loathing issues you are dealing with. But hey, none of us are perfect! I only hope that my previous reply will instill some humility in you and that labeling people is no way to go through life.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

odowd80
Sep 15, 09 1:05 PM CDT

@osu: haha, I love that you're now subtly belittling me with your Psych 101 analysis.

| 0 minutes ago

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 11:04 AM CDT

I liked Jordan's speech. I mean - how humble do you really expect the best to ever do it to be?! Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Forderon
Sep 15, 09 11:22 AM CDT

How about as humble as Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Wayne Gretzky, or Albert Pujols? MJ was petty and demeaning. Instead of thanking all the people that made him who he was, he poked fun at them for not having his talent. That's exactly what Brooks is talking about.

IN RESPONSE:

Bambi
Sep 15, 09 11:43 AM CDT

NoReallySeriously, Humility would have even "the best to ever do (something)" recognize that whatever that something is, it's just one facet of life. Arrogance and self-absorption over any particular achievement is always a defect, because it shows a lack of perspective about the value of their achievements in relation to the breadth and kinds of achievement that exist. Basketball was certainly a social big-deal where I grew up, but look--I grew up. Excellence at basketball is certainly impressive, but is there substance to it which should have Jordan feeling superiority of achievement compared to, say, any of our military heroes, or figures like Jonas Salk, Chuck Berry, Harriet Tubman or Bertrand Russell? These people all achieved things of arguably a bit more significance, but with quite a bit less pay and popular recognition. Humility would have Michael Jordan appreciate the basketball industry and its fan's recognition of his role in glamorizing the sport, recognizing that he has already been exceptionally compensated for that fairly trivial contribution to world culture, while more significant (humanitarian, artistic, medical, intellectual, spiritual or scientific) contributors to human interests are much less well compensated and remain less well sung. All recognized achievers have an obligation of humility to pay to the equal and greater achievers in less glamorous areas that go perpetually unrecognized.

IN RESPONSE:

Bambi
Sep 15, 09 11:51 AM CDT

...To be clear, it's not about winners being humble toward losers (fine, gloat to the loser if you want to)--it's about winners being humble in recognizing the real value of what has been won in the scheme of achievements that are of value.

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:34 PM CDT

Bambi your eloquence is wasted on the reality of your topic swaying from relevance to irrelevance. MJ's lack of humility remained strictly in the realm of basketball - the one facet at which he is, by far, the best on the planet - for now. Had he taken that superiority and let it convince him that he was the best at anything else - especially in that hall of fame speech, then we'd have something else to talk about and I'd agree with you. But - you're wrong here.

-2

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:38 PM CDT

...to be clear Being the best basketball player globally and underscoring the fuel that drove you to be the best during a hall of fame speech is not a "defect".

-2

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:41 PM CDT

and lastly - you apparently didn't listen to the speech - I say this because you say that he didn't show appreciation to the industry or fans and prior recognitions and compensation - but he actually did all of those in the speech. Very odd that, on the topic of humility, you'd be hypocritical enough to write a paragraph faulting someone for their lack of it when you don't even have a personal reference for the event at hand. And - if I'm wrong and you did watch/hear the speech - then you obviously didn't listen. No offense.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:46 PM CDT

and, Forderon, he did thank all the people that made him who he was. Every person that he brought up as being a log on the fire was someone that made him who he is. SMH

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Dr.Gonzo
Sep 15, 09 12:47 PM CDT

Yea exactly, hes the best bball player of all time, not the best motivational speaker.

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:51 PM CDT

no argument there haha

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Bambi
Sep 15, 09 1:10 PM CDT

NoReallySeriously--Your point(s) are well taken. You're right, his speech was about his ranking in basketball. I guess I read into his augmentation of the old sports proverb, "There's no 'I' in 'team'" with "...but there is an 'I' in 'win'" to suggest a likely sense ofself-importance beyond the game--for such attitudes rarely remain bounded to the specific domain to which they may apply. Neverthess, in fairness, I have to acknowledge that the speech does not have a smoking gun to this effect. I stand corrected.

IN RESPONSE:

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 2:16 PM CDT

Bambi - yeah when he said that I felt this twinge of - "dag mike, really?" but then when you think about it - he's being honest about his thoughts at the time. I don't necessarily agree with it, but that he was motivated by that kind of drive doesn't make him necessarily wrong, imho. It's always interesting, for me, when I get a glimpse inside the mind of genius - be it sports genius or otherwise - and I think that's what he provided to everyone. Sure he's a bit egotistical - but that's how he became who he is - by feeding his ego. He started off the speech by saying "what don't you all know about me??" and he let it hang out - I'm an ego maniac and that's what made me as good as I am. I love that level of honesty - I think it's sad that he's being crapped on for it.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Bambi
Sep 15, 09 4:08 PM CDT

I feel you, NoReallySeriously. I think you've won me over about interpreting Jordan--I agree that there's a certain refreshing candor in MJ's letting his arrogance hang out. However, I think my comment above had one eye on the Jordan dispute, but the other on the larger topic of the cultural trend away from humility as a virtue. I think my comments are better reassigned to that topic: I believe the basis of this trend is a breakdown in reading the relative value of things--the sense of how relatively important something like basketball, for example, or Beyonce's music for another, is to the whole of human concerns. People that excel at a particular thing show their refinement by keeping such perspective in mind. For example, like many here commenting on newser, my intellectual muscle is fairly well developed. However, I don't lose sight of the fact that feelings are much more central to human happiness, and the value of analysis lays primarily in its potential to instruct and move feelings. As such, a poet that can convey something about feelings abstractly that I could never encapsulate analytically--well, that keeps my intellect humbled.

| 0 minutes ago

Timinator2K
Sep 15, 09 11:16 AM CDT

Humility? Humility is how LOSERS expect winners to act when they win, all ashamed and embarrassed. Screw that monumental stupidity! You win, GREAT! Good for you! You earned it! Tough noogies for the sore losers. You lose, give the winners their due...and try harder for next time. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

Forderon
Sep 15, 09 11:20 AM CDT

Interesting thought coming from the Sore Loser Party of America

IN RESPONSE:

Jes
Sep 15, 09 11:31 AM CDT

Considering the article is how at one point in American history we as a nation were triumphant and humble, I think you missed the entire point T2K. It's saying that American's aren't just sore losers but sore winners as well. We all as a society seem struck with histrionic personality disorder, a baseless need for attention and praise.

IN RESPONSE:

DJM420
Sep 15, 09 11:32 AM CDT

humble and modest does not mean ashamed and embarrassed... joe wilson didnt 'win' anything

IN RESPONSE:

bewilderbeast
Sep 16, 09 4:50 AM CDT

Tim2K, your attitude could be called "Triumphalism". It's very American, and it sucks to watch. Start practicing humility now - you're going to need it as you slip down the ladder to No. 2 economy, No. 3 economy. Teach the kids Mandarin and Urdu (actually, too late, "they" have already learnt English).

| 0 minutes ago

NoReallySeriously
Sep 15, 09 12:50 PM CDT

It seems that people would rather someone be fake and dishonest than actually show their true character. Not everyone cares if you like them. Not everyone cares if you disagree with their action. And while you or I may not like the results, it is their absolute right to do so without being judged by you...lest you be judged for any thing the rest of the world would disagree with that you've done lol Reply

-2

IN RESPONSE:

Dr.Gonzo
Sep 15, 09 12:57 PM CDT

yea somehow i have a feeling Jordan hasnt lost much sleep over people's negative reaction to his speech. he earned the right to say whatever he wanted in my opinion

| 0 minutes ago

passinthru
Sep 15, 09 2:06 PM CDT

Its called "self-exploitation", and its what were teaching our next gen to do by not curbing these crap sites that allow everyone to become so self absorbed. its sickening...i used to remember good conversation with people, now its just a bunch of dimwitted self absorbed people waiting for their turn to tell a story that they have that they think is better than the one being told to them...throough text...ugh, technology is good, but when you put it in the hands of people that just use it to flood the normal way of life, this is the results you see...if it isnt that stupid ass sites like twitter, facebook, myspace, etc. its the games like WOW, and Call of duty...what this country needs is a good ole case of Humility, and NOT through a political standpoint seen by the rest of the world...it needs to be brash, harsh and staring us in our own faces...for some reason we have forgotten what its like to laugh at ourselves for the stupid and self righteous things we do to each other and ourselves. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Sep 15, 09 2:29 PM CDT

It’s called being a jerk off. Let’s not beat the bush here. I am sick of ego driven douche bags invading the spot light, especially when they don’t belong. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

edtastic
Sep 15, 09 11:23 PM CDT

All I saw in this editorial was Brooks picking on black celberties and disregarding up the racist shit hole America was post WWII by applauding their humility. Hip hop is not humble, a slam dunk is not humble, and promoting a boxing match is not humble, so he ought to be a serious intellectual and find some relevant examples at the least. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

bewilderbeast
Sep 16, 09 4:56 AM CDT

Brooks is also forgetting (maybe he doesn't even know?) that other countries fought the Japanese and Germans for 27 long months while America stood on the sidelines. What Hollywood shows Americans of WW2 is a select slice of the whole war.

| 0 minutes ago

Fondue
Sep 17, 09 12:42 PM CDT

http://www.pr2020.com/page/social-media-indicates-the-power-of-a-publicity-stunt Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 39 comments »

Michael Jordan • Kanye West • World War II • David Brooks • VJ Day • Taylor Swift • Joe Wilson

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Brooks: Humility Is Dead