What was maddening was not the anti-Americanism, which is understandable and even, in its Astérix-style resistance to American domination, admirable. What is maddening is the bland certainty, the lack of vigilant curiosity, the incapacity for critical self-reflection, the readiness to afficher erreur distante and wait for somebody else to change the paper.
In "Paris to the Moon," Adam Gopnik reflects on the nature of anti-Americanism, viewing it as both understandable and, at times, commendable in its resistance to perceived American dominance. However, he expresses frustration not with the sentiment itself, but with the unwavering certainty and complacency that often accompany such views. This lack of critical thinking and self-awareness stands out to him.
Gopnik contends that those who critique America may lack the curiosity to examine their own beliefs and assumptions. He critiques the tendency to disengage from reflection and to rely on external forces to prompt change, rather than actively questioning and evolving one's own perspectives.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
