IMHO
There is only one darling of the US media and it had been always that way. No matter when, no matter what the topic, no matter the circumstances this particular entity is always unconditionally praised. Even Jesus Christ is not sacrosanct but this entity is. This magnificent, everlasting, super-smart and over-powerful entity is His Majesty THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Of course, people of America pay the bills and that means the media people's salary. But there's something bizarre, something unlimited, something scary in the perpetual howling of the media when it comes to the People. One person can be a bastard; People are always good. One person can be rich and greedy; People are always generous and loving. One person can be a murderer; People are always defending themselves. One person can be a dufus or a douche bag; People are always smart and charming. US media is in love with the US populous en masse. As soon as the word "poll' is mentioned every person's face on the political show shines pure admiration. It borders on the religious faith. In populous we trust no matter what. Since when? Why?
To answer this question we need to go a little deeper and uncover the two particular qualities the American Populous is being praised for: goodness of heart and work ethics. Americans in general are considered by the media as the most productive, generous and honest people on Earth. All of that is the result of them being free, of course, the only truly free folks under the sun. Where did I read or hear that before?
In the reminiscences of the ostarbaiten, Russian kids forcefully sent to slavery in Germany during WWII this motive was the first and over-prevailing. That was the first thing they were told- that Germans were the most hardworking, disciplined and BEST people in the world. They were told that God had chosen Germans to civilize everyone else and teach other people the everlasting German values. Not that those eastern people could ever hope to master those in full because Germans were superior beings. They were told that every German was good and gentle and sentimental at heart but that the sense of duty and discipline was paramount for the German nation and that's why they (Germans) were the born masters of the Earth. That's what was written in the German newspapers, in the German books and promoted by the German rulers. And there were references, lots of them, dating down to the times of Niebelungians. All the abovementioned authors off the Russian slave- memoirs share a common observation- that those diatribes sounded very natural, without any effort, to consider thus that those who promoted that nonsense really believed it and were proud of it. This brings us to the $64K question- do average Americans believe in all that ooze of love coming from the media? Does that flattery work?
Oh, yes. I looked into a lot of comments, notes and letters-to the editor. I listened to the debates. I perused the blogs. So far I had not found even one comment from the outraged reader or listener demanding from the loving media folks to stop licking the public butt. No, there is a plenty of articles and books on the subject of the lack of reason in the US populous but when comes to vox populi there is an overwhelming, " Yes, we are the best, the brightest, the smartest and the most hardworking.' No wonder we are so screwed, folks. In the old road- robber song it says that "You don't need the knife to get the stuff from the buffoon. Just flatter him a little bit and he will give it to you.' What a revelation! Our anchor- people earn millions exactly because of that. Flattery goes a long way.
So apparently there seem to be a connection in the psyche here, the one that transfigures you and me, so to speak, the one which does not care for geography, the profound connection. Where did that come from? To try to answer to this question we should address one of the German geniuses Heinrcih Heine. Heine was a romantic poet and author. Among other things he wrote a magnificent memoir " Germany, The Winter Fairy-Tale'. There he describes his childhood during the Napoleonic wars. He tells a story about a French regiment which stayed in his town. The sergeant of the regiment was also a compulsive drummer. He developed an ability to explain his perceptions about countries and people through different tunes on the drum. Like when he wanted to tell about France he would play La Marseilliese. Once, as Heine recalls, the sergeant wanted to mention Germany and played a melody resembling the doggy - dance. And the young poet says,
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