“[Among students] the image of the USA is not very favourable. It is the image of a basically adolescent, materialistic, slightly hysterical society, run primarily by Big Brother, a society exerting great pressure for conformity with little real freedom of thought, a society which can easily run amok or behave in an unpredictable way. Its excessive influence on Britain is rather resented and many are afraid that what America is today Britain may become tomorrow.”
(Ferdynand Zweig, The Student in an Age of Anxiety: a Survey of Oxford and Manchester Students, 1963.)
Isn’t it odd how throughtout history the self-image of a society is usually at odds with the image others have of it from the outside? A lot of Americans anguish about the current image of their country; yet others, in all honesty and with the best of intentions, still hope to force their ideas of “freedom” and “democracy” on others, and are shocked when they are rebuffed.
A good Epicurean should be prepared to state his of her opinions honestly and be a reasonable champion for a good cause, but never be extreme or bullying about it or try to impose their views by bribery or force.
P.S I spent a couple of years in the US in 1962 and 1963. I did not at all share the views Mr. Zweig uncovered. On the contrary, at that time my father told me to emigrate for good if the US was that wonderful! Regrettably, times change.)