Toxic Narcissism

There is a growing undercurrent of narcissism in the United States. It has always been with us. Foreign visitors have noted its presence since Alexis de Toqueville. In general, our exalted impression of ourselves has been a strength. Sometime in the middle of the last century, professionals made a living designing ways to harness our narcissism for commercial gain. The advertising industry was born. It has been marvelously effective, too effective. Modern Americans have internalized the subtext, “it is all here for you.” Since our attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq, our self regard has taken a spiritually toxic turn.

We attended the fourth of July parade in Richland, today. It had all of the usual tractors, antique cars, fire equipment, marching bands and combines. Richland’s parade has a running commentator, blasting his message on speakers up and down the parade route. The returning theme of the commentary was that parade members were here to “keep me safe.” This is the new narcissism. It is all about my safety. This virulent strain is not safe. For the guardians of the new narcissism are not simply friendly merchants and manufacturers, but military types, people bearing weapons.

In a way, our individualism has worked well for us. It has been the source of our vital inventiveness, among other things. This new form of national narcissism promises spiritual evisceration, and worse. It bears eerie resemblance to the lethal spectacles of the Axis regimes, behind which the Holocaust lurked and against which millions fought in the last World War. The new narcissism, with its overbearing conformity of public events, in its hymnody, creeds and anthems, are creating a spiritual hollowness. "Keeping us safe," is not good for us. It may be the deepest meaning of Independence day to resist such protection.