Have you heard of hubris, and eudaemonia? Those are ye olde Greek words. Americans might like to read about them. Habeas corpus is an old latin phrase, which was also not invented in USA. <Americans appear poised to have nothing but history of greatness. The laurels will no longer have a place to rest.> Laurels have been around for a long time. It's an olde word. Heck, maybe it's even Greek. But look at Greece now. They are not wearing many laurels. They are a broke nation, not poised for greatness.
While you might think Americans are sort of like Gods who we should all worship, it might surprise you to learn that the 95% of people who are not Americans find themselves wearing plenty of laurels.
Which would you say is the brokest nation in history. Google can help. Mark Steyn discusses it.
Look who is wearing the laurels: heritage.org
Press freedom en.rsf.org
Have you heard of the fiscal cliff? That's not "poised for greatness", that's poised for problems.
It might surprise you to know that self-absorption aka narcissism leads to self-admiration. Meanwhile, other people, similarly self-absorbed, are not very interested in the first lot. <It must be a reflection of the relative (historical) importance in the world that Americanisms seem to be more reported that New Zealandisms. > Some people can't even speak, or understand, American.
Speaking of relative [historical] importance, what language do you think you are using? Yes, it is American, viola, towing the line, flaunting the Queen's english. But note that actual english comprises well over 95% of american. You are correct that NZ is a small place with not many people.
The laurels have got somewhere to rest. Peer to peer people. That's like Christianity versus Rome. The most splendid building in Rome is St Peter's church, not Julius Caesar's house. Christians were at one time lion food in the Colosseum, but ended up running the show, and a lot more besides.
Mqurice |
