4 ms·
"active rejection of elitism". Not really. In US 'elite' means money wealth, whereas in historical Europe 'elite' means martial nobility. Anecdata: the very con
by fatherzine 3y ago
"active rejection of elitism". Not really. In US 'elite' means money wealth, whereas in historical Europe 'elite' means martial nobility. Anecdata: the very concept of 'legacy admission' is overtly classist, and simply does not exist in continental Europe. US is very much elitist, it's just that its manifestation of elitism is less obvious to the unsuspecting eye.
- inglor_cz 3y agoIs there any non-elitist country out there? Humans tend to socially stratify even in relatively modest conditions (such as tribal life). What really matters is if the elite is closed or relatively permeable, and how it treats the non-elite. What the founding generation of America rejected, was inheritance of elite status, but I don't think they were completely egalitarian either. After all, people like Jefferson and Washington were highly regarded by their peers.
- wolverine876 3y ago> Is there any non-elitist country out there? You could also ask, 'is there any elitist country out there?'. There is no perfectly elitst or non-elitist. The differences are matters of degree. Some countries have castes and royalty that last forever. Others at least advocate social mobility and work at it. > people like Jefferson and Washington were highly regarded by their peers 'Highly regarded' and elitist are very different.
- wolverine876 3y agoAgain, it's not at all perfect, but it has certainly been a widely held value and objective. Think of the overt humility of Washington, Lincoln, and most American leaders until around seven years ago.