Unintellectual Americans

It is as fashionable in the 21st century as it was in the 20th century. Europeans, Asians, Latin Americans, everyone continues to love to picture Americans as uncultured, unintellectual, ignorant rogues. The presence of Dubya at the helm of the country only seems to make things easier for the bashers, presents a valuable alibi (though it would be interesting to analyze how many of those unabashed critics know where Yale and Harvard are, let alone have any chance at graduating from there, twice).

And yet, the "stupid Americans" slogan looks as implausible, as ill-informed, as ignorant as many of its typical sibblings. For I have never seen so many quality bookstores, crowded to the ceiling, as in the land of the stars and stripes. It is not just New York, where the thing is utterly ridiculous. It´s everywhere. I was once in a remote Maine town, went to a movie, what was next to the theater? that´s right, a vast Barnes&Noble (or was it a Borders?) with a much larger selection of finance books than the best (and only) finance bookstore in Madrid.

I don´t have statistics, but Americans seem to read far more (and far better, witness the outstanding available selection) than other ethnicities. And (successful) authors are certainly cherished, adored, and worshipped.

Unintellectual Americans? just another baseless simplicity that allows resentful foreigners to sleep better at night.

ptriana@profesor.ie.edu