An interview with one of our successful young sports stars recently was a disheartening experience. Certainly, if she is reflective of her generation. She repeatedly said: “I did it for me.”
In younger days, if any of my peers said such a thing, s/he would be laughed off the stage as an eejit or, worse, “full of him/herself”. Following which there would be a severe drop in our respect for him/her. Back then you “did it” for family, the club/parish, the county/Ireland.
“Me” had a very low profile indeed.
But the young woman who “did it for me” did not come across as egotistical. She sounded naturally humble. It was as if she had been told in training how she was doing it for herself and this had stuck. Surely there have to be better ways of motivating young people, none of whom can reach their potential, however talented, without a network of family, team, club, etc behind them.
RM Block
No man is an island; no woman either.
We don’t have to look very far to see where this “me” culture can lead. Just look across the Atlantic and behold “Maga Me” himself, the Great Narcissist. Rarely in the history of modern times have so many been as beholden to such as “Me”.
What makes Trump “grate” again is the power entrusted to the office he occupies. It has writ him very large indeed, and the world kowtows at his door, having little alternative, such is the military and economic power of America. The great casualty in all of this is its moral authority, standing currently close to zilch over Gaza and Ukraine.
It is tough on leaders who, in the interests of their peoples, must play along with this. It has to be as excruciating as it is embarrassing, abasing themselves before such as Trump. But, needs must.
Yet, it can be too obsequious. Such as at the banquet for Trump in London’s Windsor Castle last month where the table was 50-metres long, with 1,452 pieces of cutlery and 139 candles, for 160 guests.
They were treated to Warre’s 1945 Vintage Port, in recognition of Trump as 45th (now 47th) President of the US, and Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne, from the year of Trump’s Scottish mother’s birth.
All in honour of a non-drinker.
Me, from Old English/Irish/Latin, “me”
