A September 15 New York Times op-ed by David Brooks, titled “High-Five Nation,” explores the notion of humility since World War II. Set off, no doubt, by the recent outburst of South Carolina’s Republican congressman Joe Wilson—who is mentioned in the article—Brooks looks backward for the roots of incivility and narcissism in the United States. [Thanks to John Fea for bringing the op-ed to my attention.] Brooks’s piece is an extended compare-and-contrast between 1945 and today. He looks closely at Western democratic humility at the close of World War II, as opposed to the pomposity of fascism, and then quickly Read more