I've had the experience of identifying with a host-nation (Canada, Ireland) more than my native country. Surely, most 'Murkans now have an anecdote about when soul-rot set in. Strangely, the thing that came to me was something from twenty-five years ago that I identified more with the modern south than the nation. It was about new marketing in thrift stores. In the late '80s, around the time that large cities got 'vintage clothing' stores, southern thrift stores began to house 'boutique' sections where things were housed in glass showcases behind a register. Often these items weren't particularly special. They just looked little used, 'in excellent condition'. The rationale of old thrift stores was that poor folks as well as middle-class people could get cast-offs at rock-bottom charity prices. Suddenly, it seemed like anything more-or-less unused was sold at retail-minus-10%. Ask the commercial Puritan behind the boutique register whether this [ordinary can-opener/ KMart work shirt/ spare tire] was correctly priced, and they'd give you a poisonous, narrow-eyed look of affronted avarice---"'You looking for some kinda handout? This [donated thing] is every bit good as new. Why shouldn't you pay what it's worth?"
It is illegal to charge more than 10% (IIRC) above your costs when subletting. A guy in Göteborg recently got jail time for profiteering on airbnb.
As another American living in Stockholm for many years, I definitely agree that covid made me very alienated from the us.
One thing that I love that Swedish people almost never do that Americans do way to much is talk about mental health. Its like some crazy game of showing how important you are. Also the us is a really stressful place to live so its not totally a status thing, but it feels like it sometimes.
I feel like people are pretty open to talk about burnout, which is of course a mental health thing. But it has never happened to me that I learn about someone's mental health ailments within a few minutes of meeting them, which does happen in the US.
Back in 1995 I heard an address by Vaclav Havel which focused on the responsibilities of a great power, i.e., the U.S. But he also made the point that the country's most ubiquitous export is culture--products, media, advertising, ways of speaking, ways of thinking. I've lived outside the US for 15 years and note the changes whenever I've been back; the last time was 2021 and I was struck by some of the things you mention, but mainly by the oppressive focus on violence in all manner of media and the unrelenting advertisements on television for prescription drugs.
Anyway, interesting read. I studied Swedish in university, by the way, and enjoyed it immensely.
I share your concerns about American culture, but please don’t compare us to cockroaches. There’s been enough of the talk of us as vermin as it is, we don’t need more of that. I understand that it’s upsetting to see cultural colonization, but we are not sub-humans.
I get what you meant by the NC gentrificationers. This was a fantastic piece. Will be rereading and thinking of it. I moved to St Louis after visiting during a renewed relationship and COVID shut the airports. Still here. My take has been that the city lost its mojo somehow. But a general soul sickness as you describe seems right. Since the election there has been a silent assent to the absurdity of our moment. A sadness around a giving in to our worst instincts and suspicions about each other. The better angels lost. The winners know they won because they are losers. And that there are many more losers than winners in a society that preys on each other like crabs in a bucket. They won by admitting their failures. Their powerlessness. That they needed a Protector because American society is being invaded and destroyed even, as you see, our banal dominance of other more delicate cultures persists. We are the invaders. Joyless and relentless, like the Orcs of Tolkien. Yet, we live in fear. They call it cognitive dissonance.
Americans are people just like any other group of people. American culture is poisoned by billionaires hacking our brains with addictive social media and very effective propaganda, selling fear and greed and envy.
Yes. America is as soulless as it has always been. People are turning a blind eye and not addressing the real reason why rump won. As usual, we pretend that RCSM is not a factor or minimize it at best. Until America starts her these issues we will remain soulless. The real reason Rump won because he’s YT.. he’s rich… and he’s male. He also represents the WhiteAngloSaxonProtestantStr8tMale lust to maintain control and power worldwide. The browning of America scares the shit out of the YT power structure so they enabled tRump to “right the ship” and turn back the clock as much as able to prevent any further potential progress made by the “Other”. They backed the Heritage Foundation/ Project2025 agenda 100% and exalt this supremely flawed piece of man to shepherd it into reality. They pulled out all the stops.. even so far as to give Russia inroads to the destruction of our American experiment. We all watched the denigration of America in real time. But blve and know that some people are wide eyed and celebrating all of the atrocities and the end of democracy. They would rather that then have to share equal power with POC and women.. both of whom they deem unworthy of a bigger seat at the table. I am not in the least bit surprised that the wealthiest down to the poorest of Americans were so easily convinced to vote against their own self interests. This is Amerikkka.. RCST at inception and down to it’s core. Accept it and know that it will get worse before it gets better.. if it ever does. I for one am wide eyed and bracing for the “leopard to start eating people’s face” portion to begin. POC have a saying…”those who don’t listen will feel” I hate that those of us who didn’t vote for this atrocity will suffer as well. When shit hits the fan… and it will.. I will offer my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks my fellow Swede. The not-enjoy I noticed in Venice this summer. One of the most exiting and unique cities in the world, the sun was shining a beeze blowing and the Italians friendly, but one group of people seem to be very unhappy by the looks of it. Its not easy not to be sweped away by Venice but Americans seemed to manage, at the airport, near the Hilton hotel and generally everywhere. There faces showed it and you could hear it
You could write this very essay about Canada, although there may be more awareness here about the push-pull of Americanism and the challenge to find -and keep- what makes us different with only a border between us. A few years ago there was a contest to create a saying about Canada like ‘As American as apple pie’. The winner was ‘As Canadian as possible under the circumstances’. Pretty well sums it up. But there has never been a time where the differences matter more, and the need to value and protect them more challenging.
A thing that came to me recently was that, yeah, we all laughed, pretty much when “Dub-ya” Bush promoted “compassionate conservatism.” And that’s because a person in his audience said they couldn’t get a job and he asked if anyone in the crowd could help this fellah out. And shore enuff some kindly kompassionate neo-con did! hooray!
Today? Would anyone expect MAGA to become a community organizer for a soup kitchen, or help Habitat build a house? Maybe one in 10k, but without strings? Like cursing the people who are responsible for this? Their leaders? Hmm.
There’s something very cold and cruel about this moment, and not just them. The entire mean revel at the murder of the healthcare CEO? Simply means our behavior is being shaped as much by post-traumatic stress as our opposition.
in fact the magas would more likely to help community than other mother monies groups. if you dig into the fiasco in western nc you’ll see all manner of working class people with enough heart soul and man power who took the time to show up and rescue and serve that devastated community. be careful with your bigotry. you’ll be surprised one day to learn it doesn’t matter what you call another human,if they show up to help you,they’re still human.
As an American with Swedish heritage, your experience living in Sweden feeds into my fantasy of living in my great great grandparents’ homeland. However I do feel like a lot of your disparaging remarks about soulless Americans (and I agree there is a rot here) focus on the individual. The emergence of profiting through real estate and Airbnb is a direct result of the increasing unaffordability of living in America. Not to mention, the result of burnout from hustling in corporate America - what a dream to earn some extra money and not having to work 80 hours a week. I’m not arguing that this is a good thing, but I don’t think we can place the blame solely on the cockroaches. The systems brought us here.
Something definitely happened in 2020. We stopped caring about others. America is schizophrenic Nation now- no moral compass…… no decency. It’s a clown show cash grab now. Look at me!!!! I’m an idiot!!!
"Climate-wise, I think it might be as the Romans believed, a land beyond God." This is killing me! Good to meet, you, Aaron. I'm a fellow ex American in Stockholm.
I've had the experience of identifying with a host-nation (Canada, Ireland) more than my native country. Surely, most 'Murkans now have an anecdote about when soul-rot set in. Strangely, the thing that came to me was something from twenty-five years ago that I identified more with the modern south than the nation. It was about new marketing in thrift stores. In the late '80s, around the time that large cities got 'vintage clothing' stores, southern thrift stores began to house 'boutique' sections where things were housed in glass showcases behind a register. Often these items weren't particularly special. They just looked little used, 'in excellent condition'. The rationale of old thrift stores was that poor folks as well as middle-class people could get cast-offs at rock-bottom charity prices. Suddenly, it seemed like anything more-or-less unused was sold at retail-minus-10%. Ask the commercial Puritan behind the boutique register whether this [ordinary can-opener/ KMart work shirt/ spare tire] was correctly priced, and they'd give you a poisonous, narrow-eyed look of affronted avarice---"'You looking for some kinda handout? This [donated thing] is every bit good as new. Why shouldn't you pay what it's worth?"
That is interesting to hear how the thrift stores changed that early on. Thank you for the story, Manny.
Hustle and bootstraps until death!
It is illegal to charge more than 10% (IIRC) above your costs when subletting. A guy in Göteborg recently got jail time for profiteering on airbnb.
As another American living in Stockholm for many years, I definitely agree that covid made me very alienated from the us.
One thing that I love that Swedish people almost never do that Americans do way to much is talk about mental health. Its like some crazy game of showing how important you are. Also the us is a really stressful place to live so its not totally a status thing, but it feels like it sometimes.
Interesting! In my experience theyre very open about mental health issues. 😂 probably depends on the crowd.
I feel like people are pretty open to talk about burnout, which is of course a mental health thing. But it has never happened to me that I learn about someone's mental health ailments within a few minutes of meeting them, which does happen in the US.
Back in 1995 I heard an address by Vaclav Havel which focused on the responsibilities of a great power, i.e., the U.S. But he also made the point that the country's most ubiquitous export is culture--products, media, advertising, ways of speaking, ways of thinking. I've lived outside the US for 15 years and note the changes whenever I've been back; the last time was 2021 and I was struck by some of the things you mention, but mainly by the oppressive focus on violence in all manner of media and the unrelenting advertisements on television for prescription drugs.
Anyway, interesting read. I studied Swedish in university, by the way, and enjoyed it immensely.
Violence = good, wholesome, a great way to solve problems and get ahead in life
Sex = problematic, shameful, deadly for children, evil, dangerous and in need of the strictest of restrictions
...has been a consistent dynamic of US cultural output for all of my 40+ years of life. That doesn't seem healthy.
I share your concerns about American culture, but please don’t compare us to cockroaches. There’s been enough of the talk of us as vermin as it is, we don’t need more of that. I understand that it’s upsetting to see cultural colonization, but we are not sub-humans.
I can see your point. Thanks for the feedback, Sean
I get what you meant by the NC gentrificationers. This was a fantastic piece. Will be rereading and thinking of it. I moved to St Louis after visiting during a renewed relationship and COVID shut the airports. Still here. My take has been that the city lost its mojo somehow. But a general soul sickness as you describe seems right. Since the election there has been a silent assent to the absurdity of our moment. A sadness around a giving in to our worst instincts and suspicions about each other. The better angels lost. The winners know they won because they are losers. And that there are many more losers than winners in a society that preys on each other like crabs in a bucket. They won by admitting their failures. Their powerlessness. That they needed a Protector because American society is being invaded and destroyed even, as you see, our banal dominance of other more delicate cultures persists. We are the invaders. Joyless and relentless, like the Orcs of Tolkien. Yet, we live in fear. They call it cognitive dissonance.
Americans are people just like any other group of people. American culture is poisoned by billionaires hacking our brains with addictive social media and very effective propaganda, selling fear and greed and envy.
Yes. America is as soulless as it has always been. People are turning a blind eye and not addressing the real reason why rump won. As usual, we pretend that RCSM is not a factor or minimize it at best. Until America starts her these issues we will remain soulless. The real reason Rump won because he’s YT.. he’s rich… and he’s male. He also represents the WhiteAngloSaxonProtestantStr8tMale lust to maintain control and power worldwide. The browning of America scares the shit out of the YT power structure so they enabled tRump to “right the ship” and turn back the clock as much as able to prevent any further potential progress made by the “Other”. They backed the Heritage Foundation/ Project2025 agenda 100% and exalt this supremely flawed piece of man to shepherd it into reality. They pulled out all the stops.. even so far as to give Russia inroads to the destruction of our American experiment. We all watched the denigration of America in real time. But blve and know that some people are wide eyed and celebrating all of the atrocities and the end of democracy. They would rather that then have to share equal power with POC and women.. both of whom they deem unworthy of a bigger seat at the table. I am not in the least bit surprised that the wealthiest down to the poorest of Americans were so easily convinced to vote against their own self interests. This is Amerikkka.. RCST at inception and down to it’s core. Accept it and know that it will get worse before it gets better.. if it ever does. I for one am wide eyed and bracing for the “leopard to start eating people’s face” portion to begin. POC have a saying…”those who don’t listen will feel” I hate that those of us who didn’t vote for this atrocity will suffer as well. When shit hits the fan… and it will.. I will offer my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks my fellow Swede. The not-enjoy I noticed in Venice this summer. One of the most exiting and unique cities in the world, the sun was shining a beeze blowing and the Italians friendly, but one group of people seem to be very unhappy by the looks of it. Its not easy not to be sweped away by Venice but Americans seemed to manage, at the airport, near the Hilton hotel and generally everywhere. There faces showed it and you could hear it
You could write this very essay about Canada, although there may be more awareness here about the push-pull of Americanism and the challenge to find -and keep- what makes us different with only a border between us. A few years ago there was a contest to create a saying about Canada like ‘As American as apple pie’. The winner was ‘As Canadian as possible under the circumstances’. Pretty well sums it up. But there has never been a time where the differences matter more, and the need to value and protect them more challenging.
A thing that came to me recently was that, yeah, we all laughed, pretty much when “Dub-ya” Bush promoted “compassionate conservatism.” And that’s because a person in his audience said they couldn’t get a job and he asked if anyone in the crowd could help this fellah out. And shore enuff some kindly kompassionate neo-con did! hooray!
Today? Would anyone expect MAGA to become a community organizer for a soup kitchen, or help Habitat build a house? Maybe one in 10k, but without strings? Like cursing the people who are responsible for this? Their leaders? Hmm.
There’s something very cold and cruel about this moment, and not just them. The entire mean revel at the murder of the healthcare CEO? Simply means our behavior is being shaped as much by post-traumatic stress as our opposition.
We are becoming the ugliest ugly Americans ever.
in fact the magas would more likely to help community than other mother monies groups. if you dig into the fiasco in western nc you’ll see all manner of working class people with enough heart soul and man power who took the time to show up and rescue and serve that devastated community. be careful with your bigotry. you’ll be surprised one day to learn it doesn’t matter what you call another human,if they show up to help you,they’re still human.
As an American with Swedish heritage, your experience living in Sweden feeds into my fantasy of living in my great great grandparents’ homeland. However I do feel like a lot of your disparaging remarks about soulless Americans (and I agree there is a rot here) focus on the individual. The emergence of profiting through real estate and Airbnb is a direct result of the increasing unaffordability of living in America. Not to mention, the result of burnout from hustling in corporate America - what a dream to earn some extra money and not having to work 80 hours a week. I’m not arguing that this is a good thing, but I don’t think we can place the blame solely on the cockroaches. The systems brought us here.
wow. such great observations.
Thanks Lisa!
Something definitely happened in 2020. We stopped caring about others. America is schizophrenic Nation now- no moral compass…… no decency. It’s a clown show cash grab now. Look at me!!!! I’m an idiot!!!
Great writing here, and a thoughtful, provocative essay.
Thank you, Christiana. 🙏🏼
"Climate-wise, I think it might be as the Romans believed, a land beyond God." This is killing me! Good to meet, you, Aaron. I'm a fellow ex American in Stockholm.
So interesting and yes America is soul-sick. Wait until another 4 years of Trump.
You could do a control+F of this piece and substitute Korea for Sweden and it would read nearly 100% accurate.
Haha! Never been to Korea. I’d love to go.
Come visit any time.