What's the deal? This is the deal. It's just more arrogant, self-absorbed, delusional Argentine BS. We Americans ourselves and everybody else in the world calls us Americans. But not Argentines. They know better. What a surprise.
And if you weren't aware, that's not their only arrogant reality disconnect. How about official inflation rates ridiculed by everyone in and out of Argentina except its own govt. Or how about 180 years of obsessing and ignoring the fact of British occupation, control, culture, citizenship and naming of the Falkland Islands as recognized by the entire world? Or the notion of the right to force it all to change by arms when repeated agressive assertions doesn't work? The most recent version is more international whining and arm-twisting. Wake up Argentina! Nobody gives a shit.
I'm gettin' warmed up now. How about acting as though they are the only drivers on the road or pedestrians on the sidewalk and being willing to put others in real danger? Or how they act as if they're doing you a favor to serve you in a commercial or bureaucratic context?
What about letting a few disgruntled protesters cut the freeway to the country's international airport for hours without government intervention inconveniencing thousands and costing time and money and missed flights? Or for that matter cutting any major thoroughfare in the Cap. Fed. without consequences?
Or how about protectionist trade policies in favor of Industria Argentina (it's charitable even to call it that) so Argentines have few retail choices except shoddy Argentine goods or overpriced import-taxed goods from the real commercial world that only the polo-players can afford?
And do you imagine Argentines understand that they themselves are the source of their problems? No, never. It's always somebody else. Anybody else. And if it isn't the chankees and the CIA it must be the fault of those puto hard-working, competent, and well-organized capitalist tools in Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.
Or what about how they don't show up for appointments or keep commitments, or lie about why not or that they think an intimate relationship a game to be played? What about yelling all the time, in a grating tone that can damage hearing?
Or how about etc. etc. etc. ad nauseam. No problem. Don't confuse me with the facts....already made up my mind. Soy Argentino.
My conclusion is that the operative cultural imperative here is "yo". Yo, yo, yo, yo. No vos. Yo soy mas importante que vos. In every example cited this is at the core. A shameless assertion of self-importance permeates the culture from inter-personal to inter-national.
I think it must begin with child-rearing practices...don't know how else people could get these ideas. When I asked an Argentine child psychiatrist what was up with all the selfish behavior in this culture she referred me to a book by an Israeli psychologist entitled "Su Majestad el Bebe" exploring the consequences of no limits parenting.
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1411069-su-majestad-el-bebe-un-modelo-de-crianza-a-desterrar
Uh oh. Last but not least I forgot the crime. You know, the not-especially-serious problem that damn near everyone you know has been a multiple victim of and that's responsible for that happy smile you see everyday on the face of the average porteño. And my God, what about the video horror show of the Frenchman gutted for his camera dying on the sidewalk in front of the monument to Argentine hubris at the hands of a local lowlife. That was the last friggin straw for me.
And please don't react to this post by telling me about American or any others' delusions, neuroses or bad habits or similar conditions. Of course we have them. Lots. Everybody does. But denial and blame (Argentine specialties) don't alter an iota of the truth about any of it, personal or national, and are in fact the most effective strategies for continuing to labor under our illusions and suffering the painful consequences.
And please don't ask me why I'm still here either. I'm going...if you couldn't tell...I've had it. Give me the happy Brazilians, the organized Chilenos or the
quiet, polite and friendly Ecuadorians any day. Y Chau.
