Brits Teaching Americans

OK, just had this random though tonight after watching "Supernanny" and then seeing a promo for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution show. What is it with the Brits coming over here and teaching Americans how to be better people? Don't get me wrong, I more than welcome their presence, God knows we need it. I just think it's an interesting coincidence.

It almost feels like America is that old teenager or young adult who, after a brilliant and unprecedented adolescence, has slumped into apathy and profligacy of early adulthood. And then England, the mother country, has come along to put us back in place. Like I said, this is not a rant of resentment, it's a wake up call of how far we have fallen.

The mother-child analogy has also been in my mind for a couple other reasons:
1. About to have my second child.
2. Been reading a lot of biographies and source readings from the American Revolutionary period. 

This first factor has me freaked, and really deserves it's own post, so I'll leave that one alone for now. As for the second factor, I just finished a wonderful biography of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Alexander Hamilton (AH) has been so overlooked as a founding father, and in some ways, vilified unfairly. There are many national institutions that we take for granted today that were either directly or indirectly the result of ideas and actions by AH actions. First and foremost, AH's role as General George Washington's aide-de-camp during the Revolution was critical in the Continental's Army's success in the war. AH then led the effort to justify intellectually the merits of the new constitution as the lead author of the Federalist Papers. As Secretary of Treasury, AH established the national bank, the coast guard, a systems of custom collectors, as well as others. Unfortunately, as a man, AH's drive for personal perfection led to his own political demise and downfall. And he had many enemies, including T. Jefferson and J. Madison, and as Churchill said, "History is written by the victors," and the victors have successfully painted AH as a vain hypocrite or charlatan who did not deserve a place in the American Pantheon. I beg to differ based on what I have seen thus far, and I think this country owes AH more gratitude than his face on the $20 bill.

AH's biography has also been aspiring as I struggle to understand and express my frustration with the dystopia of our current political system in this country. And to that rant I shall return.