First off...I'm really sick of Alexisde Tocqueville's crush on the U.S. Please...just stop, it's too much. This goes beyond the simple idea of admiration and explanation of that admiration. It's like the awkward kid in high school, or better yet, that kid in a club with you. He really wasn't that bad of guy, but then you realize that he knows a lot more about you than you've told him/said on facebook. He could be a really great guy, but...do you want to take that chance? You could have a great friend...or you could have a clingy creep. I'm just saying, Alex needs cool down a bit.
Speaking of clubs or "voluntary associations" I was fascinated by Alex's idea of the European clubs really being about being in an organization and reaching certain goals whereas in the US, "the independence of each individual is formally recognized..." This was intriguing because I never thought of the clubs that I joined as being somewhere where my individual contributions were recognized. We had a goal in mind, and we were going to reach it, whether it was putting on a play, or volunteering somewhere, or winning in quiz bowl...there was no environment to express oneself in the sense that he describes.
I must say, I disagree with his assessment on this count. I haven't joined in clubs in Europe (surprised?) but I really felt as though his European model was closer to my actual experience as someone in the US.
Are you saying it is unflattering for there to be someone who has a crush on you?
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