American Patriotism or Hegemony?

One recent afternoon Lou and I visited the Palais de la Découverte to take the day’s English lesson to a more lively location. (The closet equivalent I can think of back home is the Children’s Science Museum). The Palais de la Découverte featured exhibits on bugs, rats, and outer space-- the three essentials of any museum? Ha. Given the options, I elected to spend my time in the outer space exhibit. I felt a special pride when I saw a model spaceship with an American flag on the body recognizing and celebrating the progress that America has made in space exploration. The moment of pride was similar to the feeling I have whenever I walk by the “Franklin D. Roosevelt” metro stop or see a NY Yankees hat, for example. (hehe-- Kidding!!) When I encounter (positive) things associated with America abroad, I smile and think to myself, “Those are my people!”.. a silly reaction, perhaps- but true. Well, my pride soared to new heights in the outer space exhibit at the Palais de la Découverte. Seeing the spaceship and associating it with America’s greatness was a logical connection to make in my mind. When I saw a huge model of the Earth though, I had the same reaction: “America’s planet.. Those are my people!” Yep, I took American hegemony to a new level-- associating the entire planet Earth with my country. Of course, my “empire state of mind” quickly dissolved, and I began laughing to myself when I realized the absurdity of my immediate train of thought.