On noblese oblige... this is a concept very familiar

[nadinbrzezinski]

to any Kennedy watcher. Joe's sons went into public service, it is still an ethos with the grand kids. Even if you do not know the term, the Kennedys are a good example of it.

Part of the problem in the US is that this has disappeared from the public arena. The accepted social value is... I got mine, so there. Oh and yes. greed is good.

Noblese oblige is antihethical to this. Our current national ethos precludes a social net, it also precludes consumer protections. It is essentially toxic. When you have a little of this greed is good... a society can function. But it is to the point that kids will go to any extreme to imitate their elders. Combine this with an ignorant (and proud of it) population, that is the most religious of the OECD economies... it is a perfect mix for hell on earth. We combine this with the modern day radicalism... no wonder we are declining as a nation. This is no longer about WE, but ME.

We were talking about it this morning, as I drove hubby to class, The cuts to the JC system (and the UC and CSU) are amazing. More rate increases will come. And this is from the same people who get an almost free education and refuse to pay taxes, since IT IS MY MONEY DANG IT!

I don't see this changing any time soon...

So no, hope and change and all that... nope, it ain't gonna happen, since something really serious needs to happen for the spell of LOW taxes to be broken.

I got no clue what it will be at this point.

[gateley]

1. A couple of Rockefellers went into public service, too. I'm sure there are more

but none come to mind at the moment. I think the 'grand old families' don't instill that sense of service any more, as you indicate.

Anderson Cooper does good stuff, too.

Good post, nad.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Carnegie died almost poor

he spent most of his fortune setting public libraries all over ... these days we are closing some of those same libraries.

Oh and Carnegie was no saint.

These days when I think of the HIltons, well that daughter of theirs comes to mind... not exactly a paragon of virtue. Gates sees himself more in the light of Carnegie... and I don't think he has kids.

I may have issues with Gates play into education and choice, I think he is misguided... but he means well. After that... I cannot think of any who is really rich... oh wait Soros and Buffett, to a point.

[gateley]

4. Gates's parents were philanthropists (and his dad still is). They named a street

in the Laurelhurst neighborhood (where the family lived) after his mother.

He's got at least two kids - and much of the credit to his current benevolence and charity go to his wife. But having a "good" partner and becoming a parent -- plus just growing up -- kind of sent him in the right direction.

Agree -- he means well.

[OHdem10]

3. The Bushes appear to be the last of the Fepublicans teaching

this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. yes, but to a point

still we need to recognize this.

[Voice for Peace]

5. I had a sweet experience once with RFKJr in an airport

whereupon a random guy recognized him, and said "is that really you?"

and his little daughter proudly said, yes that's really him;

and the guy got very excited and said, "my friends will never
believe I really met you, will you come and say hello, they're
right over there."

So he sort of sighed, and agreed; and as he was turning to
fulfill his obligation, he and I met eyes, me having observed
all of this -- and one of those priceless warm timeless &
wordless communications took place.

I got the sense of a beautiful heart, a truly good man, a little
bit weary.

[TuxedoKat]

6. What a nice story

thanks for sharing that. :)

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yes a nice story

and people do get weary.

[musette_sf]

9. Ah yes, noblesse oblige

Somehow I grew up knowing the term from a young age, and exactly what it meant.

I think the term was excised from the language some time in the Big 80s. Some time around the era of the Yellow Power Tie and the ascent of the MBA.

:puke: to the 80s

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Yep, can I recommend a book?

Ill fares the Land

http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Fares-Land-Tony-Judt/dp/1594202761

This is not limited to the US but it will help to understand what is going on.

[pnorman]

11. Here's something close to "noblesse oblige", but not from someone born to wealth and privilege:

http://leishacamden.blogspot.com/2008/10/not-that-it-matters.html

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[a la izquierda]

13. wow, what a snarky response...

I think some of the OP's spelling issues come from a slight language barrier (and nadin, please do correct me if I'm wrong). A dear friend of mine, who is getting her PhD in history, did not learn English until age 10 and she still spells things the way she hears them (i.e. pond instead of pawn).

I never have a problem understanding nadin's posts, and I make a living both reading history and correcting endless grammar mistakes.

[Obamanaut]

15. "Slight language barrier" can often be compensated for by pressing

the spell check button, or entering a word into the web search feature.

'antihetical' would have popped up, as would 'noblese oblige'

As for snark, using a term and suggesting the reader might not know the meaning, "...Even if you do not know the term, the...", is a bit supercilious, don't you think?

[SidDithers]

16. Don't you think it's important, in a post lecturing us lesser intellects about noblesse oblige...

that the poster actually spells the topic of the post correctly? I'm not ragging on the poster for a typo, but for playing expert, and misspelling the subject of their alleged expertise.

Sid

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Let me see

Spanish since baby.

Hebrew from four

English from 11

American (yes there is a difference) from 18.

[Obamanaut]

19. Spell check is/can be your friend. And many of the lesser informed of us

are aware that differences exist re the last two lines of your post.

"English from 11

American (yes there is a difference) from 18."

[cali]

14. first of all it's noblesse oblige. secondly it's a pretty antiquated construct

it literally means "nobility is obliged". I much prefer the idea of enlightened self-interest which recognizes the well being of all is integral. Noblesse Oblige really doesn't do this.

[SidDithers]

17. Not knowing how to spell "noblesse oblige"...

takes away from whatever message you're trying to convey.

Sid