Why do our so-called "elites" complain so bitterly about how awful we are, while giving other nations a pass?

So-called "elites" in western nations demand that their societies follow standards far beyond what they demand of other nations.

Thus when an autistic, uneducated 16-year-old Swedish girl furiously demands that the U.S. and other western nations cut their use of carbon fuels, the dumb-ass-but-spotlight-loving congress invites her to D.C. to lecture them.  Makes 'em feel and look virtuous.  But China and India account for over a third of the global population and continue to grow their coal-based industries.  Why doesn't Greta go to those nations and demand that they reduce their use of carbon fuels, eh?

Because neither of those nations would tolerate such nonsense.  And they must be laughing their asses off that we not only tolerate her, but that our dumb-ass congress actually invites this uneducated teenager to lecture them!
  

Another example: In the U.S. and Europe, feminists and gay activists constantly screech about violence against women, minorities and gays. But it's fascinating that not a single western feminist or gay-rights organization says a critical word about the treatment of their favored groups by, say, Iran or Pakistan..

Iran hangs men found guilty of homosexual acts. Scores of Iranian gays reportedly have been imprisoned and thousands executed by the mullahs since the fall of the Shah in 1979. Yet rarely do Western activist groups criticize Iran.

There are many reasons for Westerners’ selective outrage and pessimism toward their own culture.

Some of it is undoubtedly guilt feelings.  European nations are still blamed for 19th century colonialism and imperialism, so their citizens and pols seek to absolve themselves of guilt by condemning their own societies, and allowing citizens of former colonial and Third World nations to invade and demand welfare.  It's a form of penance.

Another motive for westerners complaining about their own societies is virtual-signaling.  Among liberal "elites" and politicians this seems to have been elevated to an art form.  The media scramble to gushingly interview elites and pols who most strongly condemn the U.S. or other western nations.

Next time you hear our elites lecturing you about a supposedly horrible failing--whether yours or America's--consider their motives and their hypocritical double-standard.
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Adapted from a recent column by Victor Davis Hanson--a historian who has a good feel for what's happening in the U.S. and most western nations.  Read his original here.