Self Esteem
How nations feel about themselves.
Well, the Olympics are over and nations are now pondering their performances. The Americans remain top dogs with God clearly still on their side, but the British win the most improved player award. India came last but that’s hardly surprising given they have more important issues to tackle than tackling, and quitting the runs more important than running. After Euro 16 the Portuguese are happier than Ronaldo’s jockstrap but the French are teary eyed and downcast like a frog that has just been handed a preemptive pair of crutches. Such sporting dramas are core to a nation’s self esteem.
Or are they?
Take New Zealand. The All Blacks nearly always win. The fact that only four countries are actually any good at rugby is beside the point. We bask in national glory as our men in black stomp on the bollocks of all that dare to pick up the ball and run with it. We came fourth per capita in the Olympics and Joseph Parker brings us joy every time he beats the crap out of someone. You would therefore think that we would have high national self esteem. Yet we don’t. We know that deep down we are small and insignificant and everyone from Barack to Beyoncé doesn’t give us the time of day (which by the way we are ahead of the rest of the world, not that I’m seeking to enhance our self worth).
Contrast this with the British. You would assume that their self esteem would be lower than a snake’s buttocks. Their soccer team as useless as a belly button as they wander around the pitch like lost two year olds. Add to this to the calamitous Brexit, where upon the whole world is telling the British they are racist, ungrateful, Thuggy McThug Faces who couldn’t make a good decision if it arrived in a boat laden with European subsidies. Yet, bump into a Pom anywhere, anytime and their self esteem is as intact as Trump’s hairpiece. Their cultural confidence beggars belief. You can even criticise them to their face and all they will do is laugh at you and agree (they will also come and rob your house but that’s not because of poor self esteem, nicking stuff is just a cultural norm).
How can this be? Surely two World Wars and one World Cup can’t possibly still be sustaining the British psyche. Why are Americans so sensitive to criticism while Warney represents all Australia when he says “get stuffed”.
Clearly, national self esteem is only marginally related to sporting success, yet countries continue to pour money into sport faster than a doper’s denial. Needless to say, how a country sees itself relates more to how well its citizens fare, and less about how they feel. Equity and education are the foundations for real self worth, just ask a Scandinavian or Japanese. Sporting glory provides a sugar hit of joy, but lasting feelings of belonging and esteem come from societies that treat their citizens fairly. Ignore the medal table and look at the equity rankings. The top five countries in the world for equity (where the gap between rich and poor is the narrowest) are, in descending order:
- Japan
- Finland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Denmark
New Zealand is ranked 18th, the U.K. 20th, and the USA 22nd. And you wonder why Brexit and Trump have occurred, and why John Key has just bought a Winston Peters voodoo doll.
So, while us sports lovers cheer and shout like schoolboys poring over a Penthouse, lest we forget that it’s how we treat ourselves (except for schoolboys) that determines how good we really feel. If we want out country to truly be a winner, take the taxpayers $8 million per medal and give it to social justice.
Richard Alexander Bain
self confessed first placer