American Swagger
Get it on.
If you grew up in the 21st century, all you know is our current hangdog, ashamed, self-conscious country, embarrassed by its own shadow, tail between its legs, stooping and supplicating, begging everyone’s forgiveness for its sins.
But if you were fortunate to have experienced any of the last few decades of the 20th, then you know: it was not always thus! The national vibe (until quite recently!) was cool confidence bordering on arrogance.
Earnest, unironic patriotism was hot. It was cool to be American. It was sexy. Americans ruled and it was okay to say so, with no hedging or waffling or lame equivocating.
Variety just published a list of the most all-American movies to watch on the Fourth of July and—shocker—it’s mostly 80s and 90s classics. No recent Oscar winners? No remakes or sequels? No Disney?
