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¶ … Cannibals think the current American culture (and that of the world as well) wouldn't surprise Montaigne at all. He notes that each culture seems to feel they are "right" and everyone else is "wrong," and this certainly hasn't changed in today's world. Many Americans seem to think they and their form of government are the best in the world, and others want what we have, even if they don't. We don't take much time to learn about other peoples and cultures, because frankly, I don't think most people care about anyone else but them. We have a very "me oriented" society, and I don't think that would surprise Montaigne either. What he talks about is a society and people who are so sure they are right that they feel superior to everyone else, and that continues today. We are sure of the rightness of our society, but we also aren't very interested in others. We will give generously when there is a disaster somewhere around the world, but chances are most of us don't know our next door neighbor. We can be very selfish and self-centered, and I think that comes from being so sure our ideas are right and "good."
We have very lofty principles for this country, from freedom and equality to democracy. However, I don't think a lot of us pay attention to them on an individual basis, because of the qualities Montaigne talks about. People are often smug and superior because they think they are better than immigrants, or African-Americans, or whoever they don't like. African-Americans and Hispanics have the same ideas, only reversed, so our society has big barriers between races and religions, even if we talk about freedom and equality. We are also the richest country in the world, but we still have crushing poverty in our own country. I think we talk a good talk, but in reality, we have all the problems of other societies, we just try not to think about them, or pretend they don't exist.
References
Montaigne, Michel D. "Of Cannibals." Victorian Web. 2003. 26 Jan. 2007. http://www.victorianweb.org/courses/nonfiction/montaigne/cannibals.html
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