I am in the last two days of rehearsal for Sister Catherine of the Sisters of Providence, my new Living History presentation, launching at Fort Walla Walla Museum this Sunday at 2 P. It’s probably impossible to portray a Catholic nun without giving some thought to sin. Along those lines, a certain sin-tinted word has recently entered my consciousness from multiple sources, most recently on the cover of the new Erik Larsen book. That word is hubris.
Erik Larson’s new book, in part a study of hubris.
Hubris, followed by heartbreak. . .not a coincidence.
I don’t know what that means, exactly. Is it like mold?
Perhaps in a spiritual sense, 9. The most basic meaning of hubris is exaggerated pride or self-confidence. Pride is- –
–one of the seven deadly sins!
Thank you for completing my thought, Lily.
Sister Catherine mentions the sin of vanity several times during her talk. According to an unattributed online source, pride is what we think of ourselves, whereas vanity is what we want others to think of us.
Returning to the related concept of hubris, it seems rampant in our world these days. The resting on unearned laurels; the pride before the fall. Think Emperor Nero- -tyrannical, self-indulgent, and debauched.
Or how Erik Larsen describes the wealthy planters of mid-19th century South Carolina, living in a world of make-believe chivalry and extraordinary privilege, funded by fortunes made through the backbreaking work of enslaved people. Someone was likely fiddling in Charleston on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter and ignited the American Civil War.
From another unattributed internet source:
Hubris syndrome occurs when someone in a position of power develops a magnified and embellished view of themselves and their capabilities, resulting in excessive self-confidence, obsession with personal image, and contempt for criticism.
It troubles me to see powerful people behave this way, and even more when they suggest dangerous and reckless actions, like inciting a civil war. Anything to have it my way. Anything to win.
That sounds like poor sportsmanship.
It sure does, 9. And it makes me sad that this attitude has become normalized in American society. We were not raised to blame the cellist who defeated our challenge for first chair in orchestra, or the successful candidate when we were not hired for a high-paying job, or the person who got the part we wanted when we auditioned for a play. Sure, our feelings might take a blow, but when good sportsmanship, graciousness and reason leave the arena, society takes a bigger blow.
How grim. What are you going to do about it?
For one thing, Lily, I’m going to vote. Our elections are not just for people with poor attitudes and polarizing agendas.
And remember: freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution is not just for radicals. Moderate views need to be heard in public spaces- -including, and maybe most importantly, on social media platforms- -now more than ever.
Each of us can take action to ensure the continuation of democracy, a government by the people. Each one of us- -including our opinions and our votes- -count.
Don’t let anyone suffering from hubris syndrome tell you otherwise.
Fight hubris with your vote! And don’t let anyone intimidate you out of wearing red, white and blue, it belongs to us all.
One of my favorite movie scenes is Al Pacino in The Advocate. He is Satan as an attorney running a law firm in New York. With twinkling eyes, a little smirk and a dart of his tongue, he says: “Pride. It’s my favorite.”
Pride, the source of hefty legal fees! Yum, yum.