Me-Ness

For some time now there have been wails and moans about today's younger generation ("Millennials") being unusually self absorbed--you know "the me generation". But let's light up on these people (our kids and grandkids). TNB has observed that every generation (even the "elderly"--see last month's post Age Old Story) has to some degree succumbed to the it's all about me syndrome which might be, to coin a term, called Me-Ness. Examples abound of such unflattering, inconsiderate and downright rude behavior now in vogue.

• Recently, the Chicago Cubs announced that one bleacher section at one game was going to be peanut free to accommodate many peanut allergic fans. The uproar was shocking--if you or your child has such allergies, tough but don't inconvenience me ever so slightly. Me-Ness at its finest!
• While many if not most politicians exhibit a high level of Me-Ness (several steps past self-esteem!) no one has come close in recent memory to Rod Blagojevich, a now convicted felon who of course is hoping to find another moronic juror at his retrial who can be persuaded that his Me-Ness is a victim of the big bad Feds who dared to take him away from his family, threaten his home and in what has to be the most outrageous statement in a long time deprived (!) the people of Illinois of their Governor. TNB has never felt so desperate.
• When it comes to Me-Ness, even politicians, who after all still need to elected, aren't close to professional athletes. To cite just one currently in the news--overpaid, over-the-hill, steroid abuser Manny Ramirez who was dumped by the L.A. Dodgers with the Chicago White Sox giving nothing in return, except for picking up the $4.4 million (yes million) owed to Manny for possibly one month of his "services". As his final act with the Dodgers, when sent up to pinch hit in a crucial situation, he managed to get himself (deliberately?) ejected after one pitch. Then when he belatedly joined the White Sox in Cleveland (too exhausted by the 5 hour flight, in first class, to play that night) he gave his first interview almost entirely in Spanish, with a coach as interpreter. Manny grew up in New York City's Washington Heights and speaks perfect English, so what was this--Me-Ness at the ultimate?

When are we going to see a little You-Ness?