Tocqueville saw in America a country full of contradictions.
He could say the same with Vietnam: people are moving up the Maslow scale, but some want to leap-frog security step i.e. basic needs to self-esteem need.
Nouveau riches switch companions like Hollywood celebs. Forbes or Swiss bank lists almost 200 Millionaires (USD).
Everything is bought in cash. The money machines are counting them non-stop (Zimbabwe-like inflation) .
Dizzying pace.
Traffic weave in and out, as if choreographed by an invisible and illogical conductor; yet there have been fewer accidents than you might think.
Westerners are seen running a red light like everyone else. We call that adjustment. When in Rome, do like a Roman.
People here are more aware of health issues than in years past.
My cholesterol result is available in a few hours. If it’s good, then two eggs please.
I can now move to the next step in the Maslow scale: security.
Love and self-esteem can wait. They have been there since the beginning of time. A man’s glory reflects in the beauty of his woman, and vice versa.
I will leave those to the drama department. For self-actualization, we already got Bill Gates and Bill Clinton. I have my level to attain to: staying here and surviving here. Traffic during peak hour draws out the best in us, gladiator-like. No wonder young men wear black. It’s their body signal to the world: “don’t mess with me”.
Meanwhile, young Americans are also wearing black, but for an entirely different reason: they are into vampires. Twilight stuff. A stage of neither living nor dead. Here, it’s very clear to me that people want to get somewhere, preferably up, regardless how many bikes are in their way.
Thang Nguyen 555 