In the footsteps of de Tocqueville

The Atlantic Monthly's recent series, "In the footsteps of Tocqueville," have been the most interesting part of this gift-subscription magazine lately. French writer/philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy quite literally follows in the footsteps of his countryman, whose famous Alexis de Tocqueville, whose book Democracy in America is still mandatory reading for historians-in-training.

Like de Tocqueville, Levy can observe aspects of American culture and society from a relatively objective standpoint. Unlike de Tocqueville, Levy does not comment as extensively on social interactions or hierarchies. Instead, he postulates about the roles of myth in national identity. He is obsessed with symbolism -- prisons, bridges, the flag, baseball, monuments. In this way, he must differ from his 19th-century counterpart, since the repertoire of a common mythology was rather scant in de Tocqueville's time.

Since de Tocqueville's journey ended before the great American expansion began, Levy picks up where he might have left off, and visits the west coast. This is what he had to say about the Emerald City:

I loved the air of freedom, of nonconformism, that reigns over the economic capital of this state about which they said, during the time of the great strikes after World War I, "There are forty-seven states in the United States, plus the Soviet of Washington." And I loved the fact that this city that in a distant past endured the most savage anti-Asian riots in the history of the United States is today near the top in welcoming the influx of people from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing. I loved the fact that this post-American metropolis—where, if it has to invent itself somewhere, the American civilization of tomorrow will invent itself—remains, despite everything, so obstinately European. . . .

I liked absolutely everything about Seattle. . . .

If I had to choose an American city to live in—if I had to pick a place, and only one, where I had the feeling in America of rediscovering my lost bearings—it would be
here, in Seattle.

I admit that this analysis both surprised and impressed me. But maybe I'm just a restless native!