Peacock Syndrome - America's Fatal Disease (Zerohedge)
More often that not --- not about impressing others -- impressing one's SELF.
There once were two nations - one was charming, successful, and got all the attention. It always seemed to get what it wanted, and it wanted a lot. Seldom shy, it tended to focus OUTWARD rather than inward. The other nation was just the opposite, it tended to focus INWARD rather than outward. Other nations always seemed to take advantage of this inward focusing nation (Who even built a wall to keep others out, but to no avail) - causing great HUMILIATION and SHAME.
A Century of Humiliation it was called by some.
At some point - this inward focused nation had enough of being the "nice guy," always getting beaten up - it was time to "play hardball." But, it knew it had a long way to catch up if it ever wanted to "stop getting beaten up." They tried to change in a "CULTURAL Revolution" in one "fell swoop" - but that failed miserably. Only until they decided to copy and assimilate many parts of the most successful outward nation did they begin to rise. They swalloed their pride and started small. And they kept going until they wouldn't be ignored.
A funny thing happened though, as the inward nation became more outward, they also became more outspoken, and brash. And more like the nation they didn't want to become in the first place. The outward nation - started to become more like the inward nation they, so didn't want to be. Building mini castles (McMansions they were nicknamed) surrounded by walls, gates, and armed sentries. A wall to keep invaders out from their Southern Border was even built. They even helped others build a wall far away in a land called the Middle East.
As the inward nation rose to prominence, the outward nation began to decline.
And it was at this intersection a grand story developed.
Things got really interesting when a prophecy of the past came to the forefront of global consciousness. About the return of a serpent. Some called it a big snake. Others thought it was a lizard. Some just called it a dragon. The dragon - a mythical creature that flew and breathed fire.
