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Hilzoy on American grit.

The only think I would add to it is that the true challenge of our country's grit comes in the challenges that we face. One reason why people (including myself to some extent) might see American as not gritty (or as George Carlin might say, 'pussyfied') is that our new set of challenges are more ideological and philosophical and less physical and warlike. This leads us to 'fight' battles not with our fists but with our minds, and when you consider that mental challenges are seen as the arena of 'nerds' rather than 'warriors' one then concludes that we've lost mettle. Still, that doesn't change the fact that this is the new world that we live in, and sadly, our inertia still carries us to old methods of engagement.