Try a little humility

I'm guessing I watch "American Idol" for the same reason many do: for the bad singers. It's compelling to watch awful performers.
But I think there's a moment on the show that's even more mesmerizing.
It's stunning to see so many terrible singers unaware of how dreadful they are.
A typical example was Jennifer Chapton, who had to be told at her Seattle audition to get rid of her gum. What came next was so awful that judge Simon Cowell told her to get a job down at the port.
At which point she said: "Your opinion don't mean nothin'. You don't know nothin' about music."
The rejects are always saying things like that. Then they stomp out saying they will be superstars, and the judges will be sorry.
I understand that the show purposefully picks some awful singers, some of whom aren't wrapped too tight. But there are plenty of sane folks who lack talent but are weirdly convinced they have it.
At first, I figured that for some reason, self-delusion is rampant among singers. But it occurs to me it goes beyond that. Perhaps one reason "Idol" intrigues people is that it's a mirror of what's around us. If you look for it, self-delusion is everywhere. Study a newspaper some time, and it seems that half of all news stories are about incompetent performers who don't realize it.
I tried that the other day, and one of the first stories that jumped out at me was about a Virginia firm called ICF International hired to give billions in federal aid to Katrina victims for home repairs. ICF got 103,000 applications, but has only given out 400 grants. That's such a staggering shortfall that ICF is now being called one reason for New Orleans' slow recovery. But like a bad "Idol" singer, ICF insists it handled things properly.
Remember FEMA director Mike Brown? He was just like an "Idol" contestant -- supremely confident early on and then, when later judged harshly by a congressional hearing, still insisted the fault lay with others, and that he personally performed fine.
Some might say the syndrome's ultimate example is Iraq. Even more than President Bush, many say the war is Vice President Dick Cheney's performance. It has clearly turned into a mess, yet Cheney maintains it's the best thing we could have done, and we need to keep doing it. A recent Newsweek featured a profile of Cheney under the headline, "The Man Without Doubt."
You could put that same headline under many "Idol" singers. As well as others in the news. It seems there isn't enough self-doubt in America. I'm thinking we'd be a better place if we had more of it. Those who feel they can do no wrong are more likely to do exactly that.
Trophies for all
Thirty or so years ago, there wasn't as much emphasis on giving everyone self-esteem. Then one day, youth soccer coaches were told all games had to be declared a tie, and all children given trophies.
Fine. But when these kids got to more competitive levels, they were miffed at being cut, because they'd always been told they were top performers. Cut? Me? Simon, you don't know nothin' about soccer.
I remember attending a speech by a psychologist whose theme was that American society had too little self-doubt. He added a thought to this effect: "If you look in prisons, people there are full of self-esteem. In fact they have too much of it."
Then there are those on "Idol" who are actually good singers, but stumble because they are so confident, they don't prepare enough.
Maybe the best word for what's needed is humility, something rare on "Idol." And beyond.
How many mothers and fathers think their parenting skills are above question, and as a result, fall short?
How many people in the workplace fail to deliver, but don't see it and feel they are above criticism?
If only there was more humility.
Patinkin wr4ites for the Providence Journal. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.