As Americans, we have a deeply rooted sense of individualism that is at the heart of our unprecedented rise to power in less than 250 years of existence. As a result, our perspective on the outside world, for better or worse, tends to be informed by its impact on us.
This is not to say that Americans are completely self-absorbed and blind to the needs of others. We send billions in aid to help those suffering around the world. The generosity of Americans is not in question. The humility of Americans is.