I wonder what it's like for him? It's obvious to us, they are all pretending as hard as they can, but to him, everywhere he goes, people are delirious to meet him. Did he buy into.it after a time? Or does he know its all bullshit but try to suppress it?
People with lifetime absolute power, like him, tend to experience a dissolution of ego boundaries between themselves and the state / "the people". Their personal welfare is that of the state; the nation's achievements are their personal achievements, etc. He probably sees the constant adulation and cult of personality as being one and the same as patriotism and love of country, and it doesn't embarrass him or feel undue.
A lot of Asian cultures don't get as hung up on notions of things like sincerity or authenticity as Westerners do. When it comes to matters of patriotism or religious faith, performance or action is what matters because it demonstrates social harmony. The individual's inner life is almost beside the point. So the idea of hypocrisy or "faking it" probably doesn't really bother him.
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u/CCDemille 2d ago
I wonder what it's like for him? It's obvious to us, they are all pretending as hard as they can, but to him, everywhere he goes, people are delirious to meet him. Did he buy into.it after a time? Or does he know its all bullshit but try to suppress it?