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4.5
In this excellent and powerful book, Shapiro reminds us that America is not a geographical location, but rather America is a fundamental philosophical idea. More precisely, America is a citizenry with a commonly shared collection of several significant ideas.Shapiro details the content of the traditional view of America, which he labels “Unionism”:“There are three elements that make America America.First, American philosophy. The philosophy of the United States rests on three basic principles: first, the reality of natural rights, which preexist government, inalienable and precious; second, the equality of all human beings before the law, and in their rights; and finally, the belief that government exists only to protect natural rights and to enforce equality before the law.”“Next, there is American culture. That culture is characterized by four distinct elements. First, a tough-minded tolerance for the rights of others, particularly when we don’t like how others exercise their rights—we have to agree to disagree, and to get over it. Second, our culture prizes and cherishes robust social institutions, which create a social fabric that allows us to trust one another in the absence of compulsion from government. Third, American culture has always carried a rowdy streak in defense of liberty: we must be willing to stand up for our freedom and that of others. Finally, American culture has always celebrated and rewarded those with a sense of adventure—the pioneers, the cowboys, the inventors, the risk takers.”“Finally, there is American history. American history has traditionally been read as a story of ever-improving fulfillment of American philosophy and culture through proper exercise of American institutions. Traditionally, Americans have learned that the values of the Declaration of Independence are eternal and true; that our culture of rights has been broadened in application over time by heroic struggle and through horrific pain; and that the constitutional system represents liberty, increasingly effectuated. American history, then, is a story of triumph of freedom over the tragedy of human nature, the victory of liberty over slavery and bigotry.”“These three elements—America’s philosophy of reason, equality, liberty, and limited government; America’s culture of individual rights and social duties; and America’s shared history—define our country.”Competing, today, with this traditional definition of America, is an alternative idea of America (or a citizenry with a commonly shared collection of several significant ideas) which Shapiro describes and labels “Disintergrationism”:“The America of the past ha[s]to be left behind. American philosophy was corrupt and exploitative; American culture was racist and cruel; American history was a litany of abuses, punctuated only by sporadic revolutions directed at overthrowing her philosophy and culture. This is the Disintegrationist view, boiled down to bumper stickers. The Disintegrationist view launches direct, unyielding attacks on American philosophy, culture, and history.”“American philosophy is under attack, with Disintegrationists claiming that natural rights do not exist—that no rights are discoverable from human nature and reason, because neither human nature nor reason exists. Human nature is inherently malleable, and reason a mere tool of power, wielded by political enemies in order to suppress dissent. Likewise, equality before law is morally wrong, according to Disintegrationists—such equality merely reinforces preexisting hierarchies of power. Instead of equality before the law, or equality in individual rights, Disintegrationists seek equality of outcome.”“American culture is also under attack, with Disintegrationists claiming that rights themselves are a threat to the common good. Free speech must be replaced by hate speech regulations, with hate itself left undefined. Freedom of religion must be replaced by secular universalism. Freedom of association and contract must be prohibited, so long as that freedom cuts against the appropriate standards of ethnic, racial, or sexual diversity”“Finally, America’s history is under severe threat. The Disintegrationists claim that America’s traditional history is a myth: that the true story of America is a story of exploitation, that the ideals of the Declaration of Independence were a self-flattering parody when written, that the Constitution of the United States was meant to enshrine power hierarchies, as well as bigotry of all forms. America has been an imperialist monster hell-bent on world domination, a propagator of rapacious capitalism, a faux democracy.”This books elaborates, explains, and describes methodically the origins and content of these two alternative ideas, inviting the reader to choose a preferred idea of America; although Shapiro, himself, is clearly an unapologetic Unionist.Highly recommended for those interested in the ideas underlying our current political conflict.
