The American Cause

Rating:
Summary: Ordered Liberty
Review: If you were to ask what is the American cause, you would probably hear variations on: the freedom to do and say whatever one pleases, every man for himself, the end justifies the means, cheaper is better, and whoever dies with the most toys wins. We often hear today that America means freedom, but we rarely hear the more accurate formulation that America means ordered liberty.

Ignorance has consequences, which is why the first chapter in Kirk's brief primer on American government addresses why we need principles in the first place. From there Kirk examines the moral, political, and economic principles that form the foundation of American thought. At the end he addresses some of the more common anti-American claims.

Accomplishing all of this in under 150 pages, with none of the textbook's dreariness or partisanship, is quite a feat. I especially liked Kirk's ability to refrain from arguing "that a thing is good simply because it is American, or bad simply because it is not American."

Opposed to elevating freedom into an absolute, Kirk agreed with Orestes Brownson that the American mission was to reconcile freedom with order, liberty with authority, to keep the pendulum from swaying too far between either anarchy or tyranny. It was from Brownson that President Kennedy borrowed his "ask not" speech and from Brownson that we got the idea of territorial democracy, which meant local control over local affairs and local checks upon state and federal power.

Of power the Founders had deep suspicion, and that suspicion was rooted in observation, their colonial experience, their experience in the English parliamentary system, and their reading of Greek and Roman literature. They concluded that power, like Tolkien's ring, necessarily corrupted its bearer, whether president or king or saint. In the American system there are no "good rulers," no secular redeemers, because human nature itself is flawed and necessarily places limits on ruler and ruled.

The Founders' skepticism of power and human nature was not merely a subject of debate; it was a reality that influenced how they constructed government at the federal, state, and local level. For example, in Washington, D.C., and in the states (Nebraska being the exception) there are three branches of government, each balancing the other in order to distribute power and to prevent its centralization. I have often thought that if a newspaper wanted to report accurately on what happened politically on any given day, it would divide that page into three columns, one each for the activities of the presidency, the Congress, and the courts, or even the governorship, the state houses, and the state courts.

Now is a good time for people to hear that "Americans do not aspire to make the world into one vast uniform United States, for they cherish diversity at home and abroad." The American cause has served us well, and it ought to be understood, remembered, and conserved.

Rating:
Summary: Americanism 101
Review: In 1957, Russell Kirk (1918-1994) published this brief synopsis of principles of the "American way of life." It was recently republished and serves as a useful introduction to a conservative view of what is uniquely American. Kirk hits on many of the principle themes of American life: the influence of Christianity, the American view of government, etc.

I tend to agree with most of what Kirk writes here. I did find a couple things interesting. First, Kirk's view of Christianity is somewhat "humanistic." For example, Kirk's discussion of the significance of Jesus' death is more or less the "example" theory of the atonement. Second, I think Kirk's discussion of US imperialism sugar coats how cynical and brutal American policy with respect to other nations has at times been.

This is a new edition of this work, which has been slightly re-edited by Gleaves Whitney as a sort of "primer on America, post September 11." I don't have a problem with this, but the previous edition contained an introduction by John Dos Passos. Why was this removed? Also, Mr. Whitney has included a section of "recommended readings" which recommends several works by neoconservatives. Considering Dr. Kirk's disavowal of the neoconservative movement, this is regretful.

Rating:
Summary: Americanism 101
Review: In 1957, Russell Kirk (1918-1994) published this brief synopsis of principles of the "American way of life." It was recently republished and serves as a useful introduction to a conservative view of what is uniquely American. Kirk hits on many of the principle themes of American life: the influence of Christianity, the American view of government, etc.

I tend to agree with most of what Kirk writes here. I did find a couple things interesting. First, Kirk's view of Christianity is somewhat "humanistic." For example, Kirk's discussion of the significance of Jesus' death is more or less the "example" theory of the atonement. Second, I think Kirk's discussion of US imperialism sugar coats how cynical and brutal American policy with respect to other nations has at times been.

This is a new edition of this work, which has been slightly re-edited by Gleaves Whitney as a sort of "primer on America, post September 11." I don't have a problem with this, but the previous edition contained an introduction by John Dos Passos. Why was this removed? Also, Mr. Whitney has included a section of "recommended readings" which recommends several works by neoconservatives. Considering Dr. Kirk's disavowal of the neoconservative movement, this is regretful.

Rating:
Summary: A Warning to Radical Islamist Beheaders and Beslin Butchers
Review: Russell Kirk wrote a terse, pithy manifesto on America's mission, part of which is to be a rock against the armed, fanatical doctrines that eventually worm and slither their way to our beautiful shores.

The reader will learn in straightforward and unapologetic tones how Christianity influenced America, why the free market economy is based on sound morals and has healthy ends. The reader will learn that while America is not perfect it is good, and history has judged that America is exceptional in its achievements.

It is written in robust, dignified style and accessible to the public. It's plain, with a heartland sincerity. Yet it is not pollyannish about the vermin that attack America with supersophisticated methods of political intrigue.

Masses of young people in all of our institutions should be required to read Kirk. Some may refute it, which is their right and a freedom US servicemen have purchased with blood for them, but they will be made stronger for it and be able some day to REFUTE THE ENDLESS STREAM OF ANTI-AMERICANISM POISONING OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND MEDIA!

We desperately needed Kirk's manifesto for ourselves and our posterity.