The Anti-(Anti-Anti-)Americans

By MJ

There seems to be an oversized debate engulfing the world today. It’s a debate between the labeled factions of anti-Americans and anti-anti-Americans. I think I find myself more in the realm of the anti-(anti-anti-)Americans, if that makes any sense. I would like to add to this discussion of anti-Americanism by suggesting that these arguments are part of a much smaller, but just as loud, argument taking place within America itself: the patriotic argument.

It’s flattering to see the world debate Americanism. Never before has such a discussion taken place on the world scene. Sure there have been debates of whether Germany was being aggressive, or whether Britain was overtly colonizing the world, or whether China is actually communist, or whether France has actually been defeated in three straight wars. Those debates have all taken place and some still do, but never to the extent at which the American debate is taking place today. It’s a total focus the world over from all political spectrums on America and her place in history, the present and the future. It’s unprecedented scholarship, a unique form of erudition.

On the world scene, the debate is divided more towards nationality. Non-Americans are labeled as anti-American (except for Jean-Francois Revel), while American debaters are regularly labeled as Americanists. In America, however, the debate is much more personal, or civil, depending on how you look at it. This debate shifts somewhat from Americanism to patriotism. In short, the left is commonly labeled as unpatriotic while the right is viewed as patriotic (I know that doesn’t do it justice; it’s just a summarization.). None of this could be further from the truth, however. Being left of center does not mean that you are unpatriotic and simply being a conservative does not make one a patriot. Yet the debates rages on like two playground school kids that always have to get in the last word.

In an essay for the New York Times Jonathan Tepperman, the senior editor of Foreign Affairs, describes the debate as a way to “explain why people hate America so much.” That’s a fair take on what’s happening on the world forum, but how to define or explain why it’s also taking place within America? Like Tepperman concludes, I believe the debate has always taken place- even within America itself.

During the American Revolution the colonists rebelling against the British Monarchy were called patriots and those loyal to Britain were called loyalists. That also might be the last time correct labels were used to define a persons stance on an issue. In today’s America, those who dissent against the current administration are routinely labeled as unpatriotic. And those who disagree with Bush’s decision to divert attention and rush to war with Iraq are always mixed into the unpatriotic pool as well. Unfortunately dissent today in America is commonly viewed as being unpatriotic.

This is a sad scenario in which we have developed, for this country was built from dissent. It was the dissenting patriots that wanted freedom from British colonialism; and it was the dissenting abolitionists that went against the law of slavery; and it was the dissenting New Dealers that wanted a better life for future generations of Americans. Dissent is all throughout the history of this great country. It scares me when dissenting in America is worse than agreeing with untruths. The middle ground seems to be disappearing in a country where the middle was always where we sought to find ourselves over and over again.

As with any argument there are sides to be chosen; though, something is wrong in a world where disagreeing purportedly subjugates ones loyalty towards his or her country.

To dissent is not to denounce and to not be able to speak in favor of one’s convictions, whether on the left or the right, is acutely anti-American.

Tepperman suggests thinking of those from the left who attack America’s actions as anti-Americans, and those from the right who attack the attackers as anti-anti-Americans. I say let those two categories have it out and argue what they want, in the meantime I disagree with both and think for myself. That’s what an anti-(anti-anti-)American is.

If the link to Tepperman's essay doesn't work here's the citation:

Tepperman, Jonathan. "The Anti-Anti-Americans." The New York Times, Dec. 12, 2004.

The essay is followed by 3 letters to the editor and a reply from Tepperman. It makes for good reading.