What's so great about America
By: Dinesh D'Souza
Publisher: Regnery Publishing; Distributed to the trade by National Book Network
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Washington, DC; Lanham, MD
Language: eng
Number of pages: 218
ISBN-13: 9780895261533
Subjects: Civilization; Western Civilization; American National characteristics; Cultuur; Rechtvaardiging; Vaderlandsliefde
Other titles: What is so great about America
Description: America is under attack as never before. Not only from foreign terrorists, but also from within. Islamic terrorists declare America the "Great Satan." Many Europeans complain about America spreading its cultural wasteland. And perhaps worst of all, here in our own country, those on the political Left still blame America for every ill in the world. Left-wing multiculturalism -- dominant in our own schools and universities -- teaches students that Western and American culture is no better than, and probably worse than, Third World cultures. Does this imply the death of the West? Quite the opposite, says the author. In his new book he takes on all of America's critics and proves them wrong. The author claims that the flood of immigrants coming to America proves that our values, our system, our freedoms, and our culture are irresistible and superior. The problem, he asserts, is our own inability or refusal to celebrate what makes America great. He takes the alleged "sins of the West" and debunks the myths propagated by the Left: 1. Slavery? The West is unique not in having slavery but in abolishing it. 2. Colonialism? The author, an immigrant from India, gives two cheers for British colonialism, pointing out that the sons and daughters of colonists are the beneficiaries of Western law, culture, education, opportunity, and prosperity. 3. Decadence? Who is truly virtuous, he asks, a society that enforces Talibanic edicts or the West, where virtue is a free-will choice? Where else in the world has the value and potential of the individual been more fully realized than in America? In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks on our country, there is a clear understanding of the moral basis of Western civilization is needed now more than ever. This book offers a powerful defense for America and exposes the truth about who our enemies really are.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Preface : A funeral oration : Pericles' dilemma, and ours; title: Chap. 1. Why they hate us : America and its enemies; title: Chap. 2. Two cheers for colonialism : how the West prevailed; title: Chap. 3. Becoming America : why the American idea is unique; title: Chap. 4. Reparations fallacy : what African-Americans owe America; title: Chap. 5. When virtue loses all her loveliness : freedom and its abuses; title: America the beautiful : what we're fighting for; title: Notes; title: Acknowledgments; title: Index.