An Appeal for Reason in a Time of Unreason
*Note to the reader: this piece is an experiment in addressing a complex subject in 650 words. Not counting this note, the piece is exactly 650 words long.
The people are angry, distressed, confused as we see on both the left,” Occupy” movements and right, “The Tea Party”. The government is ineffective, politically stalemated and bankrupt. Bewildering webs of problems abound: poverty, homelessness, destructive financial shenanigans, climate change, competition for diminishing resources among seven billion people and war(s). On the liberal/progressive left, beyond the usual, “herding cats” inanity in prioritizing agendas there is a choice between peaceful demonstrations and aggressive actions. On the right; moderate conservatives seem to be held in thrall by dangerously intransigent reactionaries. In such times rhetoric heats up and there is the ever present hazard of the center giving way. Should the latter happen; perilous situations may arise. Therefore; I begin and end with quotes while briefly noting examples of revolutions and counter-revolutions.
Kissinger (or Nixon 1972 when opening relations with China): “What do you think of the French Revolution?”
Premier Zhou En Lai: “It is too early to tell.”
The American Revolution (1776-83) was a magnificent rallying call for liberty (humanity’s “natural” rights) that continues to echo wherever people desire freedom. However; by 1789 (the Constitutional Convention) the USA became somewhat conservative in nature and structurally difficult to change. Ask Burr.
The French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars lasted from 1789 (the Bastille) until the fall of Napoleon in 1815 (Waterloo). Liberal idealism degenerated into Terror and unstable Directories as combinations of radicals bloodily turned on each other. Napoleon brought order, sought glory and fell.
The American Civil War (1861-65) can be viewed as a counter-revolution in reaction to the election of Lincoln. Morally; the South was clearly wrong in attempting to continue slavery. In retrospect: the Rebels had some valid (Jeffersonian-small government) points regarding big (Federalist/Hamiltonian) government. 680,000 died: arguments about race and the nature of American governance continue. Thus; we should be collectively ashamed when we consider the devotion of the Rebels and Yankees.
The Russian Revolution (1917) ignited after generations of repression by the Czars. Germany overwhelmingly defeated Russia during WW-1 weakening the Czars and hopes of political compromise. Ruthless Bolsheviks eliminated moderate parties and created a monolithic dictatorship under Lenin, then Stalin leading to the Cold War with the US. The Chinese Revolution of 1949 spawned a monstrosity under Mao. American defense budgets increased since the Korean War and continue to swell.
Nazi Germany was a counter-revolutionary reaction against the Weimar Republic (and the crushing, punitive Treaty of Versailles) which although liberal and creative was decadently impoverished. Hitler, Japan and Italy plunged the world into horrific war in which approximately 55,000,000 died in every conceivable manner
Today we witness, “The Arab Spring”; revolutions in the Middle East, these tribal/nation states sit on vast amounts of petroleum. It is anyone’s guess as to which way these events go; secular moderation or medieval, radicalized Islam? Currently; The West cannot do much except hope for the best.
Remember the lessons of History. What we do as Americans will resonate for centuries so consider the consequences. Talent, ambition, and luck are creative drivers of capitalism. Yet, the, “Occupiers” are correct; inequities in income are the issue. Money is power. Money equals speech? Corporations are persons? If absurdly so, both corporations and citizens should perform their civic duties and accept equitable justice for misdeeds. Without fairness it will be far more difficult to address other worsening problems. I suggest we choose to follow the path of Dr. King and Gandhi unless we want to see chaos, riot and repression when, inevitably, the powerful become impatient. Either way requires courage. The point is to focus and clarify the message. Other powers will not wait as Americans engages in folly. Act, ameliorate, learn, converse, think; it is our moral, civic duty.
“The Americans will always do the right thing after they’ve exhausted all the alternatives.” Winston Churchill
We risk our civilization unless we use reason.
Keith Keller: Historian
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