Independent UK: Book of the Week: Anti-intellectualism in American Life

[marmar]

Book of the Week: Anti-intellectualism in American Life
By Chris Schuler



Anti-Intellectualism in American Life
by Richard Hofstadter



To judge from the coverage of the Democratic Party convention in Denver, you might think that the main obstacle to Barack Obama becoming President is not racial prejudice (no, surely not), but the fact that he is perceived as an “egghead”. Watching Michelle Obama trying to convince delegates that her brilliant husband is just a regular guy and that she – a high-flying attorney – is an all-American mom left a saccharine aftertaste. But hell, if that’s what it takes to get Obama to the White House …

Anyone wondering why a creative and resourceful nation founded on the principles of Enlightenment rationalism prefers to think of itself as dumb could do worse than to revisit Richard Hofstadter’s Pulitzer-Prizewinning study Anti-Intellectualism in American Life.

First published in 1963, the book was conceived in the 1950s, during the dark night of McCarthyism, and focuses on the 1952 presidential election in which the urbane and erudite Adlai Stevenson was defeated by the “plain-speaking soldier” Dwight Eisenhower.

Hofstadter believed that American anti-intellectualism had deep roots in the Puritanism of the Founding Fathers, citing the New England minister John Cotton, who wrote in 1642, “The more learned and witty you bee, the more fit to act for Satan will you bee” – a view echoed three centuries later in Billy Graham’s condemnation of “so-called intellectuals” who have substituted “reason, rationalism … humanism” for the word of God.

To this was added the pragmatism of the businessman and the small-town lawyer – the conviction that any branch of knowledge that did not have an immediate application was not worth knowing. A sentimental attachment to the myth of the frontiersman (which bears little relation to the actual lives of most Americans today) gave rise to a suspicion of Easterners who “insult the people of the great Midwest and West, the heart of America”.

Specialists can also incur the wrath of government as a result of their scepticism about simplistic solutions and refusal to disregard inconvenient facts, as can be seen in the Bush administration’s frustration with the UN inspector Hans Blix’s insistence that he had found no WMD in Iraq. And while intellectuals have at times kow-towed to authoritarian governments, they have also been in the forefront of the struggle for human rights. Inclined to an open, inquiring attitude towards the rest of the world, can therefore be characterised as unpatriotic. While intellectuals in the USA were suspected of communism, in the communist world they were accused of “cosmopolitanism” and lack of class solidarity, with murderous consequences in Stalin’s Russia, Mao’s China and the Cambodia of the Khmer Rouge.

Sadly, Obama is right to worry about appearing too brainy. It did for Al Gore in 2000 and for John Kerry in 2004. What is curious is that the beneficiary was George Walker Bush, the Connecticut-born, Yale-education scion of an East Coast political and banking dynasty, who had reinvented himself as a Texas homeboy. In such matters, appearance is everything. But we should ask ourselves if a climate in which candidates for public office are expected to downplay their intellectual attainments is really healthy for the life of a democracy.


http://blogs.independent.co.uk/openhouse/2008/08/book-of-the-w-3.html#more

[ddeclue]

1. I'd read it but I don't want to be called an egghead...

:rofl:

[HereSince1628]

2. Face it....you wouldn't go to an Art Film theater to see the documentary either...

[melody]

3. Wow, yet another attack on American intellect from Europe

How ... usual. :eyes:

[Nihil]

4. Those who don't learn from history ...

... re-elect George W Bush. How's that going for you again?

Guess what? If you elect McCain you'll get even more "attacks" on
the "American intellect" but you'll still be able to live in your
pink-tinted world of insular superiority and cry "Victim!" again.

Sorry that it offends you but it happens to offend a lot of us
that you're dragging *everyone* down with you and the only way
to even get that message across is tritely dismissed as
"yet another attack on American intellect".

[melody]

17. Bigots are bigots

They exist everywhere ... it's the rising EU tide trying to knock the US brand, using anti-American rhetoric
to drive it.

Unfortunately, you seem to accept the premise without question which pretty much brands your assertions.

[Silent3]

21. It's not bigotry to point out bad things that are true

It would be bigotry to assume that each and every American was anti-intellectual, but where is the bigotry in accusing American culture, as a whole, of being anti-intellectual?

Whether you agree with that conclusion (I certainly do), it's not "bigotry" either way. Then again, maybe I'm just being an annoying egghead for pointing out proper usage of words like "bigotry".

[melody]

22. It is bigotry if it comes out of bigotry

All bigots think they have good reasons for their prejudices. "Truth" is relative.

I think we need to be very, very careful before we brand any group/ethnicity/race/nationality with a
stereotype.

[Silent3]

23. I've lived the truth of this.

I grew up as the smart kid who preferred science to sports, and I can attest from firsthand experience how our culture denigrates displays of intelligence -- even reserved, non show-offy intelligence -- whereas athleticism, even when aggressive and boastful, is lauded.

Here's a simple match quiz for you. Match the winning team with the celebration:

1) Winning football team
2) Winning debate team

A) Half-hour pizza party after school, in an unused classroom
B) Parade down Main St.

Go ahead. Take your time.

Perhaps you can argue that US anti-intellectualism is no worse than Europe or elsewhere, but if you're denying the strong anti-intellectualism of American culture, you're simply not paying attention to the world around you.

[melody]

24. I'm not denying anything ... I'm questioning the motives of the piece

I was a straight A student among the savages ... I know what it's like here. We definitely have an anti-intellectualism
problem. But that is for us to deal with and not become another example in an ongoing trend in the EU press.

[Nihil]

36. Ha ha ha - nice one!

> I think we need to be very, very careful before we brand any
> group/ethnicity/race/nationality with a stereotype.

>> Wow, yet another attack on American intellect from Europe
>> How ... usual.

:rofl:

[melody]

38. Where did you see I branded an ethnicity?

I'm saying it's coming from the government, not the people. In fact, I think I specifically said that.

[alarimer]

32. American culture IS anti-intellectual.

So it isn't bigotry at all to merely point that out. Some Americans are too sensitive at having out cultural shortcomings pointed out by others.

[YOY]

34. I've seen it.

Talking to my wife in her language at the smoke stop the Hamburg Airport. A Dutch woman struck up a pleasant conversation with my wife. I was politely silent, until the point when she commented what a bunch of barbarians Americans were when she found out we were going to the US.

She was taken aback that I politely explained that over 50% of Americans detest Bush and his assbackwards policies both within and without that there are a great many Americans who are educated professionals and not mouth breathing inbreds.

She didn't think I was American because I wasn't strictly adhering to English. The stupid bigot was taken aback. Bigots and nationalists are everywhere. They really need to remember that we are the yang to the FReepers' ying.

[marmar]

5. If it's true, it's true.....A good friend always points out things that one refuses to see.....

N'est-ce pas?

(Sorry if you find the use of French offensive)

[melody]

12. I like French people and Brits ... the problem is a prevailing attitude toward US persons

And what good friend? People are friends, not the press. There are elements of the EU press every bit as problematic
as Fox News. They have an economic store (the rise of Europe and the destruction of the US) in continuing a stereotype. It's
just as obnoxious as the freedom fries people.

[marmar]

15. Do you really think that Europe's economy would benefit from a "destroyed" US?....

Nobody in the EU or the European press is that stupid. That assertion is inherently ridiculous.

[melody]

18. Well, they've written about ten books on the topic so yes I think it would

I think, at base, there are massive economic interests in the EU behind the entire Bush Presidency
but that's another rant.

[magellan]

6. Don't know where you get that

I read it as an attack on the growing anti-intellectual trend in America, and political willingness to pander to it. Faith over fact. The desire to justify what we believe rather than open the door to potentially devastating truths, and how vulnerable that leaves us to manipulation and propaganda, with the expected disastrous results.

Much of the world is suffering because this country refuses to operate in reality. I expect many abroad see the cause with the same clarity and frustrated anger as we DUers do.

Spot on, IMHO.

[melody]

14. "Spot on" because you share their assumptions

Nowhere is there a questioning of the premise in the piece. It's propaganda.

[LynnTheDem]

7. I believe you've misunderstood the article.

It's an attack on the idiots of America who think being intelligent is "elite" and "bad".

[melody]

13. I understand that ... my problem is with the whole assertion

And its reasons for being.

[RainDog]

8. The book in question was written by an American

a very famous American political thinker, in fact. The book in question is considered one of the most important texts about American life to come out of the cold war era.

Your comment reinforces the author's thesis.

The UK article merely applied the thesis to current reality. If you cannot see how dumbed down talibornagains and nascar voters are a problem for this nation, then you are also part of the problem.

[melody]

11. I know the writer of the book in question

He is talking about the country from the inside. The UK article is doing what the EU press so often does about the US.
We have Fox News -- they have their own propaganda ministers.

[lunatica]

9. Actually, it's an attack on Idiocracy

Good old USA style idiocracy of which GWBush is the living symbol. Once our country bragged about having forefathers who were enlightened thinkers, now the neo con US can brag that GWBush is their founding father.

[melody]

10. I post one, short post and ...

Europeans have their own shortcomings and yet this is so seldom mentioned by the EU press. Gosh, I
wonder why.

Sorry, I've fought this battle before on this board -- I'm tired of it.

[RainDog]

19. so am I

I'm tired to Americans trashing their critics. Freedom Fries was just about the height of stupidity.

I've lived in Europe and the people that I know from nations there are MUCH MORE critical of their own govts than are the people in the U.S.

But I guess it's sort of easy to be defensive when you live in the only western democracy w/o universal healthcare, with an education system that still has to fend off attacks from religious idiots to get their myth taught as science, when you have a govt. that has tried to undo the social safety net, when you have idiots who voted against their own economic interests time and again...

people here will not let the remark pass b/c there are good reason for America to be criticized. We not only have Fox New propaganda, we also have CNN, etc. etc. When the Iraq war thing was on, I had to read British newspapers to get honest reporting. That's how I learned about Jessica Lynch, MONTHS before the NYTimes would even broach the matter of the US govt. lying their asses off about her situation... among other things... Another big moment was the U.S. supported coup of Chavez in 2002. No U.S. papers would tell the truth about that one, either, even tho Greg Palast, an American journalist, was the one who broke the story in the UK.

[melody]

20. You are bringing in utterly unrelated elements

I'm not getting into this again with you -- have your last say and let's be done with this.

[RainDog]

26. it is related

you say we have fox propaganda and they are also spouting propaganda. I'm telling you I had to go to EUROPEAN newspapers to get some truth.

Americans swallow the lies from the powers that be all the time. You do not have nearly the amount of open criticism of the govt in the mainstream media here. that's simply fact. you don't see Palast on 60 minutes. He's on the BBC version, tho. You dont' see Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! on any big cable news. you don't get honest information from American media.. and maybe that's why you're so quick to criticize other nations'.

[melody]

30. I watch BBC News and read Vraies Nouvelles

I'm a writer. I know what of I speak. Just because there is some truth does not mean it is all truth.
And even truth can be related in a distorted way.

However, I'm trying to make an objective point and you seem to be personalizing it so I suggest you have your last
word and let us be done with the topic.

[mr blur]

37. "I know what of I speak."? A writer eh? (nt)

[moggie]

40. You can't be familiar with the British press!

Europeans have their own shortcomings and yet this is so seldom mentioned by the EU press.

Good grief! You can't pick up a British newspaper (such as the one in the OP) without reading about shortcomings of:

1. The EU as a political entity. Most of our press is outright critical of the EU. Even those who are supportive in principle still report on problems, such as corruption within the European Parliament, the long-running wrangling over the European Constitution, controversies over the "enlargement" process etc etc.

2. National governments within the EU - particularly our own, of course, which receives a level of critical scrutiny increasingly alien to the American press.

3. European people in general. Really, the greater part of the British press is distressingly misanthropic, and rarely has a good word to say about the public.

Given your statement above, you have zero credibility on this.

[alarimer]

31. The book itself was published in 1963.

Hofstader is an American. But his book was also the basis for Susan Jacoby's recent book on the topic (I read it but can't remember the title).

In any case, just because this article was written by a European does not mean it isn't true.

I would say you just proved his point.

[melody]

39. Yes, I know, in fact I've met the Hofstadters

I would say you have a desperate need to dislike people. Or to belittle those with whom you disagree.

Go ahead and have your last say -- the EU-infatuated DU folk (who don't see that aspects of it are every bit as
corrupt as aspects of the US) must always have the last say.

[Greyhound]

16. This is how you get people both defending and denying the existence of our police state.

Knowledge is punished, ignorance rewarded, and isn't it just much easier to let somebody else tell me what to do? What happens when the people telling you what to do, don't know anything either?

"I haven't read the book, but I'm more than happy to criticize it"

[oldskool]

25. Why is it bigotry or racism etc...

When someone has a question or a opinion. Why did we let
political correctness take our first amendment right away? Why
can't we really see what's going on?  Is liberty,freedom and
justice to much to ask, and why won't our government employees
democratic and republican fight for our rights? This article
is true, and when the truth hurts it seems people go into the
racist,bigot mode. To me it seems religion,race,political
correctness,etc... are being used against us to divide the
country even more. History is repeating itself because it is
part of the Globalization agenda. Brought to you by the
neo-cons in both parties. We fall into the gotcha politics
every four years. Why is this? That is what this article is
about. We are led to focus on non-issues to hide what is
really going on.Read newspapers from around the world,watch
C-Span,learn history,economics,etc.. The truth is out there.

[Blue_Tires]

27. ttt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. "America is the only country to have gone from barbarism to decadence without

the usual intervening period of civilization." Oscar Wilde

[vanderBeth]

29. Another sad result

of a Bush presidency.

[Romulox]

33. Education is a proxy for CLASS in America.

"atching Michelle Obama trying to convince delegates that her brilliant husband is just a regular guy and that she – a high-flying attorney – is an all-American mom..."

Because most American politicians are from the upper classes, they must put on a show that they both understand the issues of middle Americans and feel solidarity with them--they typically attempt to accomplish this by bowling, having a beer, etc. etc.

To pretend that John Kerry lost because he "appear too brainy" is laughable, in other words--it's just bad analysis.

[spoony]

41. Now that's a worthy analysis.

Good job cutting through the weeds to get to the real deal.

[Festivito]

35. I ask. Is this the result of democracy?

As we cede power to the strength of people united, there arises sensitivity to the disparities within that united people. What happens next devolves whatever infrastructure disparity constructs over time.

Take people from IQ 0-120(say 99%), all being ruled by 120-200(say a remaining 1%). The disparity must be addressed. It's like the kid who does all his algebra problems in one step... teaching the class. Pretty soon, something is going to happen, and doubtful it will be pretty.

I'll begin an answer to my own question. It is not democracy's fault that people united are strong. Thus the divine right of kings falls to a Magna Carta, which falls to imperialism, which falls back to strength of people, e.g. America. In America democracy falls to corporatism.

What next you ask. I don't know.

Communism arises out of Czars, kings, and industrial potentates. Less disparate countries birth the age of enlightenment.

Communism falls to wealth disparity so hard it tears its country apart.

Enlightenment falls to a call to basics, a call to fundementalism.

And thusly swings a pendulum of our eartly millenia.

So if there is anti-intellectual anger out there, it is understandable. And, as much as the bankers have lasted in their disparate supremacy, intellectuals have that ability as well.

They just have to work smarter, and quit solving their math problems in one step.

EDIT: liked a different ending.