Micah Craypo
Instructor: Howard
English 2010
It’s Lonely at the Top
“Are Americans really stupid?” (Czeslaw Milosz). Wow, this is one hell of a hook; if nobody had told me that the author of this essay was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980, I surely could of guessed it by his fascinating introduction. Not to mention the title Milosz chose for this essay, American Ignorance of War. Derogatory statements like these make me think of my own questions for people with this same attitude. Are Europeans really envious of Americans? Are Europeans still embarrassed about Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Benito Mussolini? No need to answer these questions, because being an American means you acquire a quick sense for so many foreigners like Milosz who quickly defect from their own baron wasteland of a country only to come here and call us “ignorant and stupid”, while reaping benefits for doing so.
In my opinion, predicting, if a war would ever happen on American soil is too hard for anyone to make. Optimistically I say no, but pessimistically and in a controversial rebuttal to Milosz; I say that Europe has already birthed 3 evil dictators (Hitler, Stalin & Mussolini) within our recent history, who’s to say they can’t produce a 4th, this time with sights set on the U.S. For now, let’s forget about that, instead, I’ll argue against Milosz’s assertion that “if something exists in one place, it will exist everywhere” in his regards to war.
If this were true (which it’s not), than there must be a “something” and “someplace” for this perpetual motion to exist. Clearly Milosz is claiming that Europe’s devastation during the first half of the 20th century is the “something” and that it must eventually exist in the West (America). For hundreds of year’s world-wide progress and domination came from the East, Europe was the central breeding ground for creativity, politics and so much rich history. However, things have changed and Milosz has yet to swallow this reality pill; that Europe is no longer the center pinnacle anymore, it is America and has been ever since the ending of WWII. We can argue semantics but this is simply the way it’s been. Hopefully globalization will continue to spread and grow to the point that democracy becomes the “something” that will exist everywhere, and not the war which Europe prays will happen to us.
Here is some of Milosz closing remarks which may be found as a little disturbing: “A hard school, where ignorance was punished not by bad marks but by death, has taught him (man of the East) to think sociologically and historically…He is apt to believe in theories that foresee violent changes in the countries of the West, for he finds it unjust that they should escape the hardships he had to undergo.” This quote almost conveys a sort of wishful hoping that American’s should suffer war on their own lands. I hope that this is their funny way of saying “thank you America, for aiding us during both world wars when you didn’t have to, and thank you for aiding us financially and supporting our economies back to health.” Much like their humor, "I just don’t get it."
Response
I will admit that my angered response is part of the problem rather than the solution. But words such as Milosz attack me as a proud American citizen, and force me to take a stand. Since this country was founded I’ve had men from my family heritage fight in every single war this country has been involved in; even up to the current terrorist wars my father served 3 tours in. Europe also has a proud lineage of honorable soldiers who stood against evil dictators, and I have never once thought to call them ignorant, especially because this is a personal attack toward the deceased hero’s. Who can’t nit-pick about the faults of other people or countries? This is no great talent, but Milosz seems to exercise this with such negative stigma, in referring to our countries history of blood, sweat and tears as ignorance.
Instructor: Howard
English 2010
It’s Lonely at the Top
“Are Americans really stupid?” (Czeslaw Milosz). Wow, this is one hell of a hook; if nobody had told me that the author of this essay was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980, I surely could of guessed it by his fascinating introduction. Not to mention the title Milosz chose for this essay, American Ignorance of War. Derogatory statements like these make me think of my own questions for people with this same attitude. Are Europeans really envious of Americans? Are Europeans still embarrassed about Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Benito Mussolini? No need to answer these questions, because being an American means you acquire a quick sense for so many foreigners like Milosz who quickly defect from their own baron wasteland of a country only to come here and call us “ignorant and stupid”, while reaping benefits for doing so.
In my opinion, predicting, if a war would ever happen on American soil is too hard for anyone to make. Optimistically I say no, but pessimistically and in a controversial rebuttal to Milosz; I say that Europe has already birthed 3 evil dictators (Hitler, Stalin & Mussolini) within our recent history, who’s to say they can’t produce a 4th, this time with sights set on the U.S. For now, let’s forget about that, instead, I’ll argue against Milosz’s assertion that “if something exists in one place, it will exist everywhere” in his regards to war.
If this were true (which it’s not), than there must be a “something” and “someplace” for this perpetual motion to exist. Clearly Milosz is claiming that Europe’s devastation during the first half of the 20th century is the “something” and that it must eventually exist in the West (America). For hundreds of year’s world-wide progress and domination came from the East, Europe was the central breeding ground for creativity, politics and so much rich history. However, things have changed and Milosz has yet to swallow this reality pill; that Europe is no longer the center pinnacle anymore, it is America and has been ever since the ending of WWII. We can argue semantics but this is simply the way it’s been. Hopefully globalization will continue to spread and grow to the point that democracy becomes the “something” that will exist everywhere, and not the war which Europe prays will happen to us.
Here is some of Milosz closing remarks which may be found as a little disturbing: “A hard school, where ignorance was punished not by bad marks but by death, has taught him (man of the East) to think sociologically and historically…He is apt to believe in theories that foresee violent changes in the countries of the West, for he finds it unjust that they should escape the hardships he had to undergo.” This quote almost conveys a sort of wishful hoping that American’s should suffer war on their own lands. I hope that this is their funny way of saying “thank you America, for aiding us during both world wars when you didn’t have to, and thank you for aiding us financially and supporting our economies back to health.” Much like their humor, "I just don’t get it."
Response
I will admit that my angered response is part of the problem rather than the solution. But words such as Milosz attack me as a proud American citizen, and force me to take a stand. Since this country was founded I’ve had men from my family heritage fight in every single war this country has been involved in; even up to the current terrorist wars my father served 3 tours in. Europe also has a proud lineage of honorable soldiers who stood against evil dictators, and I have never once thought to call them ignorant, especially because this is a personal attack toward the deceased hero’s. Who can’t nit-pick about the faults of other people or countries? This is no great talent, but Milosz seems to exercise this with such negative stigma, in referring to our countries history of blood, sweat and tears as ignorance.