Bourne and Chesterton Assignment

The war has shown us that not in any magical formula will this purpose be found. No intense nationalism of the European plan can be ours. But do we not begin to see a new and more adventurous ideal? Do we not see how the national colonies in America, deriving power from the deep cultural heart of Europe and yet living here in mutual toleration, freed from the age-long tangles of races, creeds, and dynasties, may work out a federated ideal? America is transplanted Europe, but a Europe that has not been disintegrated and scattered in the transplanting as in some Dispersion. Its colonies live here inextricably mingled, yet not homogeneous. They merge but they do not fuse.  (Bourne, pg 4,5)

             The war has not solved anything. We have not changed anything about the Europeans. We should see that we have other options. America could become diverse and content, like Europe.  Instead, America has become a mingled, non-homogeneous Europe. Bourne is saying this because he wants America to welcome diversity as the Europeans do.

             I choose this passage because I feel that America has come a long way with diversity. Although I can’t personally compare it to Europe, I see the difference first hand, as well as through my history readings. Some Americans do still have some prejudiced ways and practices, but as a whole we are living in Bourne’s ideal European way.

All good Americans wish to fight the representatives they have chosen. All good Englishmen wish to forget the representatives they have chosen. This difference, deep and perhaps ineradicable in the temperaments of the two peoples, explains a thousand things in their literature and their laws. The American national poet praised his people for their readiness 'to rise against the never-ending audacity of elected persons.' The English national anthem is content to say heartily, but almost hastily, 'Confound their politics,' and then more cheerfully, as if changing the subject, 'God Save the King.' For this is especially the secret of the monarch or chief magistrate in the two countries. They arm the President with the powers of a King, that he may be a nuisance in politics. We deprive the King even of the powers of a President, lest he should remind us of a politician. We desire to forget the never-ending audacity of elected persons; and with us therefore it really never does end. That is the practical objection to our own habit of changing the subject, instead of changing the ministry. The King, as the Irish wit observed, is not a subject; but in that sense the English crowned head is not a King. He is a popular figure intended to remind us of the England that politicians do not remember; the England of horses and ships and gardens and good fellowship. The Americans have no such purely social symbol; and it is rather the root than the result of this that their social luxury, and especially their sport, are a little lacking in humanity and humour. It is the American, much more than the Englishman, who takes his pleasures sadly, not to say savagely. (Chesterton pg 121)

             Americans and Englishmen alike find fault with the people they elect. They just express it differently. Americans want to rise against politicians while the English want to pray for them. Americans give the president so much power that he becomes a nuisance. The English deprive their king of power, so he is more like a mere politician. They want to forget any problems the king has caused rather than replace him. The Irish considered the head of England not a king, but a reminder of England’s yester-year that politicians don’t recall.  Americans do not have a king, or symbol to remind them of when things were simpler. Because of this, they lack humanity and humor in their social luxury and sport. The American is more sad and savage like than the Englishmen.

A common discussion topic is politics. Politicians are often the blame when things go wrong. With the president being the head politician, of course he receives the most criticism. While I would not put all of America in a sad or savage category, I would agree that throughout history our leaders have often turned to violence for solution. I disagree that America does not have a symbol, or symbols to remind us of when things were simpler. We strive for that, but our people’s mentality changes constantly, so we fail to recognize the symbols, or ignore them.

Valerie