Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace: How We Got to Be So Hated [Paperback]

 

 

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Anyone who wants to understand the basic value of free speech needs to read this long litany of the abuses of government authority by the police, politicians and press.

All criticism of power obviously infuriates conservatives, and Vidal constantly skewers the rich, complacent, corrupt and conniving. It is definitely not meant to be read by rich fat conservatives of the Greedy Old Party, or even the Dumb Enough for Me set. Instead, it's a wonderful expose of the abuses of power by people who hold power; it's not meant to be fair, any more than 'Common Sense' by Thomas Paine was meant to be even handed. Like the Founding Fathers, Vidal believes American can be better if some of its inherited bad habits are discarded.

From Paine to Thomas Jefferson to Michael Moore, America has thrived in part because of its critics. And who reins in the critics? They must wage a constant rearguard action against everyone from Rush Limbaugh to Ann Colter. The very best are often betrayed by even their friends; but, this is often the price of being right instead of popular. Public debate in America is waged in a playpen of paranoid wolves; there is no mercy for anyone who bleeds in the arena of public comment. It is no place for the weak-minded.

Vidal is one of the best. Of course he's unfair; he's quick to cite government slaughter at Waco, but ignores the slaughter by religious cults from Jonestown to Heaven's Gate, and the appalling sexual child abuse by polygamist Mormons in Arizona. His talent is defending individual freedom against government conformity. This is the heart of a free society. In some countries conformity is an art form, such as Cuba, Iran and North Korea, but it is not the fate chosen by free people.

Government in America is truly as bad as Vidal states; but, every fault Vidal cites was brought to his attention by news reports and government studies and not by his own original effort. In other words, a free press exists and is effective. A century ago, critics such as Upton Sinclair were the first to tell all Americans about appalling conditions in industry. The result was major reform. Today, critics thrive throughout society from village newspapers to national publishers, plus millions of bloggers, book critics and letter writers. The result is a constant process of incremental reform.

Amazon.com book reviews are one such utterly new bastion of free expression; they offer another means to praise or cauterize the cogent or corrupt arguments of everyone from Vidal to myself. It is this freedom that makes Vidal possible and precious, and gives America an almost unassailable strength. This is one society where error of opinion or fact is pounced upon with vigor and glee, instead of being covered over in the genteel ivy of sacred tradition, pride and heritage.

Vidal is one of the best. You can learn a lot by reading a book, and this book is one of the most provocative. You (and America) will be better for it.

Because of today's climate of non-debate, this book was labeled "pinko" by the very people who would gain the most by reading it.

I highly recommend PERPETUAL WAR to those who generally stick to authors like Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. Not only will it expose them to a different viewpoint, it'll do so in a way that won't leave them feeling insulted.

Pat Buchanan fans will also feel some kinship with this book.

What has made America a great nation in the eyes of the world over the last two hundred years, is not its major technological advances, it competent military or its advances in all the arts, but its original pure ideals on what constitutes a free society, and the inalienable rights of the individual living in that society. The founding fathers of the United States knew all too well the corruptive nature of power. The creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights would ensure that those within its government seeking absolute power could be kept in check. In this ideal society, the state has limited power over its citizens, but just enough power to maintain peace within its borders. What is shocking about this short collection of essays by Gore Vidal, is he soberly illustrates with hard fact examples, particularly since the Oklahoma bombing and the events of 9/11, that the Bill of Rights and the important principles it states, protecting the rights of all citizens, is being manipulated to serve a small elite. The people are slowly, over time, losing their rights, because it is said, for their own protection.

As a child growing up in the United States, there were three things I was taught, and that was always to respect the rights of others, always say please and thank you, and Governments always lie. "Never believe a politician, son. Because no matter what they say, there is always a hidden agenda." Time and again, this simple statement has turned out to be true. Sometimes their lies are found out. As a people, however, we have a tendency to forgetfulness, a kind of in-built amnesia, to then blindly vote our dubious leaders back into office. Facing the awful truth, in most cases, is much too hard, because it is easier to accept sugarcoated reasons, media-generated propaganda, and not take responsibility and face the fact that at least part of the problem is with us.

Vidal points out that there has been nearly two hundred 'incursions' since 1945..."in which the United States has been the aggressor." As he states in the introduction, "It is the law of physics (still on the books when last I looked) that in nature there is no action without reaction. The same appears in human nature - that is, history." (ix) Might the two terrible events of Oklahoma and 9/11 be the result of past military 'incursions' by the U.S. and her allies in other countries?

I found this collection of essays to be both incredibly disturbing and enlightening at the same time. In fact, after finishing the book, sleep became difficult. I don't know whether the United States knows it or not, because it is the most powerful nation in the world, and therefore an example to us all, what they do or not do, affects the entire planet. Australia has always looked to America as an example, (whether we care to admit it or not) and I don't like where our big brother is leading us at the moment.

The basic premise of Vidal's book is the ultimate damage from terrorism is not a physical one, but the true knockout blow is our vanishing liberties. Those in power submit that we must sacrifice or freedoms because we're at war. I submit, without our God given liberties, our rights as contributing members of society; war is moot, because there's nothing else worth fighting for.

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4.0 out of 5 stars The Irony behind war and peace
Gore Vidal makes interesting points involving the irony between war and peace. In his collection of essay's Mr. Read more

Published on Jan 4 2004 by Justin Maung

4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and Prophetic
I was first drawn to this book because it claimed to have an answer to a most appropriate question: "How We Got To Be So Hated". Read more

Published on Jan 4 2004 by Sara Milstein

5.0 out of 5 stars America the hated
For those who have recently felt there was something distasteful about the information being spoonfed to them by the American Media Conglomerate, Vidal provides welcome insight... Read more

Published on Dec 4 2003 by David Group

5.0 out of 5 stars A good starting point.
The War on Terror cannot be summed up with jingoist phrases like, "You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists. Read more

Published on Nov 30 2003 by reprehensor

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking
In this book, Gore Vidal explains his opinions on why the American government has come to be hated by millions across the world and even quite a few within America itself. Read more

Published on Nov 5 2003 by T. Hooper

5.0 out of 5 stars Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace by Gore Vidal
This master of the essay leaves you wanting more - more to read, more to provoke thought, more to share with friends. Read more

Published on Aug 14 2003 by Phyllis Le Chat

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Tour-de Force By Gore Vidal
Gore is indeed at it again; with a book he had difficulty publishing in the post 911 environment in the U.SA. Read more

Published on July 31 2003 by Barron Laycock

2.0 out of 5 stars Gore Vidal's recycled essays filled with garbage, brilliance
Webster assures us incitement distinguishes the pamphleteer from the essayist. Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace is a handbill graced with wit, beautiful prose, and occasional... Read more

Published on July 5 2003 by J. Gillespie

5.0 out of 5 stars READ IT
Read this book. Tells it like it is about 911.

Published on July 3 2003 by David Roger Allen

4.0 out of 5 stars Not perfect but asks the right questions
I bought this book a few months after the terrorist attacks of September 11th because of the second half of its title, "How We Came To Be So Hated". Read more

Published on Jun 19 2003 by C. Colt

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