The Art of AdnIn the classified section ofnWomen’s Wear Daily, we couldnfind the following ad:n”SEX!nNow that we have yournattention, we’d like to tellnyou about our fabulous collectionnof off-priced dresses,nsuits, tops, jeans, etc. . ,”nImagine, there are still peoplenaround who do not believe Dr.nPavlov, and who dismiss his acquaintancenwith dogs as unscientific.nDnEditor’s Comment continued from page 3ndone everything possible to assist Russia and its “promise,”nfound themselves in the upper brackets of financial affluence.nThe most dedicated Stalinists of the 30’s and 40’s becamenadvertising symbols for the mink-coat industiy, and thosenwho dreamed about being a commissar in America wound upnwith Rolls Royces as prizes for their ideological devotion.nCertainly, many of them would swear by their patriotism:nthey were communists because they desired to see their countrynbetter—and that’s what patriotism is all about. Theirnrewards in the form of lavish luxuries do not jar their sensenof logic; it is hard to dispute subjectivity in terms of coherence,nbut it’s possible to do it in terms of human dignity.nThis phenomenon, however, played a role in the vicissitudesnof the very notion of American patriotism.n4.nL Ln the 60’s, the centuries-old foundation for naive butnhonest social beliefs and feelings was destroyed. These sentimentsnwere replaced by other beliefs and feelings which werendeclared to be even more honest and more socially valuable.nThe result proved to be the disintegration of social cells likenthe family, of social fabric like principles of conduct, convention,ntradition. The atrophy of that special social will thatndetermines the destinies of nations followed. The collapse ofnold-fashioned patriotism was ascribed to the failure of whatnanti-American Americans called the American “promise.”nThey blamed the entire society for racism, imperialism, poverty,ncultural vulgarity and what that most shameless of freeloaders.nProfessor Marcuse, called “repressive tolerance.”nThe conclusion was that America was not worthy of beingnthe focal point of emotions hitherto called patriotic.nThis created a sort of national schizophrenia of awesomendimension. The general awareness was heavily burdened withnAmerican sins, errors, faults, deficiencies and crimes; thenvillainy of America became a commonplace. But not one ofnthe rabid accusers and persecutors had anything to say aboutnwhat we should do with America’s accomplishments, assets,nmerits. Yet, they did exist, even to the most prejudicedneye. And even if the American America-haters buried thenAmerican promise, the rest of the world still sees it as freshnas ever. If it were not so, why do the most wretched of thisnearth collectively dream about America, not about socialismn—as is illustrated by the continuing saga of illegal immigration.?nEverywhere in the world, poor people seem to believenthat America is the best answer to their needs. Why is itnthat, with all our flaws, we are the most powerful presencenin human awareness around the world.” Some call this presencencultural imperialism, yet—take note—America does notncommand mankind’s ideas but its preferences. No one forcesnpeople to wear blue jeans in Nigeria or the Philippines, ornto listen to Ella Fitzgerald in Paris, or to read Hemingwaynin Oslo—as Russia forces little children in Poland andnMongolia to read Leninist catechism. Even those who hatenour politics, or accuse us of bottomless wickedness, are helplessnin front of an old Walt Disney movie.nWe must be doing something right for someone. This isnwhy American patriotism makes sense.*n—Leopold Tyrmandn*This is a portion of a chapter entitled “On Patriotism” from The PrudentnProgressive or an Arcadia of New Wisdom.nnnInsanity in American’ Ihi idiiiion buiwoen psMhuTiists and oiher kinds otnlunjiK.>. IS nioic iM less llie ichiluin ol •! LOIIVCX follv Co
January 1975April 21, 2022By The Archive
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