Ben Shapiro’s latest book, How to Destroy America in
Three Easy Steps, came out as these issues started to become prevalent in
2020, and his book is even more on point and needed now – in 2021.
In this book, Shaprio distinguishes between two different
understandings of the United States, specifically with respect to three
issues: the philosophy of the United
States, the culture of the United States, and the history of the United
States. These two views he calls
“unionist” and “disintegrationist.”
Shapiro argues that the unionist view of American
philosophy “rests on three basic principles: first the reality of nature
rights, which preexist government, inalienable and precious; second, the
equality of all human beings before the law, and in their rights; and finally,
the belief that government exists only to protect the natural rights and to
enforce equality before the law” (xv).
The unionist view of American culture “is characterized
by four distinct elements. First, a tough-minded
tolerance for the rights of others, particularly when we don’t like how others
exercise their rights—we have to agree to disagree, and to get over it. Second, our culture prizes and cherishes
robust social institutions which creates a social fabric that allows us to
trust one another in the absence of compulsion from the government. Third, American culture has always carried a
rowdy streak in defense of liberty: we
were willing to stand up for our freedom and that of others. Finally, American culture has always
celebrated and rewarded those with a sense of adventure—the pioneers, the
cowboys, the inventors, the risk takes” (xvi).
“Finally, there is American history. American history has traditionally been read
as a story of ever-improving fulfillment of American philosophy and culture
through proper exercise of American institutions. Traditionally, American have learned that the
values of the Declaration of Independence are eternal and true; that our
culture of rights has been broadened in application in time by heroic struggle
and through horrific pain; and the constitutional system represents liberty,
increasingly effectuated. American
history, the, is a story of triumph over the tragedy of human nature, the
victory of liberty over slavery and bigotry” (xvii).
The disintegrationists have different views:
With regards to American philosophy, they deny that
natural right, human nature, and reason exist.
They say the equality before the law is morally wrong, and that government
is not to guarantee our rights, but a “cure-all” for American’s “ills” (xix).
With regards to American culture, they claim the rights
are a threat to the common good and argue against individualism in favor of the
intersectional hierarchy. They argue
that all the systems of America are racist and must be torn down and replaced
by the government collective (xx).
With regards to American history, they say our
traditional history is a myth, and our true history is one of exploitation, and
the Declaration and the Constitution are merely attempting to codify hierarchies
of power (xxi).
For the next two hundred pages, Shapiro fleshes these
understanding out using history and reason to show that the disintegrationist
view is dangerous to the future of the country, and the unionist view must be
embraced and lead us to love one another if this country is to have a future
(201-202).
The book ends with endnotes and an index.
This is a revealing and frightening book as the reader
can see these two views of American in the current public square and see them
growing in opposite direction. We cannot
continue with such polarizing views of the country and keep the country
together.
This is an important and revealing book. Get it, read it, share it with anyone who
will read it.
[This review appears on my blog, my
YouTube channel, Amazon.com, and Goodreads.com.]
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