It seems that when attempting to define America, we often settle for defining our country with very general terms (e.g. freedom, liberty or diversity), or, even worse, defining America by its stereotypes, such as baseball or bald eagles. In addition, everyone's opinion on America, especially regarding its existence as a fundamentally good or bad nation, can be affected by a wide variety of factors. Such factors include national origin, social status, political beliefs, and whether or not their experience with America has been a good one. As such, it should now be evident that not everyone thinks of America as a shining city upon a hill, let alone a fundamentally just nation. To reiterate, most everyone has a different perspective on America, some being more different than others, and whether or not each perspective is true is forever up for debate. One notable perspective comes from English writer G.K. Chesterton. Chesterton, and Englishman, viewed America with mixed feelings. He begins describing America in his novel What I Saw in America with
"I have always found Americans by far the politest people in the world", touting the merits of the American populace. However, as Chesterton fills out a form before entering the country, he begins to question America's commitment to being a land of the free, as evidenced by this passage: "It would be easy enough to suggest that in this America has introduced a quite abnormal spirit of inquisition; an interference with liberty unknown among all the ancient despotisms and aristocracies. About that there will be something to be said later; but superficially it is true that this degree of officialism is comparatively unique. In a journey which I took only the year before I had occasion to have my papers passed by governments which many worthy people in the West would vaguely identify with corsairs and assassins; I have stood on the other side of Jordan, in the land ruled by a rude Arab chief, where the police looked so like brigands that one wondered what the brigands looked like. But they did not ask me whether I had come to subvert the power of the Shereef; and they did not exhibit the faintest curiosity about my personal views on the ethical basis of civil authority".
In saying this, Chesterton defines America is a place where there is individual liberty abound, but only if your views agree with the views of the American mainstream. It addition, Chesterton, especially in saying "an interference with liberty unknown among all the ancient despotism and aristocracies", thinks of America as somewhat hypocritical; America's First Amendment to the Constitution promises unabridged freedom of speech and belief, but we Americans still are skeptical of those with different beliefs than us. Chesterton later elaborates on this thought, saying "It would be easy to argue here that Western democracy persecutes where even Eastern despotism tolerates or emancipates. It would be easy to develop the fancy that, as compared with the sultans of Turkey or Egypt, the American Constitution is a thing like the Spanish Inquisition". This allusion to the Spanish Inquisition, an institution which caused havoc in the name of their church, is perhaps made in order to characterize America as a similar institution, a place that, good motives aside, is intolerant and oppressive.
There is yet another element of Chesterton's description of America's hypocrisy: he chooses to describe this specific scene (being questioned by American security officials before entering the country) in order to bring to light the differences between what America says it is and how it really behaves. Here we have mighty America, an apparently indestructible nation, aggressively questioning a well-meaning Briton in order to "keep the country safe". In addition, this also may imply that America is insecure about itself, and has to conduct these security operations in order to feel better about themselves. There are outside influences, however, which may make Chesterton's definition of America less than factual. For one, he, being British, knows America as well as Americans know Britain, that is to say, not so much. As such, he may actually know less about America and it's Constitution that he is leading the reader to believe. In addition, Chesterton's definition of America comes from his first ever experience with America, and no other experience, and although first impressions matter, you cannot judge a book by its cover. With that being said, everyone's definitions of America are affected by outside influences, and, thus, Chesterton's definition of America is, in theory, just as good as anyone else's. It is in this way, then, that it can be said that the definition of America is, for the most part, relative.
"I have always found Americans by far the politest people in the world", touting the merits of the American populace. However, as Chesterton fills out a form before entering the country, he begins to question America's commitment to being a land of the free, as evidenced by this passage: "It would be easy enough to suggest that in this America has introduced a quite abnormal spirit of inquisition; an interference with liberty unknown among all the ancient despotisms and aristocracies. About that there will be something to be said later; but superficially it is true that this degree of officialism is comparatively unique. In a journey which I took only the year before I had occasion to have my papers passed by governments which many worthy people in the West would vaguely identify with corsairs and assassins; I have stood on the other side of Jordan, in the land ruled by a rude Arab chief, where the police looked so like brigands that one wondered what the brigands looked like. But they did not ask me whether I had come to subvert the power of the Shereef; and they did not exhibit the faintest curiosity about my personal views on the ethical basis of civil authority".
In saying this, Chesterton defines America is a place where there is individual liberty abound, but only if your views agree with the views of the American mainstream. It addition, Chesterton, especially in saying "an interference with liberty unknown among all the ancient despotism and aristocracies", thinks of America as somewhat hypocritical; America's First Amendment to the Constitution promises unabridged freedom of speech and belief, but we Americans still are skeptical of those with different beliefs than us. Chesterton later elaborates on this thought, saying "It would be easy to argue here that Western democracy persecutes where even Eastern despotism tolerates or emancipates. It would be easy to develop the fancy that, as compared with the sultans of Turkey or Egypt, the American Constitution is a thing like the Spanish Inquisition". This allusion to the Spanish Inquisition, an institution which caused havoc in the name of their church, is perhaps made in order to characterize America as a similar institution, a place that, good motives aside, is intolerant and oppressive.
There is yet another element of Chesterton's description of America's hypocrisy: he chooses to describe this specific scene (being questioned by American security officials before entering the country) in order to bring to light the differences between what America says it is and how it really behaves. Here we have mighty America, an apparently indestructible nation, aggressively questioning a well-meaning Briton in order to "keep the country safe". In addition, this also may imply that America is insecure about itself, and has to conduct these security operations in order to feel better about themselves. There are outside influences, however, which may make Chesterton's definition of America less than factual. For one, he, being British, knows America as well as Americans know Britain, that is to say, not so much. As such, he may actually know less about America and it's Constitution that he is leading the reader to believe. In addition, Chesterton's definition of America comes from his first ever experience with America, and no other experience, and although first impressions matter, you cannot judge a book by its cover. With that being said, everyone's definitions of America are affected by outside influences, and, thus, Chesterton's definition of America is, in theory, just as good as anyone else's. It is in this way, then, that it can be said that the definition of America is, for the most part, relative.