The American Credo / A Contribution Toward the Interpretation of the National Mind

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Gutenberg ID

23858

Title

The American Credo / A Contribution Toward the Interpretation of the National Mind

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

George Jean Nathan and H. L. Mencken dissect the American psyche, arguing that popular beliefs are fixed, often erroneous, and resistant to change. Through sharp satire and a collection of absurd 'facts,' the authors expose the contradictions between American ideals of liberty and the reality of mob rule, censorship, and superstition that govern the national character.

Summary up to 500 words

In 'The American Credo,' George Jean Nathan and H. L. Mencken undertake a critical examination of the 'national mind,' aiming to strip away the rhetorical flourishes of public discourse to reveal the underlying, often delusional, ideas driving the American populace. The authors argue that while the educated elite may become disillusioned by knowledge, the masses cling to static, inherited attitudes that dictate their behavior. They posit that the American obsession with liberty is largely a 'phosphorescent superstition,' noting that the nation has increasingly succumbed to regulation, surveillance, and the suppression of dissent in the name of order. Mencken and Nathan contend that democracy is inherently vulnerable to the mob, which operates on emotional impulses rather than logic. Consequently, they argue that artificial constraints on free speech are often necessary to prevent chaos and protect the state from demagogues who exploit the populace's susceptibility to vague, brilliant words over sense. To illustrate the depth of American ignorance and the prevalence of superstition, the text includes a lengthy appendix of 'facts' presented as absolute truths. These range from the claim that coal miners are the cleanest workers due to constant washing, to the belief that thunderstorms cause milk to sour, or that all German housewives are frugal. The authors use these absurdities to demonstrate how the American mind accepts idiotic notions without question, often driven by profit or emotional appeal rather than reason. The work serves as a pioneering, albeit incomplete, marshalling of materials to understand the enduring errors and illusions that constitute the American character. The authors suggest that while surface events like political revolutions may seem transformative, the underlying delusions of the people remain remarkably permanent, flowing down the channel of history like a stream of lava while truth shifts like a cataract of diamonds.

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Categories

• Politics
• Essays