Description
Westbrook (history, U. of Rochester) assembles four essays that apparently emerged from his undergraduate courses in American studies, and combine history with moral philosophy and political theory. They discuss Japanese political culture and the peculiarities of American patriotism, fighting for the American family, American women and the problem of political obligation, and the responsibility of peoples. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Why We Fought is a timely and provocative analysis that examines why Americans really chose to sacrifice and commit themselves to World War II. Unlike other depictions of the patriotic “greatest generation,” Westbrook argues that, strictly speaking, Americans in World War II were not instructed to fight, work, or die for their country—above all, they were moved by private obligations. Finding political theory in places such as pin-ups of Betty Grable, he contends that more often than not Americans were urged to wage war as fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, lovers, sons, daughters, and consumers, not as citizens. The thinness of their own citizenship contrasted sharply with the thicker political culture of the Japanese, which was regarded with condescending contempt and even occasionally wistful respect.Why We Fought is a profound and skillful assessment of America's complex political beliefs and the peculiarities of its patriotism. While examining the history of American beliefs about war and citizenship, Westbrook casts a larger light on what it means to be an American, to be patriotic, and to willingly go to war.From the Trade Paperback edition.
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