Change Over Time In Thomas Paine's 'Brave New World'
Change over time is inevitable. Thomas Paine’s comments may reflect on American ideals in the seventeen hundreds, however, the character of today’s society, especially American political culture, has drastically improved. The perfection that is American society can only be surpassed by works of fiction, such as the utopian Brave New World invented by Aldous Huxley. American tolerance of foreign peoples and ideologies proves itself often, and nothing threatens the rights of the individual today. The unity of different peoples in America has never before been so absolute. World war two and the ensuing cold war are paragons of America’s complete tolerance of others in the modern age. Paine speaks confidently of how Americans overcame
cultural and ideological differences over two hundred years ago, but that is nothing compared to the fair treatment of Japanese people and communists in more recent years. The internment camps that Japanese Americans were forced to relocate into when America first entered into world war two were more than adequate living quarters. Likewise, the trials of accused communists during the red scare were fair and warranted, especially considering American civil rights and liberties. Even in the past year, Americans have shown their acceptance of others. Those American citizens that support Donald Trump are some of the most accepting people in history. Correspondingly, the denizens of Brave New World accept all peoples, omitting those who break the confines of their society of course. Trumps comments regarding Muslims show just how tolerant an American can be. The support of Trumps proposals to exempt members of certain religions exemplifies the “cordial unison” Paine spoke of, only of remaining acceptable religions instead. The unqualified acceptance in modern American society makes religious minorities across the country feel welcome and unimpaired. Paine mentions that, because the American government is “just,” Americans never have reason to revolt. Today, Americans have no reason at all to want or fight for change because nothing threatens their rights, just as the clones in Huxley’s novel do not have the individuality to realize the faults of, or express dissatisfaction with, their brave new world. Alexander Hamilton, an American founding father, spoke of how the support of demagogues in a just system would lead to tyranny. Americans know better than to support one who insights divisions between different peoples or one who speaks irrationally. The current presidential race proves this. All candidates are of sound mind and do not wish to arouse people based on popular prejudices, not that any such biases exist in American culture anyway. In particular, Donald Trump’s rhetoric clearly demonstrates that he does not mean to agitate the public, because he knows that the American people do not support politicians who threaten the stability of society. His descriptions of Mexican immigrants as “drug dealers” and “rapists” demonstrate that he does not appeal to American prejudices as a demagogue would. Because no political candidate threatens American values, Americans have no reason to riot. Violence in America is nonexistent, as seen in the peaceful police brutality in Charleston and Baltimore and in the quiet Trump rallies in several states across the country. There is no “tumult” in America, as Paine was aware of, but today, not only is there no disorder, but there is also no criticism. Americans hardly ever complain about anything with the stability of the current political scene and the complete absence of violence. Unfortunately, there are those who would blindly take the aforementioned statements seriously. However, considering the danger that our society faces with continued tolerance of prejudice and corruption, disillusionment is necessary. Our society faces the collapse of democracy itself with the support given to demagogues such as Donald Trump. To “make America great again” is to reject demagoguery in the interest of preventing tyranny in the white house.
cultural and ideological differences over two hundred years ago, but that is nothing compared to the fair treatment of Japanese people and communists in more recent years. The internment camps that Japanese Americans were forced to relocate into when America first entered into world war two were more than adequate living quarters. Likewise, the trials of accused communists during the red scare were fair and warranted, especially considering American civil rights and liberties. Even in the past year, Americans have shown their acceptance of others. Those American citizens that support Donald Trump are some of the most accepting people in history. Correspondingly, the denizens of Brave New World accept all peoples, omitting those who break the confines of their society of course. Trumps comments regarding Muslims show just how tolerant an American can be. The support of Trumps proposals to exempt members of certain religions exemplifies the “cordial unison” Paine spoke of, only of remaining acceptable religions instead. The unqualified acceptance in modern American society makes religious minorities across the country feel welcome and unimpaired. Paine mentions that, because the American government is “just,” Americans never have reason to revolt. Today, Americans have no reason at all to want or fight for change because nothing threatens their rights, just as the clones in Huxley’s novel do not have the individuality to realize the faults of, or express dissatisfaction with, their brave new world. Alexander Hamilton, an American founding father, spoke of how the support of demagogues in a just system would lead to tyranny. Americans know better than to support one who insights divisions between different peoples or one who speaks irrationally. The current presidential race proves this. All candidates are of sound mind and do not wish to arouse people based on popular prejudices, not that any such biases exist in American culture anyway. In particular, Donald Trump’s rhetoric clearly demonstrates that he does not mean to agitate the public, because he knows that the American people do not support politicians who threaten the stability of society. His descriptions of Mexican immigrants as “drug dealers” and “rapists” demonstrate that he does not appeal to American prejudices as a demagogue would. Because no political candidate threatens American values, Americans have no reason to riot. Violence in America is nonexistent, as seen in the peaceful police brutality in Charleston and Baltimore and in the quiet Trump rallies in several states across the country. There is no “tumult” in America, as Paine was aware of, but today, not only is there no disorder, but there is also no criticism. Americans hardly ever complain about anything with the stability of the current political scene and the complete absence of violence. Unfortunately, there are those who would blindly take the aforementioned statements seriously. However, considering the danger that our society faces with continued tolerance of prejudice and corruption, disillusionment is necessary. Our society faces the collapse of democracy itself with the support given to demagogues such as Donald Trump. To “make America great again” is to reject demagoguery in the interest of preventing tyranny in the white house.