Mark Twain’s antiwar leanings are already common knowledge (or should be), perhaps best of all through his haunting short story “The War Prayer.” But now, as his complete autobiography is being published for the first time by University of California Press, the true radicalism of his position is becoming more evident than ever. Writes Larry Rohter in The New York Times:
Twain’s opposition to incipient imperialism and American military intervention in Cuba and the Philippines, for example, were well known even in his own time. But the uncensored autobiography makes it clear that those feelings ran very deep and includes remarks that, if made today in the context of Iraq or Afghanistan, would probably lead the right wing to question the patriotism of this most American of American writers.
In a passage removed by Paine, Twain excoriates “the iniquitous Cuban-Spanish War” and Gen. Leonard Wood’s “mephitic record” as governor general in Havana. In writing about an attack on a tribal group in the Philippines, Twain refers to American troops as “our uniformed assassins” and describes their killing of “six hundred helpless and weaponless savages” as “a long and happy picnic with nothing to do but sit in comfort and fire the Golden Rule into those people down there and imagine letters to write home to the admiring families, and pile glory upon glory.”
“But the uncensored autobiography makes it clear that those feelings ran very deep and includes remarks that, if made today in the context of Iraq or Afghanistan, would probably lead the right wing to question the patriotism of this most American of American writers.”
Similarly can be said about King’s speech on Vietnam, “Time to Break the Silence.”
It’s sad indeed when being a good American demands, in part, upon neglecting our critical consciousness and conscience. Today’s ultra Right too often makes it seem that the choice is between being anti-American or being anti-thought. Pity that more is not generally known about the politics of admired historic figures and thinkers. The politics of their admirers are often shocking.
Thanks for these two posts, Nathan.
Yes, I would only amend Rohter’s statement to suggest that the American “left” has much the same problem today. There has been, for instance, no effort whatsoever to demilitarize this country when Democrats are in power either. The cause of pacifism and nonviolent action don’t seem to have a place anywhere on the political spectrum. Maybe it’s time for a new name: not right or left, but up!