Patriots Not Welcome: Lewis Lapham's Blistering Critique of American Militarism

In his scathing indictment of American militarism, "Patriots Not Welcome," Lewis Lapham argues that the United States has become a "garrison state" in which the pursuit of military power has come to dominate all other aspects of our national life.

Lapham traces the roots of this militarism back to the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a decades-long arms race that left both countries with vast nuclear arsenals. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States emerged as the world's sole superpower, and its military spending only increased.

Patriots Not Welcome

by Lewis H. Lapham

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1571 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	324 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Lapham argues that this military buildup has come at the expense of other important priorities, such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. He also points out that the United States has been engaged in a series of costly and counterproductive wars in recent years, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lapham's book is not just a critique of American militarism, but also a call for a return to the values that made this country great. He argues that we need to rediscover our commitment to democracy, freedom, and justice, and that we need to work together to build a more just and equitable world.

"Patriots Not Welcome" is a must-read for anyone concerned about the state of our nation. Lapham's incisive analysis and passionate prose will challenge your assumptions and force you to think deeply about the future of American democracy.

Key Themes

• The United States has become a "garrison state" in which the pursuit of military power has come to dominate all other aspects of our national life.
• The roots of American militarism can be traced back to the Cold War and the arms race with the Soviet Union.
• The United States has been engaged in a series of costly and counterproductive wars in recent years, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• American militarism has come at the expense of other important priorities, such as education, healthcare, and social welfare.
• We need to rediscover our commitment to democracy, freedom, and justice, and we need to work together to build a more just and equitable world.

Quotes

"The United States is now a garrison state, a nation in which the military has become the dominant force in our political and economic life."

"The Cold War was a contest between two superpowers, each of which was determined to prove that it could destroy the other. The result was an arms race that left both countries with vast nuclear arsenals."

"The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been costly and counterproductive. They have cost the lives of thousands of American soldiers and Iraqi and Afghan civilians. They have also cost the United States trillions of dollars."

"American militarism has come at the expense of other important priorities, such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. We have spent so much money on our military that we have neglected our schools, our hospitals, and our roads."

"We need to rediscover our commitment to democracy, freedom, and justice. We need to work together to build a more just and equitable world."

About the Author

Lewis Lapham is an American essayist, journalist, and editor. He is a former editor of Harper's Magazine and the National Review. He is the author of several books, including "Money and Class in America," "The End of the World as We Know It," and "The Wish for a King." Lapham is a frequent guest on radio and television news programs.

Further Reading

• Patriots Not Welcome by Lewis Lapham
• The Pentagon and the American Way of War by William Astore
• The Empire Strikes Back: Trump's Military Budget by Stephen F. Cohen

Patriots Not Welcome

by Lewis H. Lapham

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1571 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	324 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE