Customer Reviews

Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity

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Sometimes book blurbs get it right: "Robert Jensen supplies a much needed citizens' manual, that explains the evasion of moral principles that underlie appeals to patriotism. His justified concerns over his country's and the world's future is meshed with discussion of the basis of hope and the possibilities of constructive action," writes Edward S. Herman.

To me it is Herman's second point that makes Citizens of the Empire vital reading for anyone concerned about our country's road to empire. Jensen offers cogent analysis of the rhetoric neocons use to justify America's bellicose swaggering across the world stage as well as the historical precedents that led us here. But more important is Jensen's optimism that all is not lost, that we citizens of the empire need not and should not give in to the despair and cynicism so many of us suffer in post-9/11 America.

Jensen cuts through the thicket of Orwellian deceptions that entangle us daily, especially in this election season. But I recommend Citizens of the Empire for its heart.

This book really hit home, because I think it addresses questions a lot of people have right now, but maybe don't want to discuss. I think its getting easier and easier for us all to see that something is terribly wrong, but it's not easy to articulate.

And, for me at least, when you do try to articulate it, you find a culture that doesn't want to engage these questions.

Looking critically at the world can become overwhelming. Where do we start? Is there any point? What do you do in the face of so much power, and so much injustice?

Jensen doesn't profess to have all the answers, and that's why the book is so powerful. This isn't a fact-laden, academic book. It's meant to be read, passed along, and talked about. Sure, there are good introductions to arguments against the war, and details of past U.S. aggressions, but the strength of the book is much bigger than that. Jensen talks honestly and humbly about our place in the world, and in doing so actually gives some hope that we can become human beings.

When I read books like the excellent "Citizens of the Empire" I feel hope that yes, there are people who look at others (different races and religions) as humans and not as some strange people which we must step on.

Jensen gives some answers to the blind "patriotism" that has taken over our country. Things like "America is the greatest" and "Support our Troops" are used to frame debates and anyone who dissents is labeled as "anti-American" - whatever that means.

Jensen tries to appeal to basic human senses of empathy and humanity. He talks about the reality of war - cluster bombing and other types of indiscriminate bombing which lead to death, destruction and despair. Remember guys, each time an innocent person dies in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever we attack/have attacked - we are killing that person. You, me - our tax dollars are used to buy weapons to kill those people.

The conclusion that the author reaches at the end of this book is this: If you truly want peace, join the anti-war movement. To people who actually research U.S. history and our destructive foreign policy, this seems like common sense. But for others who actually think that it is ok to invade nations and kill innocent people - Jensen's words won't make sense. Perhaps in the future when America is not the superpower of the world - which is going to happen within 20 years, naysayers of Jensen and blind patriots will finally realize reality.

Book review on "Citizens of the Empire"

Robert Jenson's "Citizens of the Empire" is well subtitled "The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity". Although Robert Jenson does not delve too deeply into spirituality, he sends a profound message that the prevailing culture of consumer materialism, patriotism and militarism in America is suppressing what should be the transcending spiritual nature of our humanity.

In American society, there is no debate that Americans value individual freedom over all other human values. However, upon a close examination of American culture, Robert Jenson points out how Americans are hardly free at all. Jenson argues that American citizens are truly captive to a corporate consumer culture. Until American citizens become more introspective of American culture, Jenson asserts that we are incapable as a nation of becoming more human in the fullest sense of the term.

In summary, Jenson provides a jolting analysis of American culture that shatters the illusions of American innocence. It lays bare the truth of how citizens of the empire "choose not to know". To those citizens who do choose to know, they are the radical ones. They are the citizens Jenson challenges to organize, to be part of a movement, to work it out with like minded people, and of most importance, to choose not to be radical entirely on one's own.

(...)

Sometimes book blurbs get it right: "Robert Jensen supplies a much needed citizens' manual, that explains the evasion of moral principles that underlie appeals to patriotism. His justified concerns over his country's and the world's future is meshed with discussion of the basis of hope and the possibilities of constructive action," writes Edward S. Herman.

To me it is Herman's second point that makes Citizens of the Empire vital reading for anyone concerned about our country's road to empire. Jensen offers cogent analysis of the rhetoric neocons use to justify America's bellicose swaggering across the world stage as well as the historical precedents that led us here. But more important is Jensen's optimism that all is not lost, that we citizens of the empire need not and should not give in to the despair and cynicism so many of us suffer in post-9/11 America.

Jensen cuts through the thicket of Orwellian deceptions that entangle us daily, especially in this election season. But I recommend Citizens of the Empire for its heart.

...but I've been on a roll for quite sometime now. Anyway, Jensen's book is really well written and his contentions regarding the U.S. Government and it's policies are explained fully and passionately. He also gives some excellent tips on activism in general. I think his greatest strength is his sincerity. You can feel it (literally) on every page and it will inspire you.

"SNARL"...our friend below is so typical of those who have a fundamental disconnect about political debate in America. SNARL does not read book...SNARL reviews book. Huh? SNARL assigns motives to Jensen in a manner that would be at home on a grade school playground. So my question is this....When did "America" become the Bush Administration? Or any other administration or Foreign policy position for that matter? When will citizens such as our SNARL graduate beyond the "love it or leave it" mentality? (Okay... I guess that makes it two questions). Included in this thread is a well thought out, cogent, although overly verbally muscular, critique of the book that might serve a perspective reader much better. I disagree totally with that reviewer but I value his/her opinion is a way that serves and aids the discourse. That is the failing of our poor SNARL. If you can't be bothered to know what the hell you're talking about...well it's the kiddie table for you and your ilk. Now get back to Hannity for more bumper sticker philosophy.

I agree with other reviewers that his heart is in the right place. But some of his thinking is off kilter. For really clear progressive thinking check out Progressive Logic.

Progressive Logic: Framing a Unified Field Theory of Values for Progressives

Clearly, Jensen is a left-wing, anti-war (not just Iraq, but war in general, except grudgingly, World War II), academic who takes exception to American patriotism, and arguably, the United States' pre-eminence in the world in general. But beyond just being anti-war, Quotes by, and references to Noam Chomsky, Ward Churchill, Ernest Debs and others of like political thought, confirm Jensen's line of thought, and help describe the type of society that he would like to see in the United States.

While this review is not intended to praise or crucify Jensen for his political views, I will comment that his writing seems to be wracked with guilt. There is the guilt that he tries to lay on his audience and readers (descriptions of cluster bombs, a discussion with a student about overpopulation where Jensen nearly advocates wiping "large scale death in the American suburbs"). There is, perhaps more importantly, his own guilt and despair over being unable to convince the rest of society (including his fellow academics) to adopt his worldview ... a worldview where, not only "corporate capitalism" would be replaced with radical socialism, but also where the statement "I am an American" is next to meaningless.

There is a difference between criticizing certain actions (or inaction) of our Government, media, and society at large, and using all the real and supposed evils of the United States as a lever to push us into an entirely different way of living. Jensen attempts to do the latter, and in the process, possibly alienates the very people he would like to reach.

Wake America. Remember when England tried to control the 13 U.S. colonies but finally lost? When we founded our independence our country was supposed to be a symbol of democracy, not territorial takeover like the failed Roman empire or Germany in the early to mid 20th century. The more the U.S., with the aid of the neocon/neolib Republicans and Democrats, keep trying to dominate Muslim nations mainly for the purpose of oil while lying about fight against terrorism when it ain't so, the further our great country will drag itself into the mud ! You can listen to the faggot Pat Robertson and Jerry Fartwell who live in my home state of Virginia and preach "Christian Zionism" or you can join the truly peaceful Christians and after reading and learning the truth from this book, take another look and tell yourself "You know what? Why are we continuing to destroy our own peaceful lives just to satisfy oily-garhists !?!?"