What we have to lose
What we have to lose, a short story written by Theodroe Dalrymple conveys the brutalism expressed by the modern intellectuals in the western countries. The essay that was written shortly after September, 11th, the author mentions how the intellectuals are mercilessly destroying civilization and refuses to take the responsibility for their actions. In a statement to express the extent to which the intellectuals have undermined civilization, Theodore says that our civilization is precious and fragile more than what other people suppose. For civilization to thrive, men should be able to repress their beastly instincts and appetites, because, when they fail to do so, the destruction that follows is more than the beast itself.
Supporting Personal Experience
The author supports his assertions by giving his personal experience throughout his lifetime. For instance, he describes his childhood as a bunch of chaos with unreconstructed bombsites and bomb shelters, he says... my house, as in many other households, there was a multivolume pictorial history of the war, over which I pored for entire mornings or afternoons, until I knew every picture by heart. (City Journal n.pag) The title of the story, what we have to lose, is a criticism of lack of self-control by the intellectuals as well as the humility of mind and modesty.\u00a0 When the author talks about what we have to lose throughout the essay, he is trying to indicate the majority of leaders and intellectuals losing their essence. According to him, the construction of civilization should be the priority of the intellectuals and leaders; it is, therefore, a contrast to see intellectuals involved in the undermining of civilization and refusing to take responsibility for the same.
The Intellectuals and Religious Conflicts
In the explanation for his main idea, Dalrymple argues that the way of thinking about culture and civilization has become a standard practice among the intellectuals of the western countries. Primarily, he believes that the terror attacks in the US such as the 911 attack and the Iraq war are due to intellectuals and leaders of our society who believe in the supremacy of religion, especially Islam and Christianity. In fact, in the history of humanity, conflicts were caused due to religious conflicts. For instance, the first and the Second World War occurred due to greed expressed by Christians. The society depends on religious leaders and intellectuals to ensure sanity in the society. However, in this case, the top religious leaders were involved in bringing these wars because of self-interest. The United States started the Iraq war because of the military industrial supremacy as well as self-interest.
Greed and Destruction
The government of the US expressed greed towards oil, and properties were destroyed and lives lost during the process. For instance, the author gives example of war in Liberia during the civil war, he says saw the revolt against civilization and the restraints and frustrations it entails in many countries, but nowhere more starkly than in Liberia in the midst of the civil war there. I arrived in Monrovia when there was no longer any electricity or running water; no shops, no banks, no telephones, no post office; no schools, no transport, no clinics, and no hospitals. (City Journal n.pag) I believe that people hold different philosophies, and we should be able to admit our difference. The author successfully uses different examples to support his main ideas as demonstrated in the paragraph.
Intellectuals and Self-Interest
I agree with the argument of the author concerning the brutalism expressed by the intellectuals and the leaders of the society towards civilization. Culture, self-interest and religion have been the major cause of war, which disrupts civilization. Religious leaders, especially in Islam religion advances radical doctrines, leading to hatred and war. For instance, most terrorist activities across the world are executed in the name of religion. Muslims believe that those who do not share their religion should be killed because they don serve the true Lord 2019. On the other hand, leaders, of governments such as the government of the US conduct activities based on their self-interest. The Libyan revolution and the war of Iraq are all as a result of oil factor in those countries. The intellectuals we have trusted with the affairs of the society in terms of leadership advance their own selfish interests, and give misleading reasons to justify their attitude towards civilization. The average man has become the sacrificial lamp for the greedy nature of the intellectuals and the people in the top leadership positions.
Destruction of Civilization at the Family Level
The author believes that civilization is destroyed even from the family level. For instance, the author says a father who takes his eleven-year-old son to the stadium and turns to a hooligan; the child learns the wrong way from the further. According to the author, this is one way through which civilization is destroyed right from the family upbringing of the children; the father interfered with his son's personality. Primarily, civilization brutalism has moved from the worldwide view to one's family.
Arrogance and Subjectivity: A Threat to Civilization
The increase in uncivilized acts in the society such as arrogance and subjectivity destroys the civilization of the world. As such, the intellectuals and world leaders should reflect upon their uncivilized actions and come to terms with the needs of the average man. However, if this does not stop the average man stand to suffer a lot. The respect bestowed upon the intellectuals in the society is because of their intelligence, failing to demonstrate that in their actions results to a disillusioned society and destruction of civilization. Intellectual people start doing the wrong things when they get to position of leadership. A good example, in this case, is Adolf Hitler; he was an artist during painting and writing work. As a painter he lived a good life and contributed to the society positively, he was an intellectual doing what the society expected of him. Without his involvement in the Second World War, the war would have been prevented. His character intentions and interests changed when he became the leader of the NAZI party. Perhaps he would have retired as a renowned painter than to become a powerful leader and begin to chase his interests.
Works Cited
City Journal. "What We Have To Lose". City Journal, 2018, https://www.city-journal.org/html/what-we-have-lose-12199.html. Accessed 7 Aug 2018.
