Rating: 
Summary: A Hopeful Book for America
Review: I was vacilating on this review from 3 to five stars. It ends up five because I truly want to believe in the trend evidence and hopeful future which this book purports.Its basic statement is that the identity of America is shifting away from its historic identity and this shifting is being led not by the majority public, but by a small minority elite.
This is truly valid. What I waver on believing is his statistical and qualititative analysis that things on shifting back towards the historic identity. The book is well structured into four parts: identity issues, historic American identity, challenges to this historic identity, and the possibilities of renewal of this identity.
This made the book and its argumentation easy to follow. I concur that immigration is out of control, and needs to be rectified. Here again government bureaucracy between competing layers of government bureaucrats makes even the best of legislation tough to police and implement consistently and effectively. His data about the ampersands and diasporas was truly enlightening in this regard. What should fascinate many readers of this fine work is that this same challenge to American identity carries over remarkable the same into other cultural areas, especially religion. Presents the problems and possible scenarios very well. Truly gets one awake to this and provides useful thoughts for continued reflection.
Rating:
Summary: Packed With Knowledge!
Review: If this provocative book does not generate controversy, it will mean something truly dreadful is filling the headlines and news broadcasts. Author Samuel P. Huntington is willing to say flat out that the white, Anglo-Protestant culture of the United States was important and valuable, and is now endangered. Yet Huntington is not mired in some white-washed past. He's a respected political scientist with an endowed chair at Harvard. His views are not extreme. On the contrary, the vast majority of the American people probably share them, even if they cannot articulate them in Huntington's elite language. He explains the historic evolution of the American identity and the American Creed, and describes their past, present and future in value-based terms. He'll keep you intrigued whether you disagree with his treatise or embrace it as justification for your discomfort, at the least, or your anger and fear, at the most. Whatever your prejudices, dispositions or inclinations about the trends in American society and cultural values, we believe this is a book worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Reclaiming American Identity
Review: In these disturbing pollitically correct times Samuel Huntington warns America against the "deconstruction" of its historical and cultural identity.
In my view, this is a timely and urgent warning.
As many in the american intellectual elite replace replace the "dead white males" Roger Williams, John Milton, John Locke, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Whashington (et alia) by another set of white male (some already dead) such as Charles Darwin, Herbert Spencer, Ernst Haeckel, Ernst Mayr, George Gaylord Simpson, Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Dawkins, Michell Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Richard Rorty, Ricardo Unger, Daniel Dennett,(et alia) many in the academia are forgetting the the rights americans enjoy are result of a set of judeo-christian principles based on the notion that there a broader higher, deeper and stronger reality beyond time, space, matter and energy.
References to the Creator, the law of nature and of nature's God, along with the highest respect towards all human beings are embedded in american political and legal heritage and americans should not forget that for one single second.
It was this set of principles that made (and still make) America attractive, regardless of all the inconsistencies and contradictions of american society.
As Samuel Huntington puts it, America would be completly diffent if it were founded by Spanish, French or Portuguese catholics (not to mention fascists, nazis, comunists or political islamics).
Some politically correct intellectuals in America are afraid that a more public aknowledgement of the anglo-american protestant tradition will lead to discrimination.
But this has not necessarily to be the case. Countries shaped by protestantism have generally a good record in human rights, democracy, the rule of law, transparence, economic prosperity and religious pluralism.
The same can only be said about some other traditions that have incorporated some of the same protestant principles. Remember that even the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizens (1789) was largely inspired (if not written) by Thomas Jefferson, then american Embassador in Paris. Remember that Rousseau had a strong calvinist influence, whereas Voltaire and Montesquieu were admirers of John Locke and Mirabeau was strongly influenced by John Milton.
Remember also that the Universal Declaration of Human Righs (1948) would be unthinkable without the anglo-american protestant tradition that was victorious in the both world wars.
In our globalized times, when countries are closer to one another than ever, the world at large should also appreciate what America still has to offer, and urge Americans not to deny or be ashamed of the values and principles that have made them such a great country.
Rating:
Summary: Rebuilding Our Civilization
Review: Professor Huntington addresses our nationÕs identity crisis, as leading toward national disintegration. Its essential cause is given as ideas, including universalism, multiculturalism and anti-Americanism. Here, our national identity is countered by balkanization (and an immigration policy) that emphasizes the cultures of sub-national groups. Huntington finds that America has two sources of identity, "Creed" which is composed of the principles of individual rights (as represented by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution) and "Culture" which includes language, religious beliefs, moral precepts and values. Here, Prof. Huntington treats the Culture called "Anglo-Protestantism" as the core of our identity, while deemphasizing Creed. It was out of the Culture that Creed developed, whereas Creed is insufficient to keep a nation together. I happen to agree that Culture is primary, while Creed is secondary. However, Huntington misses the fundamental point that they act in unison (and only depart when misinterpreted). Both are undermined and require rededication for preserving America. To clarify, it is necessary to address certain fundamentals. Unfortunately, Prof. Huntington does not explain what constitutes Civilization or Culture (although he provides aspects and structures). Let us posit definitions which capture the underlying precepts. "Civilization" is the organization of society around a transcendent ideal, to uplift man while restraining barbarism, where "Culture" builds the aspirations for man's perfection, while "Government" restrains aggression. Here, we envision the components functionally, in terms of their mission. It follows that Culture is the primary component of Civilization, while Creed falls within the secondary category of Government. With this perspective, let us consider what has happened in our country. Rather than uplift the individual we have curtailed him for the "benefit" of special interests; rather than restraining barbarism, we have allowed it, to provide for "liberties". Domestically, an altruist outlook has saddled the individual with taxes and regulations, to distribute wealth, while sanctioning irresponsible and criminal behavior. In foreign relations we reward aggression, and try to not notice the anti-Americanism of other nations (and the UN). Consistently, our political and military defeats can be traced to our commitment to self-destructive ideas. In all arenas, our Culture and Creed are undermined. As the author implores, we need to bolster the degree to which our people believe in the American Creed and accept American values, to rebuild our Civilization. Prof. Huntington's book can go a long way toward doing so.
Rating: 
Summary: The Clash of Civilizations Within
Review: Samuel P Huntington - Professor and Chairman of the Harvard Academy of International and Area Studies - is best known for his groundbreaking and prescient book "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of the World Order" wherein he argues that in the post-Cold War era there will be conflicts of cultures rather than ideologies. To an extent this has proven to be the case. In the present volume - "Who Are We: The Challenges to American Identity" - he predicts similar conflicts unfolding domestically inside America's borders. The clash of civilizations within, as it were.
And what is the American national identity that Huntington claims is being challenged? He asserts that our national identity consists of two components: Anglo-Protestant culture and the American creed. Anglo-Protestant core culture is uniquely American and it is the foundation upon which the more universal principles of the American creed are based. He believes that the unique aspects of this identity are central to our national survival.
Anglo-Protestant culture has been central to the American identity for three centuries. It was originally established by dissident Protestants from England who valued individualism, had a healthy suspicion of government, had a vigorous work ethic, believed in voluntary associations and who had a crusading moralism tempered by tolerance. They were united by the English language and English legal tradtions. These were the salient features of the core culture upon which the creed rests. America would have been very different had it been settled by French or Spanish Catholics.
The American creed, the second component, consists of principles to which all can subscribe: liberty, equality, civil rights, nondiscrimination, justice, and rule of law - all the elements of a liberal democracy. Huntington believes that even though the elements of the creed are universal their American manifestation are an outgrowth of our singular Anglo-Protestant core culture and not transferable everywhere.
Huntington believes that this unique American national identity is being challenge at both ends of the social spectrum.
At one end of the spectrum are the liberal elites who are becoming increasingly denationalized with their doctrines of multiculturalism and globalization. "...American elite groups, business, financial, intellectual, professional and governmental were becoming denationalized and developing transnational and cosmopolitan identities superseding their national ones."
Obviously leaders of multinational corporations and international organizations must deemphasize their national identity when conducting their business. Being a nationalist chauvanist on the world stage would be counterproductive and offensive. Huntington's argument here is mainly against the mulitculturalism encourged by the elites. The irony is that the cultural elites derive mainly from the Anglo-Protestant tradition. Are the elites trying to make it a global culture? Or are other cultures at the same time transforming Anglo-Protestantism? I think both are the case and that Huntington may be on a fool's errand to get in the way of this two-way traffic.
On the other end of the spectrum America's national identity is being challenged by immigration. Huntington claims that the large influx of immigrants from Latin America - especially Mexico - is different from previous waves of immigration. The Mexican immigration poses at threat not only for the numbers involved (23 million and counting), but the fact that they are concentrated in states and cities close to our mutual border. With low rates of assimilation, bilingualism, and dual citizenships, Huntington believes they could make territorial claims in the future.
Huntington, I think, misreads the Mexican immigrant for numerous reasons. Primarily, Mexican immigrants want to "commit themselves" to "Anglo-Protestant culture" as defined by Huntington. They are dedicated to the work ethic, they seek to learn English, they become members of the armed forces, and after the second and third generations they intermarry, go to college, and speak only English just like "ordinary Americans."
Their assimilation is actually very similar to that of the southern Italians and East European Jews of an earlier generation, only the scale is different.
Huntington has written an important book that poses some serious questions about American national identity. He is somewhat alarmist about the transformation of the Anglo-Protestant culture of yesteryear. However, I believe American culture is always evolving and becoming more inclusive. Multiculturalism and cosmpolitanism reaches out and incorporates more diverse groups into the American identity, making it less dependent on race, ethnicity, and religion. The important ingredient is creed; everyone must believe in the creed which is central to American identity.
Rating: 
Summary: Melting-Pot Meltdown
Review: Samuel P. Huntington, Albert J. Weatherhead III University Professor and Chairman of the Harvard Academy of International and Area Studies (PhD Harvard, 1951), provides a comprehensive and convincing account of the current status of American culture and society. Professor Huntington begins his analysis by providing an extensive look at most of the values and belief systems upon which the United States of America was founded, namely, English Anglo-Protestantism, synthesizing the good and bad into a coherent whole. Professor Huntington then charts the generations of immigrants, noting their eagerness to assimilate and the enriching impact such assimilation had on American culture.
Midway through the 20th Century, however, the customary embrace of American culture and a willingness join with it began to crumble. The rise of cultural relativism and multiculturalism has created cultural cleavages nationwide that, by definition, do not wish to be a "part" of America in the traditional sense. This should come to no surprise that a lack of social solidarity positively correlates with an ethic that promotes cultural cleavages, but of course this is news to a great deal of contemporary academic elites, who often cite the open-armed majority as the source of the strife. Multiculturalism and cultural relativism are certainly theoretically pleasing, but are sadly not borne out in practice. A careful look of empirical data confirms this of course, but that pesky thing called reality is often something many academics have difficulty with.
Professor Huntington both boldly and wisely confronts this reality and calls for a reevaluation of the utopian ideal. Traditional American culture and values, it turns out, aren't so evil after all, and separate really doesn't mean equal when it comes to the segregation of subculture from subculture in any given society, and which often brews contempt and distrust in between. As each of us should know from each of our seventh grade global studies course, each immigrant to the USA contributes to the evolution of American culture in his or her own unique way. This is a good thing and should continue to be encouraged. What is not a good thing is the emergence and encouragement of diasporas within nations that by-and-large reject the culture and values of the host society and have no intention to contributing to the enrichment of it.
None of this is rocket-science, of course, nor is it indicia of cultural arrogance or superiority or racism. It is just plain, good-old common sense that also bears the benefit of cohering with reality. Multicultural fires are not smoldering just within America, but appear globally as well - no matter how badly utopians wish them away. Four stars for this excellent piece of work, although my enjoyment of it fluctuated a bit (i.e., five stars for content, three for entertainment).
Rating:
Summary: Nearly Drowned My Uvula
Review: This book has so greatly increased my appreciation for truly good beer. The more I read, the more my taste buds danced with giddy delight on my happy tongue. A pale ale, an IPA, another IPA (hops truly are tops!), a dark ale, Chapter Two, a wassail, a porter, two more porters (I spilled most of another), Chapter Three, ahhh sweet stout how I love thee though I don't recall how many times, a skip through Chapter Four on Anglo-Protestant Culture trying to find any mention of beer (none, sad), and finally, a foolish attempt (successful) at chugging an imperial stout while I read the ending cross-eyed. This book opened my eyes before I fell asleep.
Rating:
Summary: The American essence defined by one of its great scholars
Review: To truly enjoy and appreciate this book I would not focus on Huntington's bottom - line, his most apparent reason for writing the book i.e. his concern that Latin- American immigration to the United States is a threat to the Anglo - Protestant ethic and culture that he believes is the heart of what America is. I would instead consider most closely those sections in which he seeks to define the American creed and identity. As is to be expected he brings to this work a lifetime of studying the area, a tremendous richness of knowledge, and a formidable power of analysis. He shows the unique and prominent place religion has in American life, and traces much of the American ethic to those dissident Protestant sects whose individualism, hardworking independence provided the fundaments of the American creed. He gives the reader a very strong sense of the unique blessing of the American experience, and of America's unique way of defining itself as a city upon a hill, a great experiment and gift to all of Mankind. He writes he says as an unabashed American patriot concerned about the future of his country . And he is troubled that there may emerge a Spanish speaking state within a state , one which longs to be rejoined to Mexico, one which does not have those values of hard- work, and striving for a better future that have been so central a part of the American experience.
I myself read and enjoyed this book as a kind of re- education in the way Americans have thought of themselves. As to the central problem Huntington touches upon I think it part of a larger complex of problems our technologically driven world faces , problems that are not unique to America. These problems concerning our fundamental identity as human beings are I believe intensely felt in America today. I am not sure the answer to them is in America's refocusing on the Anglo- Protestant heritage as Huntington recommends. What I do recommend however is reading and enjoying this always interesting and intelligent work of a first- rate American mind.
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