Summary
"Our Country and the World" argues that America's global role should be defined by justice and the application of its own ideals, rather than force or fraternity founded on coercion. The book emphasizes that American triumphs and its potential for world leadership stem from its national identity, characterized by freedom, opportunity, and equal rights under the Constitution. It advocates for the United States to contribute to global justice and human advancement through these principles, without surrendering essential elements of its dignity and freedom of action.
The book also presents President Harding's vision for America, focusing on the interconnectedness of business and government, the importance of common sense in national affairs, and the need to end the suspicion of success. It highlights the significance of the Armistice as a symbol of America's capacity to defend its rights and preserve world civilization, serving as a warning against global domination. Ultimately, the book promotes the mutual good fortune of all Americans, advocating for the equality of opportunity, honesty, and faith in God as fundamental national assets.
Key concepts
- American liberty — The reward offered to those who thirst to achieve and seek to contribute to the nation's political life, acknowledging merit.
- Justice rather than force — America's preferred approach to playing its part in assuring global justice and advancing humankind.
- Equality of opportunity — A core American principle that Harding aims to proclaim anew, based on his life experiences.
- Armistice significance — A date marking America's capacity to defend its rights and its effectiveness in preserving world civilization.
- Common good fortune — The necessary prosperity of business, seen as the life-blood of material existence, for the benefit of all Americans.
From the book
Title: Our Country and the World by Mikhail Gorbachev← Our Common Country ( 1921 ) by Warren Gamaliel Harding , edited by Frederick Edward Schortemeier Chapter 1 → Warren Gamaliel Harding 4697334 Our Common Country 1921 Frederick Edward Schortemeier Our Common Country Mutual Good Will in America By Warren G. Harding With foreword by the editor Frederick E. Schortemeier Author of Rededicating America Indianapolis The Bobbs-Merrill Company Publishers Copyright 1921 The Bobbs-Merrill Company Printed in the United States of America Press of Braunworth & Co. Book Manufacturers Brooklyn, N. Y. Foreword Under the leadership of President Harding, America is at the threshold of an era of good will. Several of our presidents have performed greater services for America than befell their lot as…
Popular questions readers ask
- How does the presence of "Mikhail Gorbachev" in the title, juxtaposed with content solely attributed to Warren G. Harding and his editor, complicate our understanding of the text's purpose and reliability as a historical document?
- Harding's vision emphasizes "mutual good will," "understanding, cooperation," and the "utter abolition of class." If you were explaining this to someone unfamiliar with the era, how would you articulate the practical changes or policies Harding might have advocated to move society toward these ideals?
- The editor, Frederick E. Schortemeier, uses highly optimistic and laudatory language to describe Harding's leadership. How might this editorial framing influence a reader's perception of Harding's ideas, and what potential biases might it introduce?
- The text briefly mentions Harding as a "strong nationalist in international relations" before detailing his domestic focus on "common understanding" and "mutuality of interests." How might these two aspects of his described philosophy – nationalism and domestic unity – potentially align with or conflict with one another?
- Considering Harding's strong assertion that "We can not prosper one group and imperil another," what inherent societal or economic challenges of early 20th-century America might have made the complete realization of his vision for the "utter abolition of class" particularly difficult or even contradictory?