Table of Contents
Theodore Dalrymple, author of the article, “What We Have to Lose” revisits world-shaking catastrophes such as the Rwanda Genocide and the attack of the two towers at World Trade Center (Dalrymple, 2001). Based on the article, such events tend to make us feel empathy for those who encounter such misfortunes, but after much time, we no longer care about them.
Dalrymple further reflects on the anti-enemy Mozart played by Myra Hess which was against the views of Semitics considering that she was a Jew. However, people could not realize Hess’ gesture of civilization, heroism, and patriotism. Dalrymple’s perception is that people have a little perspective about life which angers him; however, he candidly puts across the significance of civilization and the worth of defending it.
Dalrymple’s Main Argument
Dalrymple’s main argument is about the significance of civilization despite it being a fragile aspect. According to him, civilization is about protecting the rights of the oppressed and being concerned about those that are suffering. He further argues that civilization is not about the sole achievement of an individual. Instead, it should be about what communities take pride in as their achievement.
127 our experts are availableright now
The actions that individuals take such as giving up what they love for the sake of others are acts of civilization. However, the civilians who involve themselves with the barbarians according to Dalrymple, they do not promote civilization. Instead, their actions are against significant civilized achievements, and this demonstrates their unpatriotic nature and savagery.
Based on Dalrymple’s argument, culture and patriotism are two elements that represent civilization. Culture offers people the opportunity to identify ways they can better their aesthetic, material, and spiritual life in one way or another (Dalrymple, 2001). Patriotism, on the other hand, shows how people are ready to suffer by fighting for what is right and just.
Therefore, from Dalrymple’s article, he asserts that there is a need for positive virtue like justice, honesty as well as foresight since they are the foundations for a civilized society. Citizens should be ready to sacrifice their self-interests in fighting for what is right to have a civilized society.
How Dalrymple Presents His Argument
Dalrymple presents his case by providing evidence using personal real-life examples and that of others to support the significance of civilization in society. Some of the real-life examples demonstrate the inhumanity in the uncivilized and the lack of intellectual knowledge. For instance, Dalrymple gives his personal experience about Monrovia which was in destruction due to military conflict. The acts of inhumanity demonstrated a lack of civilization since every building was shuttered including hospitals, schools, and shops to mention a few (Dalrymple, 2001).
The people involved in this destruction portrayed that they did not understand the essence of hospitals which provided healthcare to the sick. Still, the destruction of schools represented high levels of illiteracy considering that educational institutions are essential in enhancing people’s knowledge. Still, Dalrymple uses a personal tone to present his argument, and this reveals his bitter feelings.
His tone is bitter but candid since he elaborates his experience and point of view straightforwardly. Still, in this tone, he expresses how he is enraged at the inhuman acts of the uncivilized people like the barbarians. Dalrymple is also infuriated by people who put their self-interests first due to pride and power to seek glory.
Further, he incorporates ancillary arguments as supplements for the main argument, and this is evident in some of the examples given. For instance, the illustration of the destruction of the piano in Liberia’s civil war does not seem quite essential in the context. However, this example helps in demonstrating the relevance of fighting for civilization.
My Opinion
I do agree with Dalrymple on the issue of civilization because, in today’s society, there are so many deeds that people engage in that undermine civilization. I, therefore, support that the public has the right to fight or seek legal action to demand what belongs to them. For instance, when those in power grab public land set aside for schools or hospital construction, this demonstrates a lack of civilization because such people only do so out of greed. I also believe that every individual should show dedication in promoting change in areas like health, education, environment, governance and this would lead to a civilized society.
I think that Dalrymple’s insights are relevant to the topic of civilization because, in this modern era, people need to understand that the nature of civilization has changed. Today, the expansion of civilization in the scopes of technological inventions, diverse cultures, economic change, and politics calls for people to adopt more civilized behaviors.
Some may see civilization as a negative thing because of the social evils that come with it. However, we also need to appreciate the good in it since civilization promotes empowerment and this is the reason why it is worth defending. I believe that how Dalrymple writes with elegance, passion and natural skill persuades one about the essence of civilization. Dalrymple does not sugarcoat anything in his content since such techniques in writing create vagueness which is common in the modern literature. This is why I fully support his argument because I now have a vivid picture of how a society lacking civilization would be full of social evils.
Conclusion
Overall, Dalrymple’s article provides a rigorous defense of civilization against acts of barbarism. According to Dalrymple (2001), he recognizes that people have been accustomed to civilization such that they forget that it is delicate. Therefore, Dalrymple’s information is educative although he uses some difficult terms to put across his views.
However, this is still an effective way of letting the reader learn new vocabulary. Generally, Dalrymple’s use of real-life examples makes the article interesting and as an eye-opener to the events that took place in the past. Such illustrations portray that Dalrymple has a deep understanding of the societal issues both positive and negative. Also, how he presents his ideas conveys that he has a motivating force that pushes him to pinpoint the expressions of the individuals he came across in his career.
Reference
- Dalrymple, T. (2001). What We Have to Lose. Our civilization is more precious and more fragile than most people suppose — City Journal, 11(4), 74-83. Retrieved from: https://www.city-journal.org/html/what-we-have-lose-12199.html
