Dinesh D'souza Analysis

The issue of hatred directed toward America is of great debate today, as it was after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Nothing represents that point better than the discussion between Gore Vidal, Robert Higgs, and Dinesh D’Souza. The contrasting viewpoints of Mr. D’Souza and Mr. Vidal are blended very well by Higgs (although he does seem to lean more toward the views of Vidal) and it seems to be a very productive conversation about how we came to be so respected and hated at the same time. The questions asked throughout the talk are meant to decipher between a love, a disdain, and a fear for what is commonly referred to as the “most powerful nation in the world.”
D’Souza, an Indian immigrant, speaks highly of the United States as a positive alternative to the “scripted” lifestyle he would have been subjected to in India. He feels that the appeal of America is not that of force, unlike Europe that used to rule by might. D’Souza argues that U.S. foreign policy is centered around our government and military intervention for those countries unable to fight their own battles. Focusing on the Islamic nations, he states, “The Islamic fundamentalists don’t object to the excesses of American liberty alone. They object to liberty itself. We are an affront to their way of life.” To D’Souza,

He says, “Although we regularly stigmatize other countries as rogue states, we ourselves have become the largest rogue state of all.” In essence, Vidal is stating that America has come to be hated by acting hatefully. Rather than viewing intervention as a helpful measure in another country’s time of need, he sees America acting with a heavy hand to promote our way of life and reap whatever benefits we may find along the way (oil, power, etc.). He further declares that those who immigrate to America are primarily from lesser-privileged countries, many of which are suffering the repercussions of our rogue-like