Uncle Sam [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

The final messages of this book are that unquestioning patriotism is a counterproductive mockery, while hope is a strong positive force; past mistakes ignored are doomed to be repeated, while an understanding of past mistakes better prepares one for a more successful future. In my opinion, both of those messages are true. I do not agree that the author fully understands historic patterns, and I feel that his exposition of mistakes is highly selective although the mistakes themselves were true mistakes. This story must be taken with a grain of salt and a healthy portion of critical thought, not with blind acceptance at all. Nevertheless, his intent is good and his story is worth reading even by those who feel that neither side in today's great political insult-fest is entirely praiseworthy.

My only problem with this historical allegory is none of those eye-opening quotes are footnoted. I know that's not a common comics criticism and obviously footnotes were avoided to hold the focus on the story, but we are dealing with some pretty obscure and volatile history here. Readers will want proof, more or both. Moreover, those quotes come from some fairly majestic texts that merit their own reading. Legitimate narrative concerns understandably won out, but it still teases the readers; so out of civic spirit, I'll provide some leads.

Here's a fuller version of that stunning Lincoln quote in the men's room scene (with citation):

"It has indeed been a trying hour for the Republic; but I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands, and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war." - Lincoln in a letter to William F. Elkins, Nov 21st, 1864

Major General Smedley Butler's words in Uncle Sam are no less startling. He bluntly admitted to having been "a gangster for capitalism" and lists each Marine incursion made for business interests masquerading as national concerns. The lines come from a blistering article against imperialism printed in "Common Sense". Portions of it can be found on the websites of Marines, pacifists, socialists and American Legionnaires. Unmentioned in Uncle Sam, is that in 1934 this two-time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient exposed a fascist plot by members of America's leading capitalist families to launch a coup against Roosevelt (Read all about it in Jules Archer's The Plot to Seize the White House, 1973.) Here is a true blue American hero if ever there was one. Now why the hell haven't we heard of him? I bet you can guess.

Most conservatives won't like Uncle Sam. They'll call it "one-sided" - as if the version of history taught in classrooms isn't essentially theirs, with a token pinch of diversity thrown in (and they fuss and moan about that too). They don't like any medicine in their sugar and they sure get ornery if you shoehorn any history into their mythology, however little. Uncle Sam can be bitter medicine, but it's essential to anyone who cares about America.

What makes Uncle Sam so important is that it reanimates a patriotism we can be proud of. In his latest screed, Nazi apologist Pat Buchanan accuses liberals of perverting patriotism from "a love of place into a love of process". That "process" is democracy and that love is precisely what defines us as Americans. As Ben Franklin said, "Where ever there is liberty, there is my country". Since September eleventh, both kinds of patriotism have reawakened with a vengeance and both the best and the worst of us have come to fore. It is high time we listened to what Lincoln called "the angels of our better nature" now that the "Culture War" has begun in earnest and our government's flirtation with fascism has progressed to heavy petting.

Steve Darnall (writer), Alex Ross (artist) and Todd Klein (letterer) have created a magnificent treatment of the "Uncle Sam" mythos, super-imposing the idealized republic against the bloody history and chaotic present of the USA. Originaly printed as a two issue comic book by DC Comics (the people who brought you that other icon of America, Superman), both issues are collected in one volume. Regardless of your political opinion, be you patriot or revolutionary, this book will make you stop and think about the difference between the ideal and the reality.

Kirkus Reviews wrote it better than I ever could: "More explicitedly radical than anything from DC Comics in recent history...a damning account of American political history that also affirms basic democratic ideals."

Put away of your notions about what you consider a "comic book" to be, and read this!