The American press exists for one purpose only, and that is to convince Americans that they are living in the greatest and most envied country in the history of the world. The Press tells the American people how awful every other country is and how wonderful the United States is and how evil communism is and how happy they should be to have freedom to buy seven different sorts of detergent.
Interpretation
This quote critiques the role of the American press in shaping public perception of the United States as superior.
Gore Vidal's quote highlights the notion that the American press serves a specific purpose of promoting a patriotic narrative that emphasizes the United States as the best country in history while disparaging other nations. Through selective emphasis on nationalism and consumerism, the media influences citizens to feel fortunate for their freedoms, thus perpetuating a specific worldview that aligns with American exceptionalism and capitalism.
In practice
In a discussion about the responsibilities of journalism during a national holiday celebration.
We must declare ourselves, become known; allow the world to discover this subterranean life of ours which connects kings and farm boys, artists and clerks. Let them see that the important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
American writers want to be not good but great; and so are neither.
Writing fiction has become a priestly business in countries that have lost their faith.
The important thing is not the object of love, but the emotion itself.
For the average American, freedom of speech is simply the freedom to repeat what everyone else is saying and no more.
Ayn Rand's 'philosophy' is nearly perfect in its immorality, which makes the size of her audience all the more ominous and symptomatic as we enter a curious new phase in our society.... To justify and extol human greed and egotism is to my mind not only immoral, but evil.
A man is called a good fellow for doing things which, if done by a woman, would land her in a lunatic asylum.
Evil comes from the ABUSE of free will
Once upon a time, there was a prostitute called Maria. Wait a minute. "Once upon a time" is how all the best children's stories begin, and "prostitute" is a word for adults. How can I start a book with this apparent contradiction? But since, at every moment of our lives, we all have one foot in a fairy tale and the other in the abyss, let's keep that beginning.
The things that have always been important: to be a good man, to try to live my life the way God would have me, to turn it over to Him that His will might be worked in my life, to do my work without looking back, to give it all I've got, and to take pride in my work as an honest performer.
Thus sharply did the terrified three learn the difference between an island of make-believe and the same island come true.
Londoners say, 'We're so proud of our diversity and tolerance,' but what if that diversity ends up making us intolerant?
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