1.Question:
For what does Solzhenitsyn criticize the United states?Alexsander Solzhenitsyn, a Russian litterateur, winner of the Nobel Prize in 1970. On June 8th, 1978, he addressed a critical speech on the commencement of Harvard University. Solzhenitsyn criticizes the western countries (which lead by United States) and its society from different aspects. Next, I will explain his perspective on the defect of western society and why he pointed it out.
Contemporary Worlds, Convergence
Firstly, Solzhenitsyn mentioned the expansion of western system and life style. He mentioned the former colonial of the European Countries, even these countries had claimed independence, but the superiority force to develop and mature of western system. Solzhenitsyn believes because of Western countries impose its system into other countries, such as Soviet Union; It results in the divided between western world and others. The both side of system is hardly suit for each other. Meanwhile, it also explains the conflicts between western world and communist world during this era.
A Decline in Courage, Well being, Legalistic Life
Secondly, Solzhenitsyn put his view on western society forward. He pointed out the problems among the western society. Loss of courage among the society reflects the weakness of government and society. “But they get tongue-tied and paralyzed when they deal with powerful governments and threatening forces.” The quote definitely reflects the United States during the cold war era. Also, Solzhenitsyn questioned the Welfare among the western country, and the weakness of the complex legalistic system.
The Direction of Freedom, The Direction of Press, A Fashion in Thinking
Furthermore, Solzhenitsyn critiqued the “freedom” among the western society. He believed the freedom for good deeds and the freedom for evil deeds had been inequitably. He pointed out legal limit had connived the misuse of freedom in United States and other countries. Also, he said the press has become the greatest power within western countries, how the media act among the society and make the direction of press. The unstrained freedom is NOT always good.
The rest of speech
At the last sections of speech, Solzhenitsyn pointed out his belief the western system is imperfect and weakness. And the mistake must be at the root or foundation. Solzhenitsyn criticized the western world and its leader – United States from every aspect that are seemed advance and humanity. In my opinion, what Solzhenitsyn did exist and still exhibit its weakness today. In the U.S., thousands of gun accident, school shooting shocked us, but the gun is so hardly to control. It


