A week or so ago, I finished reading Tramp Royale by Robert Heinlein. It is a travelogue documenting an around-the-world trip Heinlein and his wife took in 1953-54 by ship, rail, and airplane. Mostly, the book is a light-hearted description of their travels with his wife (Ginny, aka “Ticky” in the book) humorously cast as his troublemaker companion. She published the book in 1992, after her husband’s death.
This is not a book review. It is the book’s concluding passage, extensively quoted below, that struck me as applicable today as it was over 60 years ago. Heinlein speaks of America’s many enemies and few friends abroad but so much of what he wrote applies to today’s domestic situation as well. There is hostility to the American Experiment from all sides.
I came back to the United States convinced that it was an even better country than I had thought it was. This our land is not perfect, but it looks perfect from even a short distance away. It is immeasurably a better place to live than anywhere else I have seen.
But I came back, too, convinced that our peril was very great and our friends very few. The extent and the viciousness of the propaganda campaign against us must be heard to be believed. … Envy and hate are the inevitable concomitants of wealth and power; we have been uneasily aware of this and have tried to curry favor wherever we could. But it is not possible; we are hated not for our behavior but for what we are — and they are not. [emphasis added]
…
So far as we can count on it, for all practical purposes, we already stand alone. … We are not liked, we have few friends; therefore we should quit being afraid, stand up and assert ourselves. The only friends we will lose thereby are those we never had. [emphasis added]
We might even gain a few. Courage is respected and admired where timidity is scorned.
If we are to die as a nation, let us die proudly, with neither head in sand nor led around by the nose, but calmly aware of our peril and fighting it with our utmost. There can be no safe course for us, but, if we deserve to win, we are more likely to win.
But let us not be afraid, even of our friends.
Aside from this passage, the book is a fine read as a snapshot of the state of the world in the 1950s. Lots of funny anecdotes too.
Very interesting. I think by the mid 1950s we were well enmeshed in the Soviet anti American project that has continued to bear fruit after the death of that murdering cult.
Robert Heinlein has been one of the great influences in my life. I encountered his books as a twelve year old, coping from the death of my father. He filled a gap and became one of my measuring rods for actions as I grew.
He spoke plain truths, told stories of good people and never sugar coated evil.
He saw the rot of evil people who used ideas to support a tyranny for their personal gain, who played to the worst instincts of people.
“Robert Heinlein has been one of the great influences in my life.”
Same here, fwiw.
This reminded me of how my attitude towards the USA changed after I traveled abroad, a fancy way of saying I got my ass shipped rather unceremoniously to VietNam. Around beers after a day’s flying we would reminisce about what many of us called the land of the Big Mac. Didn’t exist anywhere else and it symbolized our national greatness, writ small.
Then later, as I traveled extensively worldwide for business, I always observed how our nation was viewed from abroad. I still shrink at how embarrassed I was by Clinton, and how I had to keep apologizing and explaining Bush’s craziness.
His words are a timely reminder that we must fight. His words ring true, and are so presciently and precisely applicable even now, because our common enemy within is still and always socialism, by whatever nom de plume.
I’ve always treasured Heinlein. Thanks for the post, good Dr.
My parents traveled by ship about that time. Who would have the time to do that now? 2 weeks to get across the Pacific.
Many thanks, drlorentz, for the introduction to this book. I recall my father saying that “A good man has many enemies” and have concluded since then that that applies to nations as well.
Good men, and good nations, acquire wealth through honest means. Those who will not try to do so will certainly be envious; those who cannot can be persueded to be envious. It has ever been so; hence the Commandment: “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.”
Many thanks to you all for your comments. I would so like to add an image to a comment. How do I do that?
I would so like to add an image to a comment. How do I do that?
It’s bit convoluted. You add it to the media file (through your dashboard) and paste that URL into the comment or post.
I think.
http://balldiamondball.com/blog/?attachment_id=3933
“. . . description of their travels with his wife (Ginny, aka “Ticky” in the book) humorously cast as his troublemaker companion”
The troublemaker companion is one of my favorite character types in Heinlein juvenile fiction. I like this image of her on this edition of Have Spacesuit, Will Travel.
Thanks, MLH, for the advice about adding images to comment. Now I shall push the button and see if I did it right. Here goes.
When they were passing through customs to enter Singapore, the customs officer asked if they had anything to declare. Ticky allegedly says, “Two pounds of heroin.” After a pause, the customs officer says something like “Very funny. Pass.”
I write allegedly because Heinlein is said to have exaggerated her bad behavior for comedic effect. She did leave it in upon publication, though.
http://balldiamondball.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/0034540.jpg
I am baffled. Not as smart as Ginny.
Jzdro, you did it exactly right. All we have to do is click on the link to see the picture. Thanks for the French version of the book. Is that Ginny on the cover?
Thanks, 10 Cents. Dunno if she is supposed to look like Ginny. But she sure kinda does, don’t you think?