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Entry: A Thanksgiving Turkey From a Chickenhawk Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/a_thanksgiving_turkey_from_a_chickenhawk#10289 Post contents: sc, There is no doubt that in "The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche" Mencken eagerly embraces racism and the Darwinian interpretation of a struggle between races. I also have the impression that Mencken's popularity declined in the 30s, because he started expressing opinions regarded as too favorable toward Hitler and the nazis. More generally, you raise an excellent point in noting that many influential writers change their views. Treating these writers -- including Mencken -- as a single entity thus can lead to massive misunderstanding. A person who says he likes Mencken and has in mind Mencken's racist writings is something very different from an admirer of Mencken who focuses on his progressive efforts. Sent at: 2008 10 12