America

Ginsberg’s political commentary in the poem reflects on many contemporary issues in the 1950s. Most of these issues evolved out of World War II as Russia and the United States emerged as the two superpowers of the world, leading to the Cold War. This conflict pitted American and Soviet values against one another, including capitalism versus communism, liberalism versus Soviet mentality, and democracy versus autocracy. The conflict bled into all aspects of life and led to a constant state of fear and paranoia that would lead to many consequences still felt in the 21st century.

Ginsberg was particularly upset with three aspects of American Cold War strategy: nuclear proliferation, imperialism, and censorship at home. Ginsberg viewed the development of nuclear weapons as not only a physical threat to the world, but also as an existential threat to the spirit of humanity. In foreign affairs, he took great issue with America’s interventions in other countries in an attempt to stop the spread of communism, including in Korea and later in Vietnam. And closer to home, Ginsberg believed Cold War mentality contributed to the conservative atmosphere of 1950s America, an atmosphere rife with racism, anti-gay bias, anti-drug sentiment, and consumerism.