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|a Benevolent Assimilation: The American Conquest of the Philippines, 1899-1903 documents the history of the Philippine-American War. The title echoes President William McKinley´s description of the 1898 adventure in the Philippines. Stuart Creighton Miller´s book examines in the political moves tried by the US in its transition into imperialist power. The book is less military history but more about what Miller´s argues are American rationalizations (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 1-6, 119), rejoinders (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 92-94), and falsehoods (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation245-248) about our conquest of the Philippines. Miller revisits the lies poured out by the military, in particular General Otis (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 245-248), and the administration of William McKinley (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 52, and 99). According to Miller, The driving force behind the expansion across the continent and out into the Pacific was, and still is, capitalist greed. Its rationalization was, and still is, the racist creed (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 2). Benevolent Assimilation is therefore, a study in racism. Miller shows us the policy of arrogant Anglo-Saxons on the project to both civilize and Christianize their Little Brown Brothers ? ironically, most of who were already Catholic (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 120-125). The book is an invaluable resource for college and High School students ? as it uncovers the often shocking and forgotten episode in American history (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 268-276). Miller deconstructs the notion of a splendid little war with Spain (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation12-13). One argues that he who does not understand history is destined to repeat it. Miller argues that America did not learn from its past and the nature of guerilla warfare with a people fighting for freedom and independence -- such quandary in Vietnam (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 268-270 and 273-275). Much better known and understood in professional historian circles, the US fight against the Filipino insurrectionists at the turn of the century remains a black hole to most Americans (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 266). There are some very legitimate reasons for this collective amnesia. Americans would prefer not to be reminded that the US was an overtly racist major power more interested in trade than in freeing the natives of the Philippines (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation2). It is distressing to read about beloved American icons such as Teddy Roosevelt denigrating the niggers who inhabited the island (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 122-123), and soft-pedaling widespread torture by the US military (most notably the rather nasty water cure) (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 235). It is also fascinating to discover how many people felt that the Philippines did not have, for them, intrinsic value; however, the islands were seen as a take-off spot for the China trade (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 4,7, 8, 15, 17, 118, and 270). According to Miller, it took the Japanese empire at its worst to make the US look like a friend to many Filipinos, and this book tells why (Miller, Benevolent Assimilation 13, 93, and 135). Miller?s methodical, illuminating and impartial study of the first US venture overseas offers a range of issue to ponder vis-à-vis our current quagmire in the Middle East and past experience in Vietnam. Miller asks us to consider our situation before engaging in an imperial project.
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