Homework for November

2008 ELECTION HOMEWORK

Do you read? Blogs are suspect—some great, some terrible, most inane. Newspapers and television focus on entertainment rather than information. The truth only comes out when government officials retire or quit the government and write a book. If they told the truth while working for the government, they would end up in prison. If reporters told the truth they would be fired. Check with Dan Rather.
Once Bush is out of office, and his appointees are out in the cold, the books will be coming at us like hornets from a nest. Best guess—nine out of ten not kind to an ex-president. In the meantime, there are plenty of hornets already in the real world ready to sting you. If you want to know the truth about the Bush administration, instead of constant propaganda from the White House or certain radio talk shows, here are only a few starting points from the last seven years.

Clarke, Richard A., “Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terror.” Clarke is one of the best; impeccable credentials.
Conason, Joe, “Big Lies: The Right-Wing Propaganda Machine and How It Distorts the Truth.” make no mistake, believing the Right-Wing hype is dangerous to your health, your family, and your country.
Corn, David, “The Lies of Geeorge W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception.” a major queston, why have reporters been reluctant to report Bush lies?
Dean, John W., “Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush.” Dean, a Republican, worked for Nixon. Most knowledgeable.
Dionne, Jr., E.J., “Stand Up Fight Back.” a superb critique of our politics in 2004; probably true today. Check it out.
Goodman, Amy and David, “The Exception to the Rulers: Exposing Oily Politicians, War Profiteers, and the Media That Loved Them.” an important forum for people around the world engaged in social justice.
Hedges, Chris, “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America.” the bigotry, fanaticism, and deeply unChristian ideology that pose danger to our fragile republic (Oprah magazine).
Lewis, Charles, “The Buying of the President: 2004.” From the Center for Public Integrity. Bankrolling and expectations.
Phillips, Kevin, “American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politcs of Deceit in the House of Bush.” demolishing the self-interestedness of politicians.
Wilson, Valerie Plame, “Fair Game: My Life As a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House.” another expose of how the White House will do anything to protect itself.
Woodward, Bob, “Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate.” Woodward had the protective self-interest desire to keep the door open to the White House chambers, so he took it easy on the president. Still!

Books with lots of truths but slightly more political:
Begala Paul, “It’s Still the Ecoonomy, Stupid: George W. Bush, the GOP’s CEO. How our president trashed our economy.
Franken, Al, “Lies: And the Liars Who Tell Them.” A fair and balanced look at the Right.
Franken, Al, “Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations.” There are millions in this country who listen to no one but Limbaugh.
Franken, Al, “The Truth.” With more truth than you might think.
Moore, Michael, “Dude, Where’s My Country.” Truth and humor.
Moore, Michael, “Stupid White Men.” And other sorry excuses for the State of the Nation.

Books about America: (with two key sources)
Cole, David, “Enemy Aliens:Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism.” Cole is one of the country’s great legal voices for civil liberties.
Howard, Phillip K., “The Death of Common Sense: How Law is Suffocating America.” Howard is trying to drive us all sane. Tough job.
Jenkins, Henry, “Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide.” insights into an unforeseen future. 2006.
(key) Johnston, David Cay, “Free Lunch.” how the weathiest Americans enrich themselves with your money, and take away your money.
(key) Wolf, Naomi, “The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot.” one very tough book; a citizen’s call to action Will it fall on deaf ears?

Books about women in the Middle East—the real picture:
Ali, Ayaan Hirsi, “Infidel.” Life threatened because of her criticisms of Islam.
Bin Ladin, Carmen, “Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia.” Carmen married a brother, with deep regrets.
Mahmoody, Betty, “Not Without My Daughter.” A journey back to sanity; also the excellent movie with Sally Fields.

Films……..
“An Inconvenient Truth: A Global Warning,” by Al Gore. An award winning film which focuses on our lives becoming part of the solution for Global Warming.
March 21, 2008
Bill Moyers interviews former talk show host Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro on the true cost of war and their documentary, BODY OF WAR, depicting the moving story of one veteran dealing with the aftermath of war. With extensive excerpts from the film, the filmmakers talk about Iraq war veteran Tomas Young who was shot and paralyzed less than a week into his tour of duty. Three years in the making, BODY OF WAR tells the poignant tale of the young man’s journey from joining the service after 9/11 to fight in Afghanistan, to living with devastating wounds after being deployed to Iraq instead.
“Crimes Against Humanity: The Bush Record.” a documentary of the five indictments brought by the iInternational Commission of Inquiry into the crimes against humanity of the Bush administration.
“Orwell Rolls In His Grave.” explores the one thing the media doesn’t like to talk about—itself.
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism.” Pushing a Right- Wing agenda.
“Uncovered: The War On Iraq” uncovers the truth about the Iraq War.
“Why We Fight,” a film portraying how we have become a nation of war; a seemingly unstoppable industrial military complex about which outgoing President Eisenhower warned us in 1961. Can you help stop it?

from a concerned art teacher. No math or science needed. j.