www.inthetext.com

would George Orwell have considered George Bush the leader of a theocracy?

exacademy — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:22:13 EDT

From Orwell's essay, 'The Prevention of Literature," Orwell points out some chilling similarities between what he calls 'totalitarian regimes' and what is now called the federal government of the U.S. In his essay, he argues why totalitarian states are like theocracies, and must not allow for a coherent, respected press. The excerpt and entire text can be found at www.inthetext.com

Is Thomas Friedman a moron?

exacademy — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 00:32:56 EDT

Whenever I see him on TV, I grow more suspicious that he is; after Saddam's fall, he extolled the Iraqi middle class whom he interviewed; he claimed they stated they saw Sadaam's fall as the beginning of 'freedom' in Iraq. Does he take at face value that they really thought so clearly in black & white terms? Does he truly think he'd get a truthful answer--as an American journalist--to questions about Saddam from Iraqis being interviewed by an American journalist. Does he speak Arabic? Can he read body language of member of a culture he he knows little about? If he were a DEA agent taking a survey on college students' use of drugs, does he really think his results would be accurate? It astounds me that his books are best sellers.

Demonstrating an opponent's irrationality may be the best offense

exacademy — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:19:24 EDT

'The Only Way to Defeat the Enemy is to Write As Well as You Can" ----Saul Bellow

I am going to presume that regardless of political bent, most people interested in 'truth' will respect a good argument regardless of its source. Al Franken delivered an excellent speech to a Jewish Organization in Connecticut at a forum he shared with Ann Coulter. By quoting Coulter's writings--and remarking upon them, he received an ovation. Additionally, Ms. Coulter was unable to counter him--faced with her own irrational utterances.

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