On Nov 5, 5:06*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
> Omelet > wrote innews >
>
>
> >> > I knew she was sick, but I'd not heard that she died... Bummer. :-(
> >> > Puts a negative spin on the beginning of his new career. He did
> >> > love her.
>
> >> > He has my condolences. *Anyone know if there is a place to send
> >> > cards?
>
> >> You could always send a sympathy card to Obama's Senate office. You
> >> can look up the address athttp://www.senate.gov
>
> > Thanks.
> > He was raised by her for the most part from what I understand.
>
> Yep.
>
> His father died in '82. His mother left him with the *grandmother while
> she did her own thing. She died in '94.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
>
> Barack Obama was born at the Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women &
> Children in Honolulu, Hawaii,[10] to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a Luo
> from Nyang’oma Kogelo, Nyanza Province, Kenya, and Ann Dunham, a white
> American from Wichita, Kansas[11] of mainly English, Scottish and Irish
> descent.[12][13][14] His parents met in 1960 while attending the
> University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was a foreign student.
> [15][16] The couple married February 2, 1961;[17] they separated when
> Obama was two years old and subsequently divorced in 1964.[16] Obama's
> father returned to Kenya and saw his son only once more before dying in
> an automobile accident in 1982.[18]
>
> After her divorce, Dunham married Lolo Soetoro, and the family moved to
> Soetoro's home country of Indonesia in 1967, where Obama attended local
> schools, such as Asisi, in Jakarta until he was ten years old. He then
> returned to Honolulu to live with his maternal grandparents while
> attending Punahou School from the fifth grade in 1971 until his
> graduation from high school in 1979.[19] Obama's mother returned to
> Hawaii in 1972 for several years, and then in 1977 went back to
> Indonesia, where she worked as an anthropological field worker. She
> stayed there most of the rest of her life, returning to Hawaii in 1994.
> She died of ovarian cancer in 1995.[20]
>
> As an adult Obama admitted that during high school he used marijuana,
> cocaine, and alcohol, which he described at the 2008 Civil Forum on the
> Presidency as his greatest moral failure.
>
> (So now you have a neglected Coke sniffer for President.)
>
> (Seems he also has blood relatives in Kenya and Indonesia. I wonder if
> they get a Secret Service detail?)
>
> Obama has seven half-siblings from his Kenyan father's family, six of
> them living, and a half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, the daughter of his
> mother and her Indonesian second husband.
>
> --
> Peter Lucas * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Brisbane * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Australia * * *
>
> If we are not meant to eat animals,
> why are they made of meat?

Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
by all of this only because of his color...

"merryb" > wrote
>Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
>by all of this only because of his color...

George still talks like a drunk.

On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
> "merryb" > wrote
>
> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
> >by all of this only because of his color...
>
> George still talks like a drunk.

Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!

merryb > wrote in
:


>
> Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk?


He got busted for drunk driving(1976), but the coke claims are
unsubstantiated allegations. If there was anything to do with coke
charges, *everyone* would know about it.

And let me just remind you, y'all voted for Bush, the same as you voted
for Obama.


>You seem very threatened
> by all of this only because of his color...
>


Not at all.

He could be brindle, or yellow, for all I care. What's worrying me is
his inexperience.

His inexperience is not just going to affect your country, it's going to
affect *my* country.

Has anyone stopped happy clapping and jumping for joy about his
impending ending of the Iraq war, to seriously think of the implications
arising from that course of action?

I doubt it.

Think *Iran*.

--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia


If we are not meant to eat animals,
why are they made of meat?

merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
:

> On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
>> "merryb" > wrote
>>
>> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
>> >by all of this only because of his color...
>>
>> George still talks like a drunk.
>
> Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>


Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??


Abraham Lincoln?


--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia


If we are not meant to eat animals,
why are they made of meat?

On Nov 7, 1:33*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
> merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
> :
>
> > On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
> >> "merryb" > wrote
>
> >> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
> >> >by all of this only because of his color...
>
> >> George still talks like a drunk.
>
> > Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>
> Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>
> Abraham Lincoln?
>
> --
> Peter Lucas * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Brisbane * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Australia * * *
>
> If we are not meant to eat animals,
> why are they made of meat?

It's percentage of ****ism...GW is an idiot, and I NEVER voted for
him...

On Nov 7, 1:31*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
> merryb > wrote :
>
>
>
> > Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk?
>
> He got busted for drunk driving(1976), but the coke claims are
> unsubstantiated allegations. If there was anything to do with coke
> charges, *everyone* would know about it.
>
> And let me just remind you, y'all voted for Bush, the same as you voted
> for Obama.
>
> >You seem very threatened
> > by all of this only because of his color...
>
> Not at all.
>
> He could be brindle, or yellow, for all I care. What's worrying me is
> his inexperience.
>
> His inexperience is not just going to affect your country, it's going to
> affect *my* country.
>
> Has anyone stopped happy clapping and jumping for joy about his
> impending ending of the Iraq war, to seriously think of the implications
> arising from that course of action?
>
> I doubt it.
>
> Think *Iran*.
>
> --
> Peter Lucas * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Brisbane * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Australia * * *
>
> If we are not meant to eat animals,
> why are they made of meat?

I guess we will find out, but I do believe he is the lesser of two
evils.

merryb > wrote in
:

> On Nov 7, 1:33*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
>> merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
>> :
>>
>> > On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
>> >> "merryb" > wrote
>>
>> >> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very
>> >> >threatene
> d
>> >> >by all of this only because of his color...
>>
>> >> George still talks like a drunk.
>>
>> > Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>>
>> Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>
>> Abraham Lincoln?
>>

>
> It's percentage of ****ism...GW is an idiot, and I NEVER voted for
> him...
>


Maybe so, but it's the age old theme of no matter *who's* in office,
someone somewhere will think they're a total screw-up..... and in the
US's case, a lot of some-ones :-)



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia


If we are not meant to eat animals,
why are they made of meat?

merryb > wrote in
:

> On Nov 7, 1:31*pm, PeterLucas > wrote:
>> merryb > wrote
>> innews:ba2bf6f4-2e19-4b53-bc7b-d05f42a9560
> :
>>
>>
>>
>> > Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk?
>>
>> He got busted for drunk driving(1976), but the coke claims are
>> unsubstantiated allegations. If there was anything to do with coke
>> charges, *everyone* would know about it.
>>
>> And let me just remind you, y'all voted for Bush, the same as you
>> voted for Obama.
>>
>> >You seem very threatened
>> > by all of this only because of his color...
>>
>> Not at all.
>>
>> He could be brindle, or yellow, for all I care. What's worrying me is
>> his inexperience.
>>
>> His inexperience is not just going to affect your country, it's going
>> to affect *my* country.
>>
>> Has anyone stopped happy clapping and jumping for joy about his
>> impending ending of the Iraq war, to seriously think of the
>> implications arising from that course of action?
>>
>> I doubt it.
>>
>> Think *Iran*.
>>

>
> I guess we will find out, but I do believe he is the lesser of two
> evils.
>


Yep, it's a done deal now........ all there's to do now is lower our
pants, bend over, and wait for the inevitable.


--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia


If we are not meant to eat animals,
why are they made of meat?

On Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:13:59 -0600, Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>>> Oh stop it Blake. I know you are brighter than that.
>>> Stop being Partisan! It will set you free. :-)
>>
>> i mock right-wingers because they deserve it. they had full sway for six
>> of the last eight years and bungled *everything* they put a hand to. ****
>> them.
>>
>> your pal,
>> blake
>
> Don't paint all right wingers with the same brush please.
>
> Bush was a moron. I sure as hell did NOT vote for him in 2004.

i see now that some 'wingers are complaining that bush wasn't conservative
enough. yeah, that's the ticket!

your pal,
blake

On Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:58:32 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:13:59 -0600, Omelet wrote:
>
>> In article >,
>> blake murphy > wrote:
>>
>>>> Oh stop it Blake. I know you are brighter than that.
>>>> Stop being Partisan! It will set you free. :-)
>>>
>>> i mock right-wingers because they deserve it. they had full sway for six
>>> of the last eight years and bungled *everything* they put a hand to. ****
>>> them.
>>>
>>> your pal,
>>> blake
>>
>> Don't paint all right wingers with the same brush please.
>>
>> Bush was a moron. I sure as hell did NOT vote for him in 2004.
>
>i see now that some 'wingers are complaining that bush wasn't conservative
>enough. yeah, that's the ticket!
>
>your pal,
>blake

He wasn't a conservative but they voted him in anyway. McCain is not
conservative either. Obama certainly isn't. Reagan was fairly
conservative but not enough for my views. I want fiscal conservatism
and want smaller government and would love to see the U.S. actually
live by the Constitution and stop shredding it as both parties do,
with the ok of the American people.

On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 21:33:12 +0000 (UTC), PeterLucas
> wrote:

>merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
:
>
>> On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
>>> "merryb" > wrote
>>>
>>> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
>>> >by all of this only because of his color...
>>>
>>> George still talks like a drunk.
>>
>> Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>>
>
>
>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>
>
>Abraham Lincoln?

Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
was not what the liberals have said at all.

Ozark Baby > wrote in
:


>>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>
>>
>>Abraham Lincoln?
>
> Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
> would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
> was not what the liberals have said at all.
>


Where do you find the "true history"??



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

Mi b'aill docha basaich air m' ris, sin mair air m'glun.

(I'd rather die on my feet, than live on my knees.)

"PeterLucas" > wrote in message
>>
>
>
> Where do you find the "true history"??
>
>

Not in school books. Good biographies can be reliable if the author is.
For Lincoln, read anything by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:55:05 +0000 (UTC), PeterLucas
> wrote:

>Ozark Baby > wrote in
:
>
>
>>>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>>
>>>
>>>Abraham Lincoln?
>>
>> Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
>> would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
>> was not what the liberals have said at all.
>>
>
>
>Where do you find the "true history"??

On some right winger blog, of course.



--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:41:40 GMT, Ozark Baby wrote:

> On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 21:33:12 +0000 (UTC), PeterLucas
> > wrote:
>
>>merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
:
>>
>>> On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
>>>> "merryb" > wrote
>>>>
>>>> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
>>>> >by all of this only because of his color...
>>>>
>>>> George still talks like a drunk.
>>>
>>> Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>>>
>>
>>
>>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>
>>
>>Abraham Lincoln?
>
> Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
> would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
> was not what the liberals have said at all.

that's right. he was a secret agent for the confederacy. a very *bad*
secret agent.

blake

On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:29:36 -0800, sf wrote:

> On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:55:05 +0000 (UTC), PeterLucas
> > wrote:
>
>>Ozark Baby > wrote in
m:
>>
>>
>>>>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Abraham Lincoln?
>>>
>>> Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
>>> would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
>>> was not what the liberals have said at all.
>>>
>>
>>
>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>
> On some right winger blog, of course.

i was thinking the back of a crackerjack box, but it amounts to the same
thing.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:45:06 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:41:40 GMT, Ozark Baby wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 21:33:12 +0000 (UTC), PeterLucas
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
:
>>>
>>>> On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
>>>>> "merryb" > wrote
>>>>>
>>>>> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
>>>>> >by all of this only because of his color...
>>>>>
>>>>> George still talks like a drunk.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>>
>>>
>>>Abraham Lincoln?
>>
>> Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
>> would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
>> was not what the liberals have said at all.
>
>that's right. he was a secret agent for the confederacy. a very *bad*
>secret agent.
>
>blake

Since you have decided to not take anything seriously then see what
you like.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:27:03 GMT, Ozark Baby >
wrote:

>This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>there in the middle of some road.

HEH, I could say those words right back to you and the shoe would fit.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:49 -0500, "cybercat" >
wrote:

>
>"Ozark Baby" > wrote
>>>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>>>
>>>On some right winger blog, of course.
>>
>> This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>> with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>> up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>> are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>> Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>> there in the middle of some road.
>
>Nonsense. All histories are biased. They are, after all, written by human
>beings. If you studied history in the academic world, by the time you wrote
>your second history paper you knew the "dirty little secret" all academics
>know--that one chooses the evidence one presents, generally based upon one
>or another agenda.
>

History is written by the winners.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:59:32 -0800, sf > wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:49 -0500, "cybercat" >
>wrote:
>
>>
>>"Ozark Baby" > wrote
>>>>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>>>>
>>>>On some right winger blog, of course.
>>>
>>> This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>>> with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>>> up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>>> are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>>> Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>>> there in the middle of some road.
>>
>>Nonsense. All histories are biased. They are, after all, written by human
>>beings. If you studied history in the academic world, by the time you wrote
>>your second history paper you knew the "dirty little secret" all academics
>>know--that one chooses the evidence one presents, generally based upon one
>>or another agenda.
>>
>
>History is written by the winners.

Very true, except the revisionist history that is written by political
bias, both sides.

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:49 -0500, cybercat wrote:

> "Ozark Baby" > wrote
>>>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>>>
>>>On some right winger blog, of course.
>>
>> This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>> with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>> up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>> are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>> Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>> there in the middle of some road.
>
> Nonsense. All histories are biased. They are, after all, written by human
> beings. If you studied history in the academic world, by the time you wrote
> your second history paper you knew the "dirty little secret" all academics
> know--that one chooses the evidence one presents, generally based upon one
> or another agenda.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got
Wrong, by james loewen, is very interesting if you're into that sort of
thing:

<http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/1595583262/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226600783&sr= 8-1>

he also goes into the unnatural amount of influence that the texas and
california textbook selection committees have on what is finally written in
high school texts. himself a history teacher, he can be quite funny.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:59:32 -0800, sf wrote:

> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:49 -0500, "cybercat" >
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Ozark Baby" > wrote
>>>>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>>>>
>>>>On some right winger blog, of course.
>>>
>>> This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>>> with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>>> up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>>> are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>>> Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>>> there in the middle of some road.
>>
>>Nonsense. All histories are biased. They are, after all, written by human
>>beings. If you studied history in the academic world, by the time you wrote
>>your second history paper you knew the "dirty little secret" all academics
>>know--that one chooses the evidence one presents, generally based upon one
>>or another agenda.
>>
>
> History is written by the winners.

but even so, not *all* the winners are without blemish or human flaw, as
they are frequently presented.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:11:53 GMT, Ozark Baby wrote:

> On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:45:06 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:41:40 GMT, Ozark Baby wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 21:33:12 +0000 (UTC), PeterLucas
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>merryb > wrote in news:ebae2ad3-2a38-4324-9296-
:
>>>>
>>>>> On Nov 7, 12:03*pm, "cybercat" > wrote:
>>>>>> "merryb" > wrote
>>>>>>
>>>>>> >Isn't George a cokehead (or was) and a drunk? You seem very threatened
>>>>>> >by all of this only because of his color...
>>>>>>
>>>>>> George still talks like a drunk.
>>>>>
>>>>> Maybe he's trying to forget what a **** up he is!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Who was the last President that no-one thought was a "**** up"??
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Abraham Lincoln?
>>>
>>> Nope, actually Lincoln was not thought highly of at all. If people
>>> would read the true history of him people would also find out that he
>>> was not what the liberals have said at all.
>>
>>that's right. he was a secret agent for the confederacy. a very *bad*
>>secret agent.
>>
>>blake
>
> Since you have decided to not take anything seriously then see what
> you like.

i'm sure this means something, but damned if i know what it is.

blake

"blake murphy" > wrote
> <http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/1595583262/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226600783&sr= 8-1>
>
> he also goes into the unnatural amount of influence that the texas and
> california textbook selection committees have on what is finally written
> in
> high school texts. himself a history teacher, he can be quite funny.
>

I've actually seen this! Thanks.

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:38:52 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:49 -0500, cybercat wrote:
>
>> "Ozark Baby" > wrote
>>>>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>>>>
>>>>On some right winger blog, of course.
>>>
>>> This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>>> with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>>> up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>>> are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>>> Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>>> there in the middle of some road.
>>
>> Nonsense. All histories are biased. They are, after all, written by human
>> beings. If you studied history in the academic world, by the time you wrote
>> your second history paper you knew the "dirty little secret" all academics
>> know--that one chooses the evidence one presents, generally based upon one
>> or another agenda.
>
>Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got
>Wrong, by james loewen, is very interesting if you're into that sort of
>thing:
>
><http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/1595583262/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226600783&sr= 8-1>
>
>he also goes into the unnatural amount of influence that the texas and
>california textbook selection committees have on what is finally written in
>high school texts. himself a history teacher, he can be quite funny.
>
>your pal,
>blake

That is an excellent book. I read that many months ago.

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:40:48 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>but even so, not *all* the winners are without blemish or human flaw, as
>they are frequently presented.

Quite so, but that's through the looking glass of time.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:06:17 GMT, Ozark Baby wrote:

> On Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:38:52 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:04:49 -0500, cybercat wrote:
>>
>>> "Ozark Baby" > wrote
>>>>>>Where do you find the "true history"??
>>>>>
>>>>>On some right winger blog, of course.
>>>>
>>>> This hhas nothing to do with your political bias at all. It has to do
>>>> with researching and reading all things and then making one's own mind
>>>> up. I realize that you have a hard time with that concept, but there
>>>> are plenty of us who know history and actually have degrees in it.
>>>> Take your political bias and go play with the other biased idiots out
>>>> there in the middle of some road.
>>>
>>> Nonsense. All histories are biased. They are, after all, written by human
>>> beings. If you studied history in the academic world, by the time you wrote
>>> your second history paper you knew the "dirty little secret" all academics
>>> know--that one chooses the evidence one presents, generally based upon one
>>> or another agenda.
>>
>>Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got
>>Wrong, by james loewen, is very interesting if you're into that sort of
>>thing:
>>
>><http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/1595583262/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226600783&sr= 8-1>
>>
>>he also goes into the unnatural amount of influence that the texas and
>>california textbook selection committees have on what is finally written in
>>high school texts. himself a history teacher, he can be quite funny.
>>
>>your pal,
>>blake
>
> That is an excellent book. I read that many months ago.

part of loewen's complaint is that the pervasive whitewash makes history
positively boring.

your pal,
blake

blake wrote on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:38:57 GMT:


> part of loewen's complaint is that the pervasive whitewash
> makes history positively boring.

As a member of a partially racial and then religious minority, history
books in elementary and middle school spouting the WASP viewpoint served
to produce a healthy scepticism. One of the reasons why I became a
scientist!

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

"blake murphy" > wrote
>
> part of loewen's complaint is that the pervasive whitewash makes history
> positively boring.
>

Maybe at a certain level--like in public school texts. But I've always
thought the contrary--that the academics who are writing books (usually
badly) are selecting the material to present based upon an agenda other than
to get at the truth. Part of the agenda might be personal prejudices but a
greater part, a more universal aim appears to me to be "justifying their
existence" and having something to argue about. [Damn, I'm writing badly
just thinking about how professors write.]

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
...
> blake wrote on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:38:57 GMT:
>
>
>> part of loewen's complaint is that the pervasive whitewash
>> makes history positively boring.
>
> As a member of a partially racial and then religious minority, history
> books in elementary and middle school spouting the WASP viewpoint served
> to produce a healthy scepticism. One of the reasons why I became a
> scientist!
>
> --

That's pretty cool, James. Other people just get ****ed off and stew.

On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:18:42 -0500, cybercat wrote:

> "blake murphy" > wrote
>>
>> part of loewen's complaint is that the pervasive whitewash makes history
>> positively boring.
>>
>
> Maybe at a certain level--like in public school texts.

yeah, in that instance he was talking about high school texts.

>But I've always
> thought the contrary--that the academics who are writing books (usually
> badly) are selecting the material to present based upon an agenda other than
> to get at the truth. Part of the agenda might be personal prejudices but a
> greater part, a more universal aim appears to me to be "justifying their
> existence" and having something to argue about. [Damn, I'm writing badly
> just thinking about how professors write.]

the question is kinda academic (heh, heh), since from almost all reports,
high school history classes run out of class time shortly after covering
the first world war. but, if i recall correctly, he's not too keen on
college texts either.

your pal,
blake