I know now I have officially crossed into the "Twilight Zone"! How to Raise an American.

[Decruiter]

After the tremendous high of the last 24 hours I flipped onto C-Span 2. I'm privileged to view Myrna Blyth speak to me about her new book.

"How to Raise an American". I'm just going to leave it with everyone here at DU.

I honestly can not believe my ears. From CNN and terror, terror, terror everywhere to "How to Raise an American". I have crossed over into a "twilight zone".

Sick, sick and just really scary sick.

We are in deep doo everyone. I hope we have time to help turn the tide.

from amazon:

How to Raise an American: 1776 Fun and Easy Tools, Tips, and Activities to Help Your Child Love This Country (Hardcover)
by Myrna Blyth (Author), Chriss Winston (Author)

From Publishers Weekly
Patriotism begins at home, so say the authors of this guide for parents dismayed by the perceived negativity emanating from public schools, Hollywood, the recording industry and the news media. The resulting cynicism separates them from "Americans who believe that we are the most privileged people on earth." Blyth, a former editor-in-chief of Ladies' Home Journal, and Winston, the first woman to head the White House speechwriting office, envision their book as a toolbox that can be used to redress this "Patriotism Gap." Dinner table debates on topics such as "When do you feel most American?" can stimulate discussion, while the "media virus" can be combated by viewing some of the "100 All-American Movies" (war films figure prominently). Although quick to praise examples of national virtue, Blyth and Winston come down hard on individuals and institutions that address the more unsavory aspects of American history and culture. (Textbook authors get notably thumped.) Fostering a heightened sense of civic awareness is a laudable goal. However, as with any other parental advice guide, moms and dads will have to cherry pick the ideas that reflect the values they want to transmit to their children.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book Description
Do you love America? Are you proud to call this country your home? Now, what about your kids? You want them to love America as much as you do, but when popular culture tells them it’s cooler to bash this country than to love it, how can you teach them to be proud and loyal citizens?

As mothers themselves, bestselling author Myrna Blyth and former presidential speechwriter Chriss Winston have struggled with the same dilemma. Shocked by the growing patriotism gap, they set out to create a real-world resource all parents can use to teach their kids about the greatness of America’s past, the promise of its future, and the important role each of us plays in this democracy. How to Raise an American shows you how to make patriotism a priority without it becoming a chore for you or your kids.

This practical guide offers tips, games, activities, quizzes, and information you can use to make patriotism part of your family’s daily life, including:

- 60-Minute Solutions that easily and seamlessly instill a love of this country
- Dinner Table Debate topics that will have the whole family talking
- Road trip ideas that bring America’s history to life
- Books and movies that exemplify our shared ideals
- Inspiring stories of American courage, honor, and ingenuity
- Fun and educational ways to celebrate American holidays like the Fourth of July and Veterans Day

Blyth and Winston consulted prominent historians, academics, military leaders, politicians, authors, scholars, film critics and parents around the country to bring you a truly useful guide. Part treatise on patriotism, part American history primer, part civics lesson, this book is the antidote to the virulent America bashing our children hear every day.

Inspiring and practical, How to Raise an American is a must for every patriot—parent and child.


Like I said, I've crossed over, maybe my bro was right, we are living on different planets. (we probably don't speak much because I'm certain I don't like the planet he is living on)

[alphafemale]

1. If the FReeper mindset had been common in 1776...we'd still be a British colony.

They're loyalists.

There's nothing brave about them.

[treestar]

20. Exactly! Most of the stuff they say would clearly put them in the

Loyalist camp.

The biggest one is the "I have nothing to hide" crowd that so easily dismisses the Fourth Amendment. One of the things that really pissed the colonists off were the "general search warrants" granted to British officers - they could search anywhere they suspected, on their own decision, for smuggled goods.

[Philosoraptor]

2. "How to raise a good German", from the pages of the Twilight Zone.

This is exactly the kind of scary shit that's right up Rod Serling's alley.

[Decruiter]

3. Yep, thank you for confirming for me, C-Span 2 was having some fun

and doing a twilight zone episode and on that high and happy note, I'm going to bed.

Viewing was a nightmare and I was awake, I'm working though on persuading myself it was just a nightmare and it is not real.

See you all later tomorrow.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. Corporate owned MSM is going...

...full bore with the terrorism fear card. They've been instructed to play it up like the the Iraq pre-invasion days, which can only mean the impending assault on Iran looms ever near.

Stay tuned folks -- you think things are bad here now? You ain't seen nothin'.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. How to raise a good American: TEACH THE CONSTITUTION.

Then, encourage free, rigorous, and critical thought, along with the open questioning of authority.

[Heidi]

9. Right on.

:thumbsup:

[fasttense]

6. In other words, "How to raise an American citizen who does what the government

wants without questions and can be counted on to be a loyal party member." They pretend to be instilling patriotism while merely encouraging loyal republic party members.

[charlie]

7. Wingers really, really, really miss the Cold War

Those two are shocked by what they call a growing "patriotism gap."

http://www.howtoraiseanamerican.com

More from Blythe:

Spin Sisters: How the Women of the Media Sell Unhappiness --- and Liberalism --- to the Women of America

Her National Review archives

[Heidi]

8. Why is it that "How to raise a good human being" doesn't interest these people?

:sheesh:

[POAS]

10. Why, how very unpatriotic of you!

[Heidi]

11. Why, bless your heart

for setting me on the straight and narrow. ;)

:hi: POAS!

[POAS]

12. I'm sure you'd do the same for me

:evilgrin:

[datasuspect]

13. why not leave a comment?

http://www.howtoraiseanamerican.com/2007/03/we_want_to_hear.html#comment-75232848

[Solly Mack]

14. creepy

not exactly surprising...but disturbing

[Decruiter]

15. Creepy doesn't come close Solly, Disturbing is good, scary, well closer.

I honestly could not believe what I was hearing and went searching for more.

I wish I had not. Sometimes ignorance truly is bliss.

[Solly Mack]

16. the conservatives - more especially those who would control

- call it patriotic assimilation. Now, some will say they only mean that for immigrants...but don't believe it. The idea is to make it seem so normal - standard - the way it has always been. They've been at it a long, long time now. Different labels but still the same aim....control of the population.

If you don't own the land or control the wages or make the rules - then you can at least believe it's possible that one day you will..and in the mean time - you can love the country,pledge your allegiance, love whatever passes for history , and abide by the rules handed down by those who do own the land, control the wages , and make the rules.


Things (and people) that cause my skin to crawl, I call creepy.

[MountainLaurel]

17. Here's what I imagined when I read this

[shadowknows69]

18. Printed by Hitler Youth Publishing Company est.1939

[donsu]

19. Myrna writes twaddle

nt

[treestar]

21. Why should Americans be "the most privileged?" This kind of

thing makes me sick. Do they even realize what they are saying? It goes counter to the Founder's ideas. They wanted to do away with the privileged and acknoweldge that all men are created equal! They despised aristocracy and royalty and knew what effects it had, being closer to it. Now we have morans like this trying to revive it on the ground of their birth! Because of the geography of their birth, they should be "privileged."

[AspenRose]

22. I jumped on my republican husband's butt just last week

...for teaching our 2-year-old to chant "U-S-A! U-S-A!" while waving a miniature plastic American flag made in China. He got an earful from me and the message that I found that totally unacceptable and he better not do that again. :mad:

Teaching him about how to treat and respect a standard-size flag is one thing, and teaching him about the CONSTITUTION, the BILL OF RIGHTS and AMERICAN HISTORY is one thing....but that rah-rah "we're number one" crap doesn't sit well with me AT ALL.

Why in the hell should someone be PROUD of something that is due to an accident of birth? Especially when we have so little to be proud of these days.....(!)

Edited to add: I wanna see Stephen Colbert interview this author on his show.....wouldn't THAT be a hoot....a contest to see who can be more patriotic...

[Rex]

23. They changed the title at the last minute

"I come from a dysfunctional family and want to tell others my grief by blaming my failures on society".

Wouldn't fit on the cover.

[trof]

24. "How to Propagandize Your Kids"

jeez

[seriousstan]

25. I wonder why people call the left the "hate America first" people.

I can NEVER find any evidence of this.