THE PAULA GORDON SHOW |
Myths, Lies & 9/11 |
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“9/11” brought reality home. There are consequences to the way the U.S. uses its military and economic might, for which we are responsible. But instead of accepting that responsibility - - and the shame for a government that failed to protect us, Susan Faludi’s careful study of post-9/11 America shows politicians and media turning instead to fears – both real and imagined – and a failed national myth of invulnerability. Foisting a Wild West that never existed on us, instead of offering a sober reality-check for advancing a viable future, has had terrible consequences.
[This Program was recorded October 24, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, US.] |
6:46 | 6:33 | 15:46 | 11:55 | 13:36 | 3:37 |
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Acknowledgement Susan Faludi has done an inestimable service in making sense of much of the madness that followed “9/11”. Actions have consequences , for which we are responsible, to be alive is to be vulnerable. Ms. Faludi’s discerning examination of post-9/11 America is a hopeful step toward Americans accepting adult responsibilities: face reality, however distasteful; tell the truth; and join the worldwide struggle to create a life-affirming future. |
Related Links: The Terror Dream is a Metropolitan Book, published by Henry Holt and Company. Backlash, Ms. Faludi’s widely admired revelation of America’s undeclared war against its women, was originally published by Crown and reissued in a 15th anniversary edition by Three Rivers Press, part of the Crown Publishing Group; Stiffed, in which she shows how America’s men have been betrayed, was published by William Morrow. Ms. Faludi greatfully acknowledges that RIchard Slotkin's work on American mythology informs The Terror Dream. Neal Gabler has reported at length and in depth on the role of movies in American culture. Christopher Dickey suggests that good police work, good diplomacy and sustaining the American dream are the tools we should be using to address terrorism ... relevant myths rather than ersatz ones. General and specific failings of America's mass media have been addressed by a number of our guests including: the late David Halberstam, Haynes Johnson, Ken Auletta, historian John Hope Franklin, cultural observer Neal Gabler, former CNN President Tom Johnson, former NBC and CNN reporter Bonnie Anderson, and biologist Riki Ott, The consequences of telling ourselves lies have been examined by many of our guests including: Gerry Adams, John Dean, Cornel West, Edward O. Wilson, former ambassador Peter Galbraith, environmentalist Paul Hawken, psychologist James Hillman, Arianna Huffington, Sandra Mackey, Rev. Robin Meyers, energy expert Amory Lovins, essayist and memoirist Richard Rodriguez, memoirist and biographer Alexandra Fuller, reporter Mike Tidwell, and novelists E.L. Doctorow, Stephen J. Cannell, and Daniel Silva. Our failures to understand our history make it possible for lies to survive and thrive. It's one of the reasons hisrorians teach and write ... examples from our Program include: Richard Slotkin, David Cannadine, David Nasaw, Susan Jacoby, David Reynolds, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Simon Schama, Terry Parssinen, and Thomas Laird. ... and, here's a little background information on Paula Gordon and Bill Russell, the Program co-hosts.
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