Different Slants

Comment by Don Larson

September 18, 2007 @ 6:14 pm

I got about 15 minutes into the first segment and had to stop.

The Muslim that came to America and had an “insight” that he knew better than everyone else, is just too stupid to contemplate.

The American philosopher that taught that Americans could all be manipulated is almost as stupid as that first item.

It’s like watching a film to buy into the ideas of Charles Manson, another mad-man, like the two I just mentioned.

Had President Truman stayed out of Middle East problems starting after WWII, none of America’s problems with the Middle East would have existed for us. He didn’t and it will be a long time before what he started, is ended.

Films like the topic we are talking about, exploit the fears of those who believe the film’s nonsense. The War on Terror will go on through many future American Presidencies. You can count on that.

The lesson I learned long ago is that America should stay out of another region’s problems unless we are directly threatened by those problems. Until we learn that lesson as a nation, we will be fighting wars.

Don

Comment by du2vye

September 22, 2007 @ 11:36 am

I strongly agree that this is an important film for everyone to watch. What is striking is that the information is presented very matter of factly and apolitically. The previous poster would have realized there is no slant right or left, and both sides share equally in the events of history.

That’s the main thing. This film is about documented history and social movements in the west v. east. Early neocon ideas and early taliban ideas shared the same original philospher. From there they went their different ways and developed independently. It’s not so hard to see when one realizes that neither trust or believe the majority of society can ‘rule’ themselves, but need strong leadership.

Episode 1 and 2 are history. Episode 3 does take us into more recent times and I can see where someone could debate Curtis’ conclusions. But they aren’t offensive – they aren’t nazism on either side and they aren’t tin hat conspiracy theories. They are a different point of view that has a very much needed element that’s missing in todays news – context – and Curtis does present his conclusions firmly rooted in history.

This file was not shown in the U.S. nor is it available on commercial DVD. No one would touch it even though 50% of the film is about U.S. history. The film has been shown around the world, several times on BBC, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Japan – everywhere but here. That alone is scary.

I think it’s everyone’s duty to watch this film for no other reason than obviously people in power and the media don’t want people too. It is important to stay with the film long enough to get some of the facts and then do independent research.

Many people have tried to tear this film about – just read the wikki on it and relatively minor details were shown to even be a point of controversy. The majority of the film has been shown to be well-researched and documented since it is … history.

We know the U.S. and the Taliban were buddy-buddy up until recently. That’s fact. That’s not controversial. That’s not debatable.

Comment by Don Larson

September 23, 2007 @ 9:28 am

The research may have been rooted in history, but the conclusions are wacko.

I’m sure there was good reason nobody wanted to invest money into that project for showing in the U.S.

Having it shown for free on the Internet is about all it’s worth. I doubt many Americans will watch it, for even as little time as I did.

Don

Comment by RGM

September 23, 2007 @ 12:33 pm

Don,

Please don’t take this the wrong way. Given that you watched only the first 15 minutes of a 3 hour program, I think it would be interesting to hear what you think the conclusions were.

Comment by Don Larson

September 24, 2007 @ 8:09 am

Rick,

I didn’t take it the wrong way. I’m merely giving my opinion. 🙂

In the first 15 minutes, the conclusion that Americans were somehow wrong because of innocent activities like dancing, or mowing their lawns is wacko.

Also, that the American professor who thought that all Americans could be manipulated by their government is an insult to my knowledge that at the time, plenty of people were in disagreement with government policies.

The assumption by both the Muslim and the American professor that “they knew better” than the rest of the world on how to deal with freedom is ridicules.

Some may buy into the ideas of that video, but not me.

We are not a nation of people that are manipulated. Just because people disagree with approaches to important issues, doesn’t mean those who are in opposition to an approach are being manipulated.

If someone wants to promote a conspiracy theory, they need to do a whole lot better job than what that video does.

Don

Comment by RGM

September 24, 2007 @ 8:43 am

Don,

I see the problem. You watched the introduction. For the conclusions try the last 15 minutes. The video does not reach or endorse the same conclusions as the people it discussed in the introduction.

However, regarding people being manipulated, it seems obvious to me that people in power are willing to lie to us whenever it suites their needs. I am sure you can think of your own examples. If we accept the lies, we are being manipulated.

Rick

Comment by Don Larson

September 25, 2007 @ 8:05 am

Hi Rick,

Then what was the purpose of the introduction if it is not connected? To manipulate the viewer into watching the balance of the video?

The problems of today for America are created by a complex set of issues. Liberals played a big role in them as well as Neocons. Are Radical Muslims a problem? Sure, they are more of a problem than our government leaders, by far!

Most of the lies I accepted by my government happened before I was 17 years of age. I’m not sure I can be held accountable for my beliefs at that time. Since then I have improved through the years the ability to “read between the lines” and come to my own conclusions.

I don’t have a perfect record on that. I voted for Jimmy Carter in 1976. He was a major disappointment as President to me. I didn’t do a very good job of “reading between the lines” in that case. But, I won’t make that mistake again. A wimp, is a wimp, is a wimp. A wimp can run a farm, but not a super-power nation as America is. Jimmy Carter proved that and that’s why he lost in the landslide of the 1980 election. I helped defeat him in that landslide, so I’ve tried to make some amends for voting for him in 1976.

I don’t know what lies a person accepts or rejects on a case-by-case basis.

For instance, there is a lot made by people that President Bush “lied” to Americans about WMD in Iraq. Those that accepted that as the premise to attack Iraq probably feel justified in calling him a “liar”. While it’s true I thought Iraq had WMD and moved them to Syria just before the war, I didn’t rely solely on what the President said as a way to persuade me. Therefore he is not a “liar” in my view. President Bush didn’t manipulate me, I was for war for many reasons.

Did President Bush manipulate a majority of Americans? I don’t know. But if he did it’s a sad commentary on how gullible those Americans must be not to understand how politics really work and further, not to be able to “read between the lines”. School’s back in for those folks.

Don

Comment by Walter Plumer

August 18, 2008 @ 10:39 am

I thought “The Power of Nightmares” was an excellent film. All Joe McCarthy had was a fictional list and look what he did with it and a little fear. The more fear you can create the more of the constitution you can dismantle, which I believe is the real goal. Liberalism is the enemy. It takes faith,(not to be confused with religion), to follow our beliefs when going through difficult times.