Documentaries, Iraq War

Today I watched the following documentaries which have been on my DVR for some time. Why We Fight really shows you the extent to which the military industrial complex has entwined itself in our political process. It does not show anyone who seriously watches the news or keeps up with current events something new, but all in one place with it all laid out is more shocking. Everyone knows that Cheney was CEO of Halliburton and personally assured more than eight hundred contracts for his old company. It is sickening, so it is a good idea to watch it when you are already sick to your stomach. The follow-up to this for me was Iraq for Sale :The War Profiteers.

Hacking Democracy

Okay, being ill I have time to make more posts and catch up on my documentaries. These two I had seen earlier and I found to be breathtakingly disturbing, particularly Hacking Democracy. Even if it is partially true it opens your eyes to the type and range of voter fraud that can easily be perpetrated on the apathetic American public. When I first saw it I was in Virginia for the election of the governor and the senator. Whoa!!! There were all types of accusations and warnings going both ways. Also, when you consider Bush carried Florida in 2000 by just over 500 votes, it makes you wonder. Then there was Ohio in 2004.....This documentary is a must see for any concerned citizen before the elections in 2008.

Now, Friends of God, a documentary by Alexandra Pelosi, was just pure entertainment for me. Especially because of what happened to Ted Haggard subsequent to the filming of this documentary. The Religious Right ought to be ticked, not because of this documentary, but because of the unfulfilled promises made by the administration that were never even considered. There was a war to profit from for goodness sake!!!

My Classroom

This is a view of my classroom as it appeared near the beginning of the year. I change the rear wall from American Revolution to the American Civil War at the beginning of the Spring semester. I try to reach a happy medium with posters and illustrations. I want to the room to be inviting and stimulating without going overboard and just overwhelming a hapless student. I conduct a staff development every Spring on classroom resources including how to get inexpensive posters and illustrations for the American history classroom.

Review for David Stewart's Book

The Summer of 1787 is an excellent read!!! It reads like a narrative for the Constitutional Convention making some intelligent commentary and observations along the way. I have found it to be well written and researched. For anyone who has not done a very careful study of the Convention there is plenty here to discover and learn. The short bios of the partcipants are useful in adding a dimension to their motives in the debates. In now know about the snall but pivotal role that Abraham Baldwin played at the Convention and why he is lost into obscurity. A great companion volume while perusing the Notes of the Federal Convention of 1787 by Madison. I am looking forward to his new work on the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson.

Cochrane, The Real Master and Commander

What a great book!!! If you like C.S. Forester and well, I think that Patrick O'Brian has borrowed too much from "inspirational" sources, you will love this book. Earlier this year, I read the William C. Davis book on the Pirates Lafite which I also really appreciated because of the extensive research and, of course, the great narrative style of Davis. Cordingly has done a great job in this well written biography. While he is obviously a fan of Cochrane, he is more than willing to illustrate his shortcomings with little excuse for his sometimes arrogant and intemperate behavior.

While not directly related to American history, this biography does show the technological advances in early 19th century warfare that were occuring as well as the pivotal role of personal fortitude and cool-headed, calculated tactics.