Everybody look what's goin' down*

This is a book that I have not read yet - "The Shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein. I've decided to get it from the library next time it's available. Dr. Davidson Loehr is going to be finishing up a 5-part sermon (more like a lecture, really) on this book tomorrow at UU, with the final part to be focused on Iraq and 9/11. (I love it when he gets political!! These controversial topics do get him into hot water, but he does them anyway.) He has titled the sermons "The Most Dangerous Fundamentalism on Earth"

Some other books I've read because he discussed them were "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins, and "Defying Hitler" by Sebastian Haffner.

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is a first-hand account of how the international banking community and corporatocracy manages to take over the world, one country at a time. He was part of it, then published this memoir about his experiences -- the kind of personal history that someone usually takes to the grave. Very interesting stuff, no matter how you look at it.

Defying Hitler is a memoir written by a German man who was classified as "Aryan" but not a Nazi in mind or heart. The memoir was kept in secret, and found by the man's son after his death. It describes his personal resistance and survival from a unique perspective. It could be a rather important book to read as it relates to these modern times in America, unless we can manage to get some of these war-mongering neo-conservative and religious fundamentalist elements "checked and balanced." There is so much at stake, so much that can be lost, and all before you know what hit you.

*lyrics from "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield

There's somethin' happenin' here.
What it is ain't exactly clear.
There's a man with a gun over there
A-tellin' me I've got to beware.

I think it's time we stop.
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin' down.

There's battle lines bein' drawn.
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong.
Young people speakin' their minds
A-gettin' so much resistance from behind.

I think it's time we stop.
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin' down.

What a field day for the heat.
A thousand people in the street
Singin' songs and a-carryin' signs
Mostly sayin' hooray for our side.

It's time we stop.
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look what's goin' down.

Paranoia strikes deep.
Into your life it will creep.
It starts when you're always afraid.
Step out of line, the MAN come and take you away.