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WINNER! - Political Book NM-AZ Book Awards 2013
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"...if way to the Better there be, FEELING THE UNTHINKABLE
Professor Donald Gutierrez's extensive writings on social justice have been collected here in a passionate appeal for sensitivity, change and, most importantly, action in confronting government abuses and social inequity at home and abroad. These 48 essays and reviews of books are presented in four sections: "State Terrorism - My Country Must Not Torture in My Name," "War and Democracy - War On Democracy," "Business as Usual - Greed, Racism and Genocide," and "Power of the Pen - Iconoclasts to the Rescue." Earnest, informed and articulate, Gutierrez raises a voice of moral conscience too often lacking in today's public discourse.
Video from KRWG: Don Gutierrez discusses his book.
"Zinn-esque.... Dr. Gutierrez has written a book that is compassionate, comprehensive, and thought provoking.... His claim that democracy is under attack is spot-on and his cry for activism is necessary and timely." --Karen P. Burke more
"What an incredibly powerful book! Professor Gutierrez reminds us why public outrage is more necessary now than ever." --Leslie Hall, Ph.D. more "This is a must-read collection for social justice activists ....[Gutierrez] calls us to respect human rights, to promote solidarity with others, and to change our world while we still have the chance." --William P. Quigley more
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Surely there is no more astute and sensitive observer of our political culture than Don Gutierrez. Whether eloquently decrying torture, our prison system or the failure of society to engage the humane wisdom of poets in matters of democracy and justice, Don is a prophet and also a historian and philosopher. Whether he is resurrecting the shibboleth of Orwell's (could be Bush/Obama's) desecrations of hard-won democratic rights or assailing the class system in the U.S., Gutierrez' collection of essays and book reviews resonates with the literate indignation of time-honored heroes like Kant, Rousseau and Chomsky. In the essay titled The Great Military-Defense Industry Swindle of America, Don slices Pentagon rhetoric with a sword of pure scholarly research, a cutting edge he seems to have been born to swing. Most fascinating to me was his examination of the epithet, "fuck," in relation to (follow me): Hollywood excess, D.H. Lawrence, death metal lyrics, JFK saying, "I cut his (Khrushchev's) balls off," the A-10 Thuderbolt's ability to fire 4,000 cannon shells per minute, and the massive violence called forth by today's American Empire (whew). Throughout all of Don's literacy and scholarship—his slash and burn attacks upon violence, racism, fascism, greed and political myopia—there lurks the compassion of the true liberal, a real liberal, i.e., someone who cares deeply about the flickering flame of liberty. He is a gentle man, but mightily pissed by the representatives of the Dark Side. Don sees liberty's oxygen being squeezed by media-induced, corporate stupidity that is turning the scholar-citizens of Franklin, Postman and Socrates into the soma-guzzling robots of Huxley. This is definitely a treasure for the thoughtful. |
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--Bob McCannon, consultant mccannon@flash.net President, The Action Coalition for Media Education Media Literacy/Media Education: Children, Adolescents and Media 3rd edition, college text, 2012, 3rd edition, college text, 2012 |
Dr. Gutierrez's work is Zinn-esque. His quality and style of writing is both accessible and engaging. Dr. Gutierrez has written a book that is compassionate, comprehensive, and thought provoking. His writing on social injustice at an individual, institutional, state, and global level is alarming. Dr. Gutierrez provides real-world examples that vividly illustrate his claims and strengthen his arguments about systematic terrorism, torture, cruelty, greed, racism and genocide. In the process, the United States is not given a pass. Dr. Gutierrez's work, across the board, is brutally honest and well documented. His claim that democracy is under attack is spot-on and his cry for activism is necessary and timely. Students of social science, political science, international relations, and media studies will greatly benefit from his book. I look forward to sharing his work with both my colleagues and students. |
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--Karen P. Burke, Ed.D, Associate Professor, Media Studies Department Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut |
What an incredibly powerful book! The oppressive atmosphere created by worldwide financial instability makes it difficult to face the inhumaneness presented by Professor Gutierrez. But, if we don't feel the pain of the unthinkable acts committed by our government and others, how can we reach into our reserves to find the fury necessary to stop the insatiable barbarism being committed in our name? Professor Gutierrez reminds us why public outrage is more necessary now than ever. |
| --Leslie Hall, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Washington State University, Spokane |
This is a must-read collection for social justice activists. In these short essays and reviews, Gutierrez punctures America's wrongfully inflated sense of self. He sharply challenges our militarization, our repeated wars, and our promotion and acceptance of torture. He condemns our toleration of economic injustice and our blindness to our maintenance of the largest prison system in the world. But Gutierrez does not just critique, he promotes human rights as well as personal and communal solidarity. He calls us to respect human rights, to promote solidarity with others, and to change our world while we still have the chance. |
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--William P. Quigley, Professor of Law,
Loyola University New Orleans School of Law Director of the Law Clinic and Gillis Long Poverty Law Center |
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