Progressive Reads

Orwell's 1984

A "government that has used war to justify infringement on freedom; that has used speech codes to limit everyone's ability to understand higher concepts or concepts that favour human individuality; that uses powerful media to build unwarranted consensus and rewrite history." Sounds familiar? This is the subject of George Orwell's landmark novel 1984, available in its entirety online at no charge.

Baghdad Burning

"The weapons never existed. It's like having a loved one sentenced to death for a crime they didn't commit -- having your country burned and bombed beyond recognition, almost. Then, after two years of grieving for the lost people, and mourning the lost sovereignty, we're told we were innocent of harboring those weapons. We were never a threat to America... Congratulations Bush -- we are a threat now." These are the words of Riverbend, a young woman living the Iraq war everyday. She's a unique voice who gives us a view from the inside. Feminist Press is publishing a book of her blog entries this March.

Survival Guide

George W. Bush's second term is a reality. What should we lefties/liberals/progressives do about it? L.A. Weekly has published a Survival Guide for the next four years. From John Powers' "New Vision for the Left" to Harold Meyerson's plans to "Making Those Red States Blue" to Steve Mikulan's "To Do List for Progressives", there's lots of food for thought to be found here. I don't agree with everyone's opinion [e.g., dismissing George Lakoff's idea of framing the message is, in my opinion, self-defeating] but the magazine raises important issues worthy of discussion and consideration.


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