Lies My Teacher Told Me- What the world thinks of the US - 11 views

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  #1 Angel Hernandez on 25 Mar 13

   

  http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/02/12524780-how-i-see-america-from-a-former-gitmo-prisoner?lite
  
  http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/26/12403615-a-special-series-what-the-world-thinks-of-us?lite
  
  Chapter 8: Watching Big Brother discusses what textbooks teach about the federal government. The textbooks that are in use today describe our "policies as part of a morality play in which the United States typically acts on behalf of human rights, democracy, and the 'American Way'. When Americans have done wrong, according to this view, it has been because others misunderstood us, or perhaps because we misunderstood the situation. But always our motives are good". It simply describes the U.S. as the international good guy, our government does no wrong but holds the peace keeping burden.
  Lies My Teacher Told Me goes on to mention the contradiction that the U.S. has become, as the links above also discuss.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner"><a href="http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/02/12524780-how-i-see-america-from-a-former-gitmo-prisoner?lite" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/02/12524780-how-i-see-america-from-a-former-gitmo-prisoner?lite</a> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/26/12403615-a-special-series-what-the-world-thinks-of-us?lite" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/26/12403615-a-special-series-what-the-world-thinks-of-us?lite</a> <br /> <br /> Chapter 8: Watching Big Brother discusses what textbooks teach about the federal government. The textbooks that are in use today describe our "policies as part of a morality play in which the United States typically acts on behalf of human rights, democracy, and the 'American Way'. When Americans have done wrong, according to this view, it has been because others misunderstood us, or perhaps because we misunderstood the situation. But always our motives are good". It simply describes the U.S. as the international good guy, our government does no wrong but holds the peace keeping burden. <br /> Lies My Teacher Told Me goes on to mention the contradiction that the U.S. has become, as the links above also discuss.</div>

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  #2 Kierstan Lee on 27 Mar 13

   

  I have learned a lot from this book: things that do not surprise me and things that have shocked me. Every time I pick up this book I convince myself that nothing could be worse than whatever I read about the last time I picked it up. But every time I start a new chapter I read about more events in our country's history that shock me. Lies My Teacher Told Me shows readers what America, the universal "good guy," is capable of, and what the American government and school system hides from its students--things such as the torture and violation of human rights of innocents as described in the above nbc article.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">I have learned a lot from this book: things that do not surprise me and things that have shocked me. Every time I pick up this book I convince myself that nothing could be worse than whatever I read about the last time I picked it up. But every time I start a new chapter I read about more events in our country's history that shock me. Lies My Teacher Told Me shows readers what America, the universal "good guy," is capable of, and what the American government and school system hides from its students--things such as the torture and violation of human rights of innocents as described in the above nbc article.</div>

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  #3 Keri Pappas on 28 Mar 13

   

  Unfortunately, I keep thinking about how many times our nation has displayed bullying behavior. :-( The first article listed above, supports many other stories that claim the same kind of treatment people have suffered from our government (or nation). Even though the actions are not directly performed by our government, they are directly commanded and expected by our government."Some consensus, though, has emerged - that he was a victim of human rights violations in the form of being illegally detained and tortured, allegations denied by the U.S. government." This quote reminds me of many things that are addressed in, "Lies my teacher told me." So many people, in many different groups, have been treated this same exact way. The stories are coming to the surface. Our nation's reputation is messy. Not only do we make mistakes and frequently use violence, we deny our mistakes! The truth is being exposed. The more I read our group's book, the more truth I learn. I think it is important to know the truth of our history and our present. Trying to hide our nation's actions only continues to cause more problems. By knowing the full truth, we can truly change our nation for the better!

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Unfortunately, I keep thinking about how many times our nation has displayed bullying behavior. :-( The first article listed above, supports many other stories that claim the same kind of treatment people have suffered from our government (or nation). Even though the actions are not directly performed by our government, they are directly commanded and expected by our government."Some consensus, though, has emerged - that he was a victim of human rights violations in the form of being illegally detained and tortured, allegations denied by the U.S. government." This quote reminds me of many things that are addressed in, "Lies my teacher told me." So many people, in many different groups, have been treated this same exact way. The stories are coming to the surface. Our nation's reputation is messy. Not only do we make mistakes and frequently use violence, we deny our mistakes! The truth is being exposed. The more I read our group's book, the more truth I learn. I think it is important to know the truth of our history and our present. Trying to hide our nation's actions only continues to cause more problems. By knowing the full truth, we can truly change our nation for the better!</div>

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  #5 Gabrilla Mustafa on 28 Mar 13

   

  American schools teach history in a way that makes the U.S always seem like the "good guy". Students are taught that the US defends nations in need all over the world without self-interest being a factor. Our policies are supposed to defend human rights and spread democracy to countries without stable governments. An example of this is Americas involvement in Libya in 2011. Muammar Gaddafi was in power for decades and when Libya was at war with its ruler, the US felt in was its duty to step in and defend Libyans civilians. Our president appeared on television with a speech that described how wrong it was for the American government to sit back and watch innocent people die when there was so much we could do to help. This was the presidents argument for involvement, it had nothing to do with the fact that Libya is the fifth largest oil reserve in the world...

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">American schools teach history in a way that makes the U.S always seem like the "good guy". Students are taught that the US defends nations in need all over the world without self-interest being a factor. Our policies are supposed to defend human rights and spread democracy to countries without stable governments. An example of this is Americas involvement in Libya in 2011. Muammar Gaddafi was in power for decades and when Libya was at war with its ruler, the US felt in was its duty to step in and defend Libyans civilians. Our president appeared on television with a speech that described how wrong it was for the American government to sit back and watch innocent people die when there was so much we could do to help. This was the presidents argument for involvement, it had nothing to do with the fact that Libya is the fifth largest oil reserve in the world...</div>

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