WaPo: 10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free.
“Even as we pass judgment on countries we consider unfree, Americans remain confident that any definition of a free nation must include their own — the land of free. Yet, the laws and practices of the land should shake that confidence. In the decade since Sept. 11, 2001, this country has comprehensively reduced civil liberties in the name of an expanded security state. The most recent example of this was the National Defense Authorization Act, signed Dec. 31, which allows for the indefinite detention of citizens. At what point does the reduction of individual rights in our country change how we define ourselves?”
Comments:
I’ve been on a reading kick of ‘writers on writing’, but as soon as I’m done, I’ll add this to my list ... Thanks! And Happy New Year to you and yours, Will.
Cool! What have you been reading? My favorites in that regard have been Ray Bradbury’s “Zen in the Art of Writing” and William Zinsser (paraphrasing, but always loved, “I enjoy having written"). Happy New Year to you as well!
I’m currently in the middle of an older book that I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know about: Ann Lamott’s “Bird by Bird.” It’s wonderful. She’s a little heavy with her own ‘voice’ and expressing her own challenges in amidst the recommendations, but the advice is solid.
Previously went through “How To Write A Damned Good Novel” by James N. Frey, another goodie.
Both authors are characters ... similar in voice, yet very different deliveries. Frey knows how to get his character out of the way of the info, Lamott needs to share her emotional baggage in order to communicate.
I’ve got my evil eye on Stephen King’s book on writing. I’ve heard both good and bad on that one.
I’m also taking my first dip into “Game of Thrones.” I’ve not decided about whether I like it or not yet. It’s not a ‘gotta read’ book yet ... in other words, it’s not dragging me back in all my available spare time.
fwiw, I’ve enjoyed morsels from Ursula K. LeGuin’s book on writing fiction, “Steering the Craft”.
I’ll add it to my list. Thanks!
Also I would like to recommend Raymond Chandler’s ‘The Simple Art of Murder.’ He presents his essay about the creation of detective fiction, followed by some example short stories of his. FANTASTIC READ! See it at: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Art-Murder-Raymond-Chandler/dp/0394757653/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326905239&sr=1-1
I’m not the only crazed Raymond Chandler fan here, eh?
Thanks, both--adding all of these to my list!
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Currently reading a great book on this very subject, “Give Me Liberty” by Naomi Wolf (http://www.amazon.com/Give-Me-Liberty-Handbook-Revolutionaries/dp/B002M3SPJ6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1326747318&sr=8-4). Nice thing is, it’s a practical book about how to change the state of things (especially needed after her frightening book “The End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot,” in which she convincingly lays out the ways we’re slipping quietly into fascism). Important stuff. Thanks as always, Garret, for the great reading.