4um: Does your taxpayer supported public library own these 3 book titles?

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Title: Does your taxpayer supported public library own these 3 book titles?
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Published: May 13, 2008
Author: scrapper2
Post Date: 2008-05-13 21:29:22 by scrapper2
Keywords: educating the public, US constitution, Nabka
Views: 267
Comments: 25

Imo the two most important political issues facing Americans are:
a. how far off course our federal politicians are taking our nation from its constitutional foundations
b. how our federal government's knee jerk pro-Israel bias causes our nation considerable ill-will on the world's stage
I think it's incumbent on us, educated politically versed 4um members, to help our fellow Americans to become better informed on the subjects of constitution responsibilities of government and also about the travails of the Palestinians when Israel was founded and the unseemly influence of the Israel Lobby on our nation's foreign policy so these same Americans can have their eyes opened. Knowledge empowers people.
To that end, I'd recommend that all of us check with our local public libraries if the following 3 books are owned and if not you should request that these titles be ordered posthaste. As taxpayers you have the right to insist that the library spends your tax dollars on books that provide diverse points of view.
The titles are:
1."The Revolution: A Manifesto" (Hardcover) By Dr. Ron Paul c. 2008
Currently #10 on Amazon's bestseller list.
Dr. Paul is a respected Congressman and physician and Presidential candidate. If your library owns Obama's book and Hillary's book, then it should also own Dr. Paul's book for "balance."
2. "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" ( Trade Paperback) By Dr. Ilan Pappe c. 2007
The author is a prominent Israeli historian and was a senior lecturer in Political Science at Haifa University and Academic Director of the Research Insitute for Peace at Givat Haviva and Chair of the Emil Touma Institute for Palestinian Studies, Haifa. Dr. Pape is now at Professor at the University of Exeter in the UK. This book received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly and was also favorably reviewed in the Times Literary Supplement.
3. "The Israel Lobby" ( Hardcover) By Dr. John Mearsheimer (U of Chicago) and Dr. Stephen Walt ( Harvard U) c. 2007
It received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly and was widely discussed in mainstream media circles like NPR, NYT, WSJ, etc.
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#1. To: All (#0) (Edited)
Ooops, title should read "3" books not "2."
I checked with my public library and it only owned 1 out the 3 books.
So I submitted suggestions that the other 2 titles be purchased asap.
Then I had the light bulb idea that all 4 um members could do their bit to help educate their fellow Americans in the same fashion that I have.

scrapper2 posted on 2008-05-13 21:30:26 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#2. To: scrapper2 (#0)
do americans use public libraries anymore? ;)

christine posted on 2008-05-13 21:37:00 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#3. To: scrapper2 (#1)
The Paul book is a must read.
Sad he withdrew from an active campaign.

Cynicom posted on 2008-05-13 21:38:00 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#4. To: christine (#2)
Good point. Books are cheap. $30-40, which is LESS than you pay to fill up you gas tank, could buy you the 3 titles and you get to keep them.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
a vast rightwing conspirator posted on 2008-05-13 21:40:53 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#5. To: Cynicom (#3)
Sad he withdrew from an active campaign.

But his supporters carry on the good word.
What do the others have to inspire? Nada.

Peppa posted on 2008-05-13 21:48:21 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#6. To: Peppa (#5)
I will buy his book. Sometimes he is way to wordy when writing.

Cynicom posted on 2008-05-13 21:50:11 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#7. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#4)
Good point. Books are cheap. $30-40, which is LESS than you pay to fill up you gas tank, could buy you the 3 titles and you get to keep them.

You miss my point. Of course we can and have purchased these titles but the idea is to have the public library stock these titles for other people so they can be introduced to and educated on political issues with a different take/perspective they might normally not read or buy books on.

scrapper2 posted on 2008-05-13 21:54:04 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#8. To: scrapper2 (#7)
people so they can be introduced to and educated on political issues with a different take/perspective they might normally not read or buy books on.

They can get that for free on the net. If they cared to look... and they dont care.
But that is jmo. I'm just a tad cynical.
http://policestateusa.net/
PSUSA posted on 2008-05-13 21:57:35 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#9. To: Cynicom (#6)
I will buy his book. Sometimes he is way to wordy when writing.

Cyni,
It's possible to me, that RP's style, is to help people connect the dots, by providing as many as possible. It's not like public schooling has promoted history or critical thinking. Or Economics. Or, or or..
He presents a gift to future generations rather generously, imo.

Peppa posted on 2008-05-13 21:57:44 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#10. To: Peppa (#9)
The media will allow his book to go unnoticed.

Cynicom posted on 2008-05-13 21:59:06 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#11. To: scrapper2 (#7)
I understood your point - public libraries are biased toward PC, feminism and so forth. My point is that, these days, it's relatively easy to circumvent the government-financed institutions attempts to control what 'the consumers' think. I remember how, many years ago, when Rushdie's 'Satanic Verses' was released in the States, half of the bookstores were afraid to carry the book and I saw people buying it at Barnes and Noble asking to have it discretely wrapped. Today, it only takes a few mouse clicks and you can have Mein Kampf delivered to your doorstep. Look for Mein Kampf at the public library. I bet they don't carry that either. There are over one million titles of books IN PRINT in this country alone. If your public library carries 10,000 titles, it's barely 1% of what's available. The problem is not access to books but actual readers willing to read them.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
a vast rightwing conspirator posted on 2008-05-13 22:08:51 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#12. To: christine (#2)
When I googled public library use, what popped up first was a 2007 fact sheet released by the American Library Association. The statistics were pretty impressive - the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, is still an important institution for self-education in today's modern internet society:
www.ala.or g/ala/pressrele...007/april2007/salpr07.cfm
"New data on U.S. libraries shows almost two billion served: Predicted demise due to Internet fails to materialize" 04/16/08
(CHICAGO) Ten years after some experts predicted the demise of the nation's system of libraries as a result of the Internet explosion, the most current national data on library use shows that the exact opposite has happened. Data released today by the American Library Association (ALA) indicates that the number of visits to public libraries in the United States increased 61 percent between 1994 and 2004.
According to the 2007 State of America's Libraries report, 1.8 billion visitors checked out more than 2 billion items from U.S. libraries in fiscal year 2004. The study was released today by the ALA as the nation begins its observance of National Library Week, April 15-21. In the case of academic libraries, the number of visits exceeded more than one billion for the first time in 2004, up more than 14 percent in just the previous two years.
"Far from hurting American libraries, the Internet has actually helped to spur more people to use their local libraries because it has increased our hunger for knowledge and information," said Loriene Roy, president-elect of the American Library Association. According the ALA report, virtually every library in the United States - 99 percent - provides free public computer access to the Internet, a four-fold increase in the percentage of libraries providing such free access over the last decade. By comparison, Roy pointed to another study released in March showing that only 69 percent of U.S. households have Internet access.
But unlike the Internet, particularly when accessed at home, Roy said libraries still serve a unique function in providing those who seek knowledge and information with guidance from trained and educated professionals.
Even as libraries continue to evolve their services in response to changing needs and technologies, the report shows that people continue to go to their public library to read or check out a book in record numbers. Overall circulation at public libraries in the U.S. rose by 28 percent during the decade, partly driven by significant growth in circulation of children's materials, which grew by 44 percent. Attendance in library programs for children was also up 42 percent for this same period.
The 2007 State of America's Libraries reports that while use of libraries continues to increase and while the general public supports strong funding for libraries, many school library media centers are experiencing budget cuts resulting in staffing reductions, shortened hours, and even closures. The new federal requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act are cited most frequently as the reasons for these funding cuts.
"Our libraries are investments in our communities and in our future, with an incredibly high return on each dollar spent," said the ALA's Roy.
Roy pointed to the report's findings from studies in Florida and Ohio that provide a compelling case for the return on public investment in libraries. Every dollar of public support spent on Florida's public libraries produced an increase of $9.08 in gross regional product and an increase of $12.66 in total state wages. A similar study of nine public library systems in southwestern Ohio reported an annual economic impact nearly four times the amount invested in their operations. Other data in the report describes how public libraries build a community's capacity for economic activity and resiliency.
The report also highlights the library community's continued work in defense of the First Amendment against intrusive legislation, including the USA Patriot Act, and to refute challenges that would restrict the free flow of information and ideas to all adults and children.
The 2007 State of America's Libraries also follows up on last year's report, which described the library community's response to Hurricane Katrina. Since its creation, the ALA's Hurricane Katrina Library Relief Fund has raised more than $500,000 in donations, which has been distributed to libraries by ALA chapters in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. By August 2006, 62 percent of the libraries in metropolitan New Orleans that were open before Katrina had reopened their doors.

scrapper2 posted on 2008-05-13 22:09:16 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#13. To: Cynicom (#10)
The media will allow his book to go unnoticed.

Badge of honor right there.

Peppa posted on 2008-05-13 22:19:25 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#14. To: christine (#2)
Our local public library, aside from books, has thousands of free divds and videos to watch. documentaries of all sorts, including one i found about vote rigging produced by G Edward Griffin, (forget the title at the moment). they also have Randy Weavers book on ruby ridge. and a lot of other good stuff. the library is often busy. so that is cool.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist."
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him"
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
Artisan posted on 2008-05-13 22:21:50 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#15. To: scrapper2, christine (#0)
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll ask the local libraries to get these 3. I have not heard of the 2nd one,

2. "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" ( Trade Paperback) By Dr. Ilan Pappe c. 2007

Speaking of which are you familiar with this song? it's based on a poem written by a Palestinian. I first heard it from a palestinean woman I know on myspace. She has a very interesting perspective.
OUTLANDISH- LOOK INTO MY EYES

http://aischaraeha.wordpress.com/2008/04/19/look-into-my-eyes/
One of the most moving songs we have heard in a while. Kudos to Outlandish for their music with meaning!
The song’s lyrics are based on a poem by Gihad Ali, a Palestinian who wrote the piece when she was a teenager; the poem expresses the plight of those suffering from America’s foreign policy with regards to Israel and Palestine.
I mean…wow! I wish I could write something as powerful as this!
Look into my eyes Tell me what you see You don’t see a damn thing ’cause you can’t relate to me You’re blinded by our differences My life makes no sense to you I’m the persecuted one You’re the red, white and blue
Each day you wake in tranquility No fears to cross your eyes Each day I wake in gratitude Thanking God He let me rise You worry about your education And the bills you have to pay I worry about my vulnerable life And if I’ll survive another day Your biggest fear is getting a ticket As you cruise your Cadillac My fear is that the tank that has just left Will turn around and come back
Yet, do you know the truth of where your money goes? Do you let your media deceive your mind? Is this a truth nobody, nobody, nobody knows Has our world gone all blind?
Do you know the truth of where your money goes? Do you let your media deceive your mind? Is this a truth nobody, nobody, nobody knows? Someone tell me…
Ooohh, let’s not cry tonight I promise you one day it’s through Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters Ooohh, shine a light for every soul that ain’t with us no more Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters
See I’ve known terror for quite some time 57 years so cruel Terror breathes the air I breathe It’s the checkpoint on my way to school Terror is the robbery of my land And the torture of my mother The imprisonment of my innocent father The bullet in my baby brother The bulldozers and the tanks The gases and the guns The bombs that fall outside my door All due to your funds You blame me for defending myself Against the ways of my enemies I’m terrorized in my own land But am I the terrorist?
Yet, do you know the truth of where your money goes? Do you let your media deceive your mind? Is this a truth nobody, nobody, nobody knows Has our world gone all blind?
Do you know the truth of where your money goes? Do you let your media deceive your mind? Is this a truth nobody, nobody, nobody knows? Someone tell me…
Ooohh, let’s not cry tonight, I promise you one day it’s through Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters, Ooohh, shine a light for every soul that ain’t with us no more Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters,
America, do you realize that the taxes that you pay Feed the forces that traumatize my every living day So if I won’t be here tomorrow It’s written in my fate May the future bring a brighter day The end of our wait
Ooohh, let’s not cry tonight, I promise you one day it’s through Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters, Ooohh, shine a light for every soul that ain’t with us no more Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters,
Ohh let’s not cry tonight I promise you one day is through Ohh my brothers! Ohh my sisters! Ooh shine a light for every Soul that ain’t with us no more Ohh my brothers! Ohh my sisters!
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist."
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him"
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
Artisan posted on 2008-05-13 22:29:42 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#16. To: Artisan (#15)
no, i hadn't heard that song. thanks for bringing it to my attention. it's got a nice tempo and great lyrics.

christine posted on 2008-05-13 22:36:55 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#17. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#11) (Edited)
I understood your point - public libraries are biased toward PC, feminism and so forth...Look for Mein Kampf at the public library. I bet they don't carry that either...The problem is not access to books but actual readers willing to read them.

As a taxpayer you have every right to request/to insist that a) books receiving favorable reviews or media discussion and of interest to the general reader or b) titles that are classics like Mein Kampf by Hitler or Capital ( English translated title of Das Kapital) by Marx be purchased by your public library to provide balance to the collection. I have done this with my local library on occasion and the books were ordered accordingly.
Actually I just checked if my local library owned Mein Kempf and Capital and it owned both titles.
As for what public libraries stock, of course they can't order every book in print. But they are required to stock a representative and balanced collection of materials on all Dewey subjects. Public libraries were established to help the individual self-improve, self-educate. My public library has a mission statement to that effect, I believe.
I think you need to separate what the American Library Association is ( yet another PC bloated organization ) from what your public library provides to its community. With a few suggestions now and then, my public library does just fine.

scrapper2 posted on 2008-05-13 22:37:24 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#18. To: scrapper2 (#0) (Edited)
Yes, my local library has these (www.russelllibrary.org) It does not own Mien Kampf nor Das Kapital, although I did buy these books from the local bookstore that caters to the local college (Wesleyan University).

rack42 posted on 2008-05-13 22:40:13 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#19. To: scrapper2 (#17)
I am glad to hear that the public libraries continue to be good institutions. I must admit that I haven't visited one in 5 years, mainly because the closest is more than 20 miles from where we live so it's much more convenient to order what I want to read.
Antiparty - find out why, think about 'how'
a vast rightwing conspirator posted on 2008-05-13 22:46:18 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#20. To: Artisan, christine, a vast rightwing conspirator, rack42, Peppa, Cynicom, PSUSA (#15)
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll ask the local libraries to get these 3. I have not heard of the 2nd one,
"The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" ( Trade Paperback) By Dr. Ilan Pappe c. 2007
Speaking of which are you familiar with this song? it's based on a poem written by a Palestinian. I first heard it from a palestinean woman I know on myspace. She has a very interesting perspective.

a. Here's a link to where the title by Pappe first came to my attention - in the blog of a Jewish journalist named, Philip Weiss, whose career at the New York Observer was destroyed when he became too critical of AIPAC.
I check Philip Weiss's blog each day - he addresses "sensitive" subjects with honesty and courage and he supports his articles with embedded links to other sources, which are highly educational in nature.
Here's where he addresses the subject of Nabka and where he mention's Pappe's book along with another title by a Professor at Columbia U entitled "Nabka". That second title sounded very good too but it might be considered "too specialized" for a public library. Fyi, Professor Pappe was forced to leave his position at Haifa U, Israel due to threats against him and his family - he now is a professor in the UK.
www.philipweiss.org/mondo...8/05/on-the-columbia.html
"Israel Could Transform Its Future, and Image, by Recognizing 'Nakba' Right Now"
Also I have included a link for your perusal where he discusses the subject of Nabka and includes references to Dr. Mearsheimer.
www.philipweiss.org/mondo...8/05/make-sure-you-r.html
""John Mearsheimer Eviscerates the 'Times' Review of '1948'" 05/04/08
b. Thank you for the link to the song by Outlandish and its lyrics. Very moving indeed.

scrapper2 posted on 2008-05-13 23:04:14 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#21. To: scrapper2 (#0)
"The Israel Lobby" ( Hardcover) By Dr. John Mearsheimer (U of Chicago) and Dr. Stephen Walt ( Harvard U) c. 2007

Most excellent thought and I will see to it that the El Paso Colorado PL does have these or explain to me why not.

BIGBUCKS_BADEYE posted on 2008-05-13 23:06:39 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#22. To: scrapper2 (#20)
Fyi, Professor Pappe was forced to leave his position at Haifa U, Israel due to threats against him and his family - he now is a professor in the UK.

Interesting, if they ran him out of the country it must be a worthwhile book.
the last book I read was Michael Badnarik's GOOD TO BE KING.
MY REPLY TO ZEITGEIST: 1John Chapter 2: "21 I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth. 22 Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist."
"I don't know where Bin Laden is. I truly am not that concerned about him"
George W, Bush, 3/13/02 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020313-8.html
Artisan posted on 2008-05-13 23:07:38 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#23. To: scrapper2 (#20)
Wow Scrapper.. Thank you so much for the info!!

Peppa posted on 2008-05-13 23:19:17 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#24. To: Cynicom, Peppa (#10)
The media will allow his book to go unnoticed.

Of course all Presidential Candidates "write a book"; I would be willing to bet that Ron Paul is the only one who wrote his book.
"The difference between an honorable man and a moral man is that an honorable man regrets a discreditable act even when it has worked and he is in no danger of being caught." ~ H. L. Mencken
Original_Intent posted on 2008-05-14 2:34:32 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
#25. To: Original_Intent (#24)
Of course all Presidential Candidates "write a book"; I would be willing to bet that Ron Paul is the only one who wrote his book.

You are so right-o!!!!!

Peppa posted on 2008-05-14 10:19:25 ET Reply Trace Private Reply
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