[Fuusm-l] Todays Issues Discussion on Sunday, July 4, 2021

[Ted Goertzel]

The Today's issues group meets in the parlor of the Religious Education
building next to the church at 9:30 on Sunday mornings, ending in time to
attend services at 11.

This Sunday, in keeping with the July 4 holiday,  we will be discussing a
new book, America: The Last Best Hope
<https://www.amazon.com/America-Last-William-J-Bennett/dp/1400212847/ref=asc_df_1400212847/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385709385794&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11207348429598273901&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9054228&hvtargid=pla-832805604930&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=77500929054&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385709385794&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11207348429598273901&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9054228&hvtargid=pla-832805604930>
by George Packer that sorts Americans into followers of four narrative
groups:

●Free America, economic conservatives and religious traditionalists whose
organizing principle is a leave-us-alone, “Don’t Tread on Me” conception of
liberty.

●Real America, an assemblage of white Christian nationalists for whom the
principle of moral equality has curdled into resentment against experts and
bureaucrats.

●Smart America, the winners of the new economy’s meritocratic competition
for wealth and status.

●Just America, the home of identity politics with race at its core.


This photo, which I snapped this morning in Watertown, reflects the Real
America narrative that is so widespread around here.

 UU's may be more inclined to the Just America narrative which Packer
critiques or to the Smart America narrative.  Where do you fit?
[image: image.png]

For reading, there is a short Review of Packer's Book in the Washington Pos
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q80b6wKExbRzOQez5JOOMh3OyqtjBFDyY_k5f0RBBVg/edit?usp=sharing>t.
If you want more, there is a longer excerpt in The Atlantic
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uJDp5OCLGO332XS5IG-Hz6iZ966n9hAmDkFU3TXCfao/edit?usp=sharing>.
If you get The Atlantic it is in the  July issue.

Our second article, "Reality Rebellion
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1viizk9Kwpg3VEpRxqBqY-ZJMLU1Rr3hQlmiErMWCKoQ/edit?usp=sharing>"
by Mark Danner discusses how by doubling down on Trump’s Big Lie that the
election was stolen, Republicans are making their base angrier, more
radical, and more likely to turn to violence. In Packer's terms, the
Republicans are appealing to the Free America and Real America narratives.
The article is from the July 1 issue of the New York Review of Books.

Copies of the readings are attached.  Please read as much as interests you
and join us on Sunday.
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