Study Time begins in America ... invitation to form a study group

It's Sunday morning and gratefully being retired (and Being Rewired), I have made time to "study" the layers within national and world events now for 7 months.  

This is more time on task than I required to study 67 textbooks from three fields (education, psychology, and research methods). Back in 1974-76,  such preparation was deemed necessary before submitting to doctoral level "preliminary or qualifying" exams (intense all day written and oral cross-examination sessions over a three day period).  This is how the University determines if a coursework-completed graduate student demonstrates the necessary and  sufficient thinking skills, knowledge and know-how, as well as ethics to conduct and publish original research. 

So, I sent a document I assembled to the people I care about -including bits of politically relevant research ... very basic in fact ...terms and concepts for starters. All sources were provided so that each person can cross check at home.  Everyone was encouraged to open the attachment and "read at your convenience." This format prevented anyone from opening a document if s/he had no interest.

I will list the terms and websites below in this blogspot so you also can directly inform yourself at your convenience.

1. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary...look up Capitalism, Communism, Marxism, Socialism
2. www.marxist.org:  What is dialectic materialism?
3. www.mltoday.org: How does Marxism-Leninism play out in today's issues?
4. www.allaboutphilosophy.org: Does sociological thinking mattershow up in political policies and rhetoric? Does politics matter for you and those you care for in the schools and marketplace politically?

  I encourage you to connect the dots for yourself.  Use your acquired lens to practice decoding "news" presentations according to each particular network's political orientation.  Notice how networks vary considerably in both the "news" they will  cover and the issues they omit.  Notice tendencies to predigest the issues for you vs report facts and let you seek/ listen further to position statements and debates about the meaning of those facts.

I implore you, as we have learned to avoid the dangers infused in additive-laden "manufactured" foods, please avoid listening to predigested and particularly-sculpted media presentations about big issue information on our plates in America.  Instead, activate your own inference skills (highest level reading skill) to inform yourself, talk among family and friends, and read between media's lines at the very basic political-principles conversation staring back at us from our table in America. 

For anyone tempted into lower level thoughts of racism, I refer you to Daneen Boreli's best-seller: Blacklash (2011).  She is a highly studied and articulate African American citizen, political analyst, and writer.  Her book is available on Amazon via kindle, hardback, and paperback.

Hmmm...

If you don't yet have such political interest, this format spares you exposure to these very basic elements of current political research.

If you'd like to have a public forum for further discourse, dialogue, commenting ... please particpate in this  blog and consider Being Rewired.