If America Fails?

Read “I Am The Oil Of The Engine Of The World” by Jared Yates Sexton

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG #IAmTheOilOfTheEngineOfTheWorld by @jysexton & @SplitLipPress is a work of fiction that may have inspired Jared to change genres. Let’s ask! Prof. Jared Yates Sexton is live on Thurs., Jan. 13 at 8 pm ET, w/ “If America Fails?” on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, for our discussion on democracy in The Handmaid’s Tale & threats in current American culture.

Another work of fiction by Prof. Jared Yates Sexton is the 2016 publication of I Am The Oil Of The Engine Of The World. After this book, Sexton turns his talents to production of non-fiction, and I wonder if there’s a connection. Focusing here on the “American Disease” may have led the author to wanting to tackle our problems more forthrightly. I wonder. That certainly seems to be the nature of his most current works.

When Jared gets here, there are a few things I’d like to talk to him about, like:

How does he see the power of fiction to inform our consciousness of the real world?

How effective does he think The Handmaid’s Tale is at alerting us to real world threats, especially since the book was written so long ago?

What does he see as the “American Disease” and does he see a cure?

Is fiction an effective motivator of political resistance?

You can join in the fun. Let me know what questions you have for Jared Yates Sexton.

— LMO

WATCH Prof. Jared Yates Sexton, Associate Professor, Writing and Linguistics, Georgia Southern University-Statesboro – LIVE – Thursday, January 13, 2022, 8 pm ET, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, when he joins the PREMIERE of “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” in discussion on democracy as seen in The Handmaid’s Tale and threats to America’s system.

“Narcissism. Sexism. Consumerism and technological fetishism. The cult of media and the rot of war. In his third collection of stories, Jared Yates Sexton turns his eye to the ravages of the American Disease with twenty-five of his wildest and most experimental pieces. Told in raving mad prose fit for these savage times, Sexton skewers every sacred cow in an attempt to diagnose the sickness of Now.” — Publisher

“Jared Yates Sexton has written a collection of stories that is of its time. It paints contemporary America as a flawed society, one beset by the lack of free will, intelligence, and a respect for the self, the environment, and culture at large. I Am the Oil of the Engine of the World succeeds not only because its author challenges his own aesthetics but because the book dares to examine the maladies of this contemporary era with honesty and a bit of humor; the results are, at times, unsettling but always exceptional.” — Brian Seeman, Necessary Fiction

Jared Yates Sexton is the author of three nonfiction books – The People Are Going To Rise Like The Waters Upon Your Shore: A Story of American Rage, The Man They Wanted Me to Be: Toxic Masculinity and a Crisis of Our Making, and American Rule: How A Nation Conquered the World But Failed Its People – as well as four works of fiction. He co-hosts The Muckrake Political Podcast with Nick Hauselnan, has a newsletter on Substack, live streams from YouTube, and is Associate Professor of Writing and Linguistics at Georgia Southern University-Statesboro. Sexton has gone undercover into the fascist world and documented the 2016 Presidential Election, gaining himself a national profile after a tweet on the campaign went viral. His political writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The New Republic, Politico, and Salon.com, and he is a strong voice warning Americans on threats to democracy. He is now working on a new book. — If America Fails: The Coming Tyranny, a TruthWorks Network Production

CONTACT US “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny” for access to the Zoom chatroom—L. Michelle Odom, Senior Producer
LMOdom@OurCommonGround.com or TWN@TruthWorksNetwork.com
Watch Thursdays, 8 pm ET, January 13 to April 7, 2022, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube Channel. All Are Welcome!

Read “Blinded by the Whites: Why Race Still Matters in 21st-Century America,” by David Ikard

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG #BlindedByTheWhitesWhyRaceStillMattersIn21st-CenturyAmerica is a book by @blkeducator & @IUPress. Dr. David H. Ikard is live on Thurs., Jan. 13 at 8 pm ET, w/ “If America Fails?” on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, for our discussion on democracy in The Handmaid’s Tale & threats in current American culture.

One of the books published by IAF expert guest panelist – Dr. David Ikard – is Blinded by the Whites: Why Race Still Matters in 21st-Century America. Does the book description below evoke any questions in you, you’d like us to chat about with Dr. Ikard? Let us know! — LMO

WATCH Dr. David H. Ikard, Professor and Chair, African-American and Diaspora Studies, Vanderbilt University– LIVE – Thursday, January 13, 2022, 8 pm ET, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, when he joins the PREMIERE of “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” in discussion on democracy as seen in The Handmaid’s Tale and threats to America’s system.

“The election of Barack Obama gave political currency to the (white) idea that Americans now live in a post-racial society. But the persistence of racial profiling, economic inequality between blacks and whites, disproportionate numbers of black prisoners, and disparities in health and access to healthcare suggest there is more to the story. David H. Ikard addresses these issues in an effort to give voice to the challenges faced by most African Americans and to make legible the shifting discourse of white supremacist ideology―including post-racialism and colorblind politics―that frustrates black self-determination, agency, and empowerment in the 21st century. Ikard tackles these concerns from various perspectives, chief among them black feminism. He argues that all oppressions (of race, gender, class, sexual orientation) intersect and must be confronted to upset the status quo.” — Publisher

“Professor Ikard is Professor of African American and Diaspora Studies. His research and teaching interests include African American Literature, black feminist criticism, hip hop culture, black masculinity and whiteness studies. He is the author/co-author of four books, including Breaking The Silence: Toward a Black Male Feminist Criticism (2007), Nation of Cowards: Black Activism in Barack Obama’s Post-Racial America (2012), co-authored with Martell Teasley and winner of the Best Scholarly Book Award by DISA in 2013, Blinded by the Whites: Why Race Still Matters in 21st-Century America (2013), and Lovable Racists, Magical Negroes, and White Messiahs (2017). His essays have appeared in African American Review, MELUS, Palimpsest, African and Black Diaspora Journal, The Journal of Black Studies, and Obsidian III.” — Vanderbilt University

David Ikard also has a passion for creating Black art. Inspired largely by the motherland – Africa – and using acrylics, oils, wood, cloth, and archival paper for mixed media, Ikard focuses on creating images that have “something to do with black folks, social justice, self-determination, nature, and the rawness of our collective humanity.” You may see his artwork online at the Ikard Gallery. — If America Fails: The Coming Tyranny, a TruthWorks Network Production

READ | Blinded by the Whites: Why Race Still Matters in 21st-Century America | by David Ikard | Indiana University Press | 10/28/2013

Dr. Cynthia Ann Baron’s Bio Added to IAF Guest Book

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG A bio of #CynthiaAnnBaron is now live in the IAF Guest Book. It’s a start on getting to know this honored expert guest panelist. Dr. Cynthia Ann Baron is live on Thurs., Jan. 20 at 8 pm ET, w/ “If America Fails?” on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, for our discussion on cults, cultures & religion in The Handmaid’s Tale & other films.

We’ve added a biography on Dr. Cynthia Ann Baron to the “If America Fails?” Guest Book. Check it out! — LMO

WATCH Dr. Cynthia Ann Baron, Associate Professor, Theatre and Film, Bowling Green State University – LIVE – Thursday, January 20, 2022, 8 pm ET, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, when she joins “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” in discussion on Cults, Cultures and Religions in The Handmaid’s Tale, modern American culture and film.

Dr. Cynthia Ann Baron is an Associate Professor in Theatre and Film at Bowling Green State University, where she researches and teaches; authors scholarly books and articles on subjects related to the discipline; and provides keynote speeches and other presentations at conferences both domestically and internationally. Her research and teaching interests include American Independent Cinema; Screenwriting; Taste Formation; Censorship; Food Studies; Women’s Cinema; and Actor Training, Stardom, and Screen Performance, among other subjects. She has taught courses on intersections between the film-media industry, national security, and cultural moments such as the Cold War and the Vietnam era. Some other courses Dr. Baron teaches are American Independent Cinema; Hollywood, Censorship, and American Culture; and Performance and Theatre in the Americas.

Most recently, she published Acting Indie: Industry, Aesthetics, and Performance (with Yannis Tzioumakis), (2020), which illustrates the many ways that actors contribute to American independent cinema and analyzes industrial developments; Modern Acting: The Lost Chapter of American Film and Theatre (2016), which, in part, highlights women’s key contributions to American film and theatre; and Denzel Washington (2015) where Baron traces the star’s persona and impact on mainstream society. Current book projects include: Recasting (White) Genres: Race, Ethnicity, and Performance in Contemporary Film and Television; Intersecting Aesthetics: Literary Adaptations and Cinematic Representations of Blackness, with co-editor Charlene Regester; and Imprisonment: Representation in Global Film and Media, with co-editor Karen Ritzenhoff. She is co-chair of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies Caucus on Class and has participated in events such as the Rethinking Realist Acting Conference in New York, and the Acting in Film Conference in Potsdam. — If America Fails: The Coming Tyranny, a TruthWorks Network Production

SEE | Dr. Cynthia Ann Baron’s Bio at IAF Guest Book | “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny” | 1/10/2022

Let’s Get Better at Seeing, Articulating, and Executing the Global Majority’s Vision: Steve Paxton & THIS IS REVOLUTION Podcast Lead the Way

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG @Steve__Paxton, author #UnlearningMarx & #HowCapitalismEnds w/ @Zer0Books, contributes ideas on imagining better societies on @TIRShowOakland w/ @probert06 & @LaFinAbsolute. Join Thurs., 8 pm ET, 1/13 – 4/7/22, “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny.”

We know what’s wrong with our society. We don’t always have a clear idea on what would be better or how to get there. Steve Paxton, author of Unlearning Marx and the forthcoming How Capitalism Ends, shares some ideas on making the transition to a better world, in this appearance on the THIS IS REVOLUTION podcast. Panelists discuss ideas and challenges related to healthcare, housing, education and employment, considering effective models from places like Finland and Japan.

The Handmaid’s Tale offers a view of how things can go wrong for a majority of people when a minority succeeds at imposing their will on the larger population. Fred, Serena and the other

“Sons of Jacob,” may have been legitimately trying to address social problems, like a contaminated environment. They may have even believed a strict social caste system under theocratic rule was the best way to promote a healthy and functional social climate. OK, OK, LOL 🙂 Whatever they believed, their vision left out the needs and views of many other people who have an equal right to existence.

So how does the majority get better at seeing, articulating, and executing its will?

Listen to the podcast linked below, gather some ideas, and let’s chat! — LMO

“For many on the political right, the collapse of the Soviet Union has been posited as evidence that Marx was ‘wrong’ and that Marxism ought to be consigned to the ‘dustbin of history’. To many in the capitalist west, this argumentation makes intuitive sense, given the intimate association between the Soviet experiment and Marxism. However, Steve Paxton has a different argument. In his new book, Unlearning Marx, he makes the counter-intuitive case that the history of Russia and the USSR is, in fact, a vindication of Marxian theories of historical development. How does Paxton’s reframing of Soviet history build on Marxist theory? What does this mean for our understanding of the Soviet experiment? And what does this mean for Marxism today?…

“In addition to an academic career culminating in doctoral research with GA Cohen at Oxford, Steve Paxton has worked on building sites and in betting shops, been a PHP programmer and a T-shirt designer, been employed, self-employed and unemployed, blue-collar, white-collar and no-collar. He was a contributor to The Communist Manifesto: New Interpretations as well as the author of Unlearning Marx and the forthcoming How Capitalism Ends, both from Zer0 books.”

— THIS IS REVOLUTION

WATCH From 1:35:00 | Unlearning Marx w/ Steve Paxton | THIS IS REVOLUTION podcast | 10/16/2021

“A Sordid Family Affair” – The Boston Globe Looks at Nepotism in the Presidency

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG Nepotism in the U.S. presidency is considered by @BostonGlobe & what #Congress must do to protect Americans from a repeat of abuses seen in the Trump admin. See Part 3 of “Future-Proofing the Presidency.” Join Thurs., 8 pm ET, 1/13 – 4/7/22, “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny.”

“Nepotism is a defining characteristic of monarchies — a system of government the Founders specifically wanted to expel from the United States. So it’s time for Congress to stop, even on occasion, letting the president be king,” conclude the Editors of The Boston Globe in closing Part 3 of their series, “Future-Proofing the Presidency.”

Consider a few quotes from the editorial or check it out at their website with the link below. — LMO

“Quickly after he was elected. . .it became clear that Trump planned on running the government the same way he ran his business: Hire his family to top positions and flood the White House with loyalists. The result was corruption, incompetence, and what clearly did not come close to meeting the bar of ‘best’ or ‘most serious.’

“These appointments were troublesome for several reasons. First, neither Kushner nor Ivanka Trump had prior qualifications for the work they were assigned, meaning that their appointments were made on the grounds that they had a close relationship with the president. (That relationship would later allow them to get special treatment and give them the ability to flout certain ethics rules.) Second, though both Kushner and Ivanka waived their White House salaries, they still stood to profit from their role in the administration — expanding the Trump family’s use of the presidency as a for-profit operation. And third, such clear displays of nepotism by public officials are illegal — a law that technically applies to the president as well, but in which Trump managed to find loopholes.

“… Given that nepotism is an easy opportunity for public officials to turn their public office into a money-making enterprise — one that the Trump family clearly took advantage of — it’s important to crack down on it at every level of government. After all, nepotism is an act of self-enrichment in and of itself and a quintessential example of petty corruption that undoubtedly sows distrust in government.

“… Congress should pass a bill to make explicit that the president cannot appoint a relative to any official government post, even if they forgo a salary.

“… it’s clear that anti-nepotism laws should have stricter penalties…

“…if nepotism is not seriously addressed, then Trump’s presidency would only serve as a blueprint for other corrupt business families to run for office to expand their wealth in the future.” — The Boston Globe

READ | Part 3 – A sordid family affair of “Future-Proofing the Presidency” | The Editorial Board, The Boston Globe, June, 2021 | 6/1/2021

See Dr. James C. McIntosh’s Bio & Listen to His WBAI Radio Show – “MIND FIELD”

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG See bio of @DrJamesCMcInto1 & listen to his @WBAI radio show, #MindField, he co-hosts w/ #RichardeaneaTheodore. James McIntosh, M.D. is live on Thurs., Feb. 3 at 8 pm ET, w/ “If America Fails?” on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, for our discussion on mental health issues in The Handmaid’s Tale.

As we journey together into the life, works and mind of James C. McIntosh, M.D., a good place to start is with his page on WBAI 99.5 FM. There you will find his biography, offering an overview of his works and accomplishments, as well as links to his weekly program – MIND FIELD – airing Wednesdays at 2:30 pm ET, that he produces and co-hosts with Richardeanea Theodore, RN. Together they focus on mental health issues and interview thought leaders on critical issues impacting the community. Some recent shows include:

Awaken Your Child’s Mathematical Mind
A Music Interview with Kwabena Sadiki Jijaga Rasouli
Interview with Dr. Henry McCurtis

Take a listen! — LMO

WATCH Dr. James C. McIntosh, Retired Psychiatrist, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Committee to End Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP), and Host, MIND FIELD (WBAI radio show) – LIVE – Thursday, February 3, 2022, 8 pm ET, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, when he joins “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” in discussion on Mental Health issues in The Handmaid’s Tale and American culture.

Dr. James C. McIntosh, is a retired Psychiatrist who spent over 40 years practicing medicine in the five boroughs of New York City, a writer, community activist, educator, public speaker and talk radio host. His publications include The Unauthorized Psychoanalysis of Donald Trump (2017) and The Unauthorized Psychoanalysis of Rudolph Giuliani (2007), where James C. McIntosh, M.D. takes an insightful and irreverent view of these two public figures. For decades Dr. McIntosh has tended to the mental health and educational needs of the Black community as Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Committee to End Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP) and former Chairman of the Board for the Education of People of African Ancestry (BEPAA). These two community-based organizations, bring together some of the most distinguished leaders in the Black community to offer no-cost forums, panels, conferences and other events of relevance to the emotional, psychological, spiritual, and educational needs of Black America. Dr. McIntosh appears frequently in the media and has received numerous awards for his distinguished community service. Most recently, this busy retiree has begun hosting and producing MIND FIELD, a weekly program airing Wednesdays at 2:30 pm on WBAI 99.5 FM, where he shares the mic with Richardeanea Theodore, RN. Together they focus on mental health issues and interview thought leaders on critical issues impacting the community. Dr. McIntosh completed undergraduate work in Black and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, and medical school at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. — If America Fails: The Coming Tyranny, a TruthWorks Network Production

SEE & LISTEN to | Dr. James C. McIntosh’s Bio & WBAI Radio Show – “MIND FIELD” | Retired Psychiatrist, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Committee to End Media Offensive to African People (CEMOTAP), and Host, MIND FIELD
The WBAI link has archives of all episodes, but does not include show titles.
The MIND FIELD WBAI Unauthorized Psychoanalysis page at SoundCloud has some episodes with show titles.
The MIND FIELD page at Facebook includes links to download episodes, as well as show titles and announcements.

Reading Frank Schaeffer’s Blog is Like Sharing Morning Coffee with Him While Watching the News

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG The blog by @Frank_Schaeffer is like following a trail toward life-giving ideas on what matters most today. Nourish your selves! Frank is live on Thurs., Jan. 27 at 8 pm ET, w/ “If America Fails?” on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, for our discussion on gender issues in The Handmaid’s Tale.

What we feed our minds is as important as what we feed our bodies – especially when you consider what it takes to create a world where life can thrive. If we ingest poison, we either find a way to get it out of our bodies, or stand back and wait for it to kill us. This is the struggle I see Frank Schaeffer waging – the struggle for life – a struggle we all must wage in one form or another. Frank was born into an environment that poisoned his soul with toxic ideas that made it challenging for him to see a path toward life. That’s my interpretation. Yet we all are born into a toxic world, a nasty soup, if you will, that includes many tasty, life-giving ingredients, but is also tainted with many things that can kill us. The privilege of growing old is granted to those who effectively learn to avoid as much of the bad stuff as they can – and to choose as much of the good stuff as they can find.

So following Frank Schaeffer’s blog, is like following a trail of breadcrumbs he has left, leading us to the good stuff – the issues and ideas he has found that offer us a chance of sustaining life. Frank shares a lot of articles he’s seen around the web that keep us focused on the politics of the moment – and clear about the choices we are making today that will have consequences in our tomorrows. A few recent articles he shared, for example, are:

Via The Guardian: I’m A Climate Scientist. Don’t Look Up Captures the Madness I See Every Day

Via Washington Post: Opinion: Most Evangelical Objections to Vaccines Have Nothing To Do With Christianity.

Via The Atlantic: The Gospel of Donald Trump, Jr.

Via Washington Post: Opinion: The Media Treats Biden As Badly As – Or Worse Than – Trump. Here’s Proof.

Via Jill Filipovic: What’s Next For Abortion Rights In America?

They are scary topics, I know – but filled with choices we must make, both individually and collectively, that will either support life. . .or take it away – climate change, vaccines, the Trumps, the presidency, a woman’s right to choose.

Following Frank’s blog is like having a cup of coffee and reading the morning news with him. There’s a seat at the table for you. — LMO

WATCH Mr. Frank Schaeffer, Artist, Filmmaker & Author, Fall in Love, Have Children, Stay Put, Save the Planet, Be Happy – LIVE – Thursday, January 27, 2022, 8 pm ET, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, when he joins “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” in discussion on Gender in The Handmaid’s Tale and American culture.

“Frank Schaeffer is a New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen books. Frank is a survivor of both polio and an evangelical/fundamentalist childhood, an acclaimed writer who overcame severe dyslexia, a home-schooled and self-taught documentary movie director, a feature film director of four low budget Hollywood features Frank has described as ‘pretty terrible.’ He is also an acclaimed author of fiction and nonfiction and an artist with a loyal following of international collectors who own many of his paintings.

“Frank has been a frequent guest on the Rachel Maddow Show on NBC, has appeared on Oprah, been interviewed by Terri Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air and appeared on the Today Show, BBC News and many other media outlets. He is a much sought after speaker and has lectured at a wide range of venues from Harvard’s Kennedy School to the Hammer Museum/UCLA, Princeton University, Riverside Church Cathedral, DePaul University and the Kansas City Public Library.” — FrankSchaeffer.com

SEE | Frank Schaeffer Blog | by Frank Schaeffer

Read “Religion and Authoritarianism: A Match Made in Heaven,” by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Lucid

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG The relationship between religion and strongmen is examined by @ruthbenghiat in this article from her Lucid blog on Substack. Join Thurs., 8 pm ET, 1/13 – 4/7/22, “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny.”

Excerpts from a Substack article by Ruth Ben-Ghiat are below. I wonder how any kind of religious affiliation could confer legitimacy on “the former guy.” What kind of religion is it? — LMO

“The story repeats over a century. A corrupt and violent leader seeks an alliance with religious institutions. He’s already won over financial and other elites, and has a devoted core of grassroots followers, but he needs the kind of moral legitimacy that religious arbiters, many with their own large followings, can provide. Rich rewards await religious institutions that answer the strongman’s call.

“… Yet not every faith tradition is suitable for serving strongman purposes. The decline or demise of democracy can be paralleled by a realignment of power in the religious realm. Faith traditions with their own authoritarian cultures prosper, while progressive ones are sidelined or suppressed.

“We’re seeing this in our own day as we live through the spread of militantly intolerant brands of Christianity that partner with right-wing authoritarians around the world.

Mussolini created the template. His persecution of the Italian left had gained him the support of political, business, and agricultural elites. Yet he couldn’t wield full power without the aid of the Vatican. And both the Fascists and the Catholic Church needed to neutralize another threat: a progressive Christian movement, embodied in the fast-growing Popular Party, which was led by the revered priest Don Luigi Sturzo…

“Going forward, the Catholic Church often propped up right-wing authoritarianism, with the activities of the far-right sect Opus Dei a point of continuity. Opus Dei-linked technocrats oversaw economic policy under Francisco Franco (who only granted Protestants and Jews freedom of worship in 1966). They performed the same functions for Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, implementing his neoliberal ‘shock therapy’ measures. In Chile, Catholic business elites viewed wealth creation as a path to salvation –and learned to rationalize repression against leftists as necessary to the health of Christian civilization.” — Ruth Ben-Ghiat

READ | Religion and Authoritarianism: A Match Made in Heaven | by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Lucid | 11/2/2021

See “Book of Jeremiah: The Life and Ministry of Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.” by Susan Williams Smith

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG #BookOfJeremiah by @cassady2euca & @ThePilgrimPress address propaganda in @BarackObama campaign. Now we need her to counter current toxic narratives! Rev. Dr. Susan K. Williams Smith joins Thurs., 8 pm ET, 1/20, “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny.”

Allan Boesak writes Dr. Williams Smiths’ Book of Jeremiah: The Life and Ministry of Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., counters the propaganda against the subject with “honesty, integrity and love.”

How might the approaches of honesty, integrity and love help Americans today respond effectively to the onslaught of misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and lies coming from the conspiracy theorists and others determined to bring democracy to its knees?

Are there other strategies Dr. Williams Smith believes are necessary in our current toxic environment?

How is propaganda used in The Handmaid’s Tale?

Considering attacks on Critical Race Theory, for example, and the mere teaching of accurate history, does Dr. Williams Smith believe Americans are effectively countering the narratives playing out in schoolboard meetings across the land?

Let’s apply the pastor’s insight, gleaned during the highly politicized days of Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the presidency, to the current political climate. Let’s not fall for the hype…again!

“Under his eye.”

— LMO

Founded By Rev. Dr. Susan K. Williams Smith

WATCH Rev. Dr. Susan K. Williams Smith, Founder and Executive Director, Crazy Faith Ministries – LIVE – Thursday, January 20, 2022, 8 pm ET, on the TruthWorks Network YouTube channel, when she joins “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny,” in discussion on Cults, Cultures and Religions in The Handmaid’s Tale, and modern American culture.

Praise for The Book of Jeremiah:

“This book should be read and re-read by all. The hype and vile superficiality of political propaganda is now countered with honesty, integrity and love. Who can withstand that?

“Smith has done Jeremiah Wright proper justice, and has done all of us a great service. The church, and our people across the world are in her debt. Hers is a work of great intellectual depth, great faith and great passion. Our brother must feel honoured and deeply gratified. In essential ways, Smith has wrapped herself in prophetic truth and stormed the gates of hell. This book will help us all prevail.” — Allan Boesak, Desmond Tutu Chair of Peace, Global Justice and Reconciliation Studies at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis; and author of Radical Reconciliation: Beyond Political Pietism and Christian Quietism and The Tenderness of Conscience: African Renaissance and the Spirituality of Politics

“The Life of a Prophet

“Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. will forever be linked to the historical 2008 presidential campaign of then Senator Barack Obama. Although unwillingly thrust into the spotlight, the media attention could never overshadow Wright’s prophetic teachings, nor does it define his life and ministry.

“The Book of Jeremiah: The Life and Ministry of Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. examines the man, an African American, a patriot who served his country, a scholar, a prophet, and a pastor. The relevance of his ministry reaches far beyond his pastorate at Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago. Wright’s ministry has transcended to a global stage with a message of liberation and justice.

“Susan Williams Smith provides the most comprehensive picture of the Rev. Wright. Smith, a close confidante, sheds light on his upbringing, teaching and preaching influences, and the far reaching effects of his ministry on Barack Obama and the world.

“About the Author

“Susan Williams Smith is a prolific writer living in Ohio. She earned her M.Div. from Yale Divinity School and received her D. Min from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.” — Publisher

Works by Rev. Dr. Susan K. Williams Smith

Rev. Dr. Susan K. Williams Smith is an ordained minister, pastor, musician, writer, activist and mother of two, living in Columbus, OH, where she now serves as Founder and Executive Director of Crazy Faith Ministries. This is a non-traditional church with faith ministries providing outreach and services for homeless people; services for children of incarcerated parents; and voter education and registration, among other things. Pastor Williams Smith also leads Freedom Choir that sings songs of freedom at marches and events offering messages of social justice through music. She previously served for 22 years as pastor of Advent United Church of Christ, also in Columbus, and maintains an interest in the relationship between politics, religion, and race. A prolific writer and author of several books, Williams Smith began her career as a newspaper reporter in Baltimore. Her books include Crazy Faith: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives (2009), and most recently, With Liberty & Justice for Some: The Bible, the Constitution, and Racism in America (2020), Dr. Williams Smith also blogs at Candid Observations and has written for the Washington Post and Huffington Post. With a Doctorate in Ministry, she maintains leadership roles in many national and community organizations and religious networks. — If America Fails: The Coming Tyranny, a TruthWorks Network Production

READ | Book of Jeremiah: The Life and Ministry of Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. | by Susan Williams Smith | Pilgrim Press | January 2014

See “The Calvin Becker Trilogy,” a Collection of Fiction by Frank Schaeffer

@ASoulAFire @JaniceOCG The Calvin Becker Trilogy is a coming-of-age collection of fiction by @Frank_Schaeffer following a boy growing up in a fundamentalist family. Frank Schaeffer joins Thurs., 8 pm ET, 1/27, “If America Fails?: The Coming Tyranny.”

Frank Schaeffer has published ten non-fiction books and five novels, including two trilogies – one fiction and one non-fiction. The Calvin Becker Trilogy is a collection of some of Schaeffer’s works of fiction, and includes Portofino (1992), Saving Grandma (1997), and Zermatt (2003). The Calvin Becker Trilogy follows a teen-age boy growing up in a Bible-thumping family of fundamentalist missionaries.

The Waterfords, leading characters in The Handmaid’s Tale, offer a window to a family determined to spread their beliefs to others, and to remake society in their own image. What we don’t see much of in this Hulu TV show, is the impact of such proselytizing on the children – though we do have the character of Hannah Bankole (Jordana Blake) to consider.

What hope does America have of saving its democracy if her children are being indoctrinated in authoritarian ways?

What clues do we get about approaches to parenting that might help nurture and strengthen democracy?

Is thumping the Bible for democracy any different than thumping it for fascism or Jesus?

What anxieties do we have about teaching our children to think for themselves?

Let’s put these questions to Frank Schaeffer and draw on his extensive personal experience with such matters, in these trying times! — LMO

Portofino: A Novel, by Frank Schaeffer

Macmillan; Originally published (1992); Da Capo Press; Reprint edition (August 10, 2004)

“Calvin is the son of a missionary family, and their trip to Portofino is the highlight of his year. But even in the seductive Italian summer, the Beckers can’t really relax. Calvin’s father could slip into a Bad Mood and start hurling potted plants at any time. His mother has an embarrassing habit of trying to convert ‘pagans’ on the beach. And his sister Janet has a ski sweater and a miniature Bible in her luggage, just in case the Russians invade and send them to Siberia. His dad says everything is part of God’s plan. But this summer, Calvin has some plans of his own … Portofino is the prequel to the noted trilogy that includes Zermatt. A huge bestseller, Portofino has been translated into seven languages. Find Portofino on Amazon.” — The Publisher

Saving Grandma: A Novel, by Frank Schaeffer

Berkley (August 1, 1997)

“Calvin Becker’s family have survived and persisted as Bible-thumping missionaries; it’s their duty to spread the Word to everyone they meet. But now, having weathered a crisis precipitated by the godless Swiss, they face an even greater spiritual challenge right in their own home: Grandma. Foulmouthed, foul-tempered, and heathen through and through, she’s staying in the spare room, recuperating from a broken hip—and making it next to impossible for the Beckers to do the Lord’s work. Calvin’s pious mom is determined to save Grandma’s soul, even if she’s doing it through gritted teeth and deadly measures. His father’s spending more and more time in his room, blasting opera to drown out the old lady’s voice. And Calvin wishes things would just get back to normal so they can go on vacation and he can get close to the girl he loves. But then Calvin starts to understand Grandma a little better and appreciate her a little more. After all, misery loves company. Find Saving Grandma on Amazon.” — The Publisher

Zermatt: A Novel, by Frank Schaeffer

Carroll & Graf; 1st Carrol & Graf Ed edition (August 25, 2003)

“It is 1966, and Ralph and Elsa Becker, Reformed Presbyterian missionaries from Kansas, are stationed in Switzerland, and on a modest ski vacation with their three children: tyrannical eighteen-year-old Janet, angelic Rachael, and our narrator, the irrepressible Calvin, who puzzles over his sisters’ bras, as they hang on a line hidden away ‘so that I could not get a good look unless I ducked under the sheets … to the feminine heart of the laundry maze.’ But at the Hotel Riffelberg, high above Zermatt, Calvin falls into the hands of a waitress who, while bringing him his breakfast each morning, serially initiates him into ecstasies he can barely comprehend. The resulting family crisis triggers a larger crisis of faith in his fundamentalist father, leading to a climax, which rips Calvin out of his childhood. With echoes of Irving and Roth and its own uniquely human voice, Zermatt is a coming-of-age gem. Find Zermatt on Amazon.” — The Publisher

SEE | The Calvin Becker Trilogy: Fiction | by Frank Schaeffer

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