3rd Quarter SSR

This past quarter I read the book Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen. Its main focus was to point out the faults and inaccuracies within American textbooks that the author believes is designed to reinforce common myths told to the American public. The topics that are discussed within the book range from the fictional myth of Columbus first "discovering" America to more modern topics such as the flaws of the war in Iraq and the Middle East in general that remain relatively undiscussed. The Preface of the newest edition talks about the rise of alternative fact to the American Political scene and how they have negatively impacted the news scene. Loewen discusses how the rise of these alternative facts has not only spread lies to the American public but actual networks that do dispense the truth are now being overshadowed by the conspiracy theorists and Trump aides who only seek to further their own agenda by dispensing these falsehoods. By continually updating and revising his novel Loewen continues to make the novel relevant with the ever-changing political landscape. However, the content that remains relatively unchanged from the first edition revolving around the original Americans lies such as those about the Pilgrims and Columbus are still very much as relevant today as they were thirty years ago because American History textbooks still continue to subvert the truth by teaching the American children lies. That's why I believe even 100 years from now Lies My Teacher Told Me will still be read.