In Critical Reading of History, we decided to forgo the usual book discussion and discuss current events. I ended up arguing with two Republicans in class.
I would like some help in producing some documents to counter some of these points, and especially one of them said he would bring the documents to prove that Republicans are right.
Here are the highlights in the class.
Republican 1: the media is so liberal, it's unbelievable.
Teacher: I don't think the media leans left. Can you produce any documents that prove that the media is liberal?
R1: Yes I can produce some, I can bring some to prove it.
Me: I really disagree that the media is liberal. They always say things like Howard Dean is "angry," and other things just to make the Democrats look bad compared to the Republicans. I read a study that someone did some research comparing the first six months of the Clinton Presidency and the first six months of the Bush (II) presidency on the issue of dodging the draft and they found hundreds and hundreds of news stories about Clinton dodging the draft and only 20-30 stories about Bush dodging the draft.
R1: Bush didn't dodge the draft
Teacher: He really protected Dallas from the Vietcong
R1: (shuts up for now)
Later
Republican 1 brought up the issue of the Iraq War, saying it was a personal issue to him and wondered what the class thought about it.
Me: You know I think the Iraq war was a huge mistake, Bush wasn't even finished with Afghanistan (Teacher adds that Bush took money and soldiers out of Afghanistan). I don't know why we're in Iraq, there's no evidence that Saddam is linked to 9-11.
Republican 2: Yes, I think Saddam was linked to 9-11
Teacher: No that's just spin.
Republican 2: (bursts out crying)
end
Republican 1 was a male and he is in the Boston University Republicans (I'm in the BU Democrats of course) and he might bring documents that prove that the Iraq war was right, media is liberal, and how great Bush is. I'm going to Google these topics but I would like to have your best news links/best blog links/best Kos diary links proving Republican 1 wrong. I would like the links to seem fair and balanced (R1 was harrumphing Michael Moore when the teacher brought up Farenheit 9-11 just to prove her point).
Republican 2 was a female who actually said that she wished that Bush was anti-death penalty and pro-choice and I said, "You know that makes you a Democrat." Also, she said that Saddam caused 9-11 and was NOT going to vote for John Kerry because "he looks like a raisin." She was going to vote for Bush because Laura seems pretty and so nice. I'm also going to Google these topics but I would, again, like to have your best links to counter her arguments. She was crying and crying after my teacher told her that Saddam didn't cause 9-11.
My next class is on Wednesday and I'd like to make a present for both of them (probably going to give to the teacher and maybe she can briefly tell them). Thanks for your help!