** What the Hell is a Liberal? is David Truskoff’s thirteenth book.
In it the
author continues his conversation about American and international
politics. Truskoff is candid and unapologetic about his views. As a
veteran of the United States Navy and the Civil Rights Movement, the
author pulls from an impressive body of experience as a patriot and
an activist to formulate his opinions on the current state of
affairs in America. His delivery is direct and often tough, but he
is careful to back his assertions with documented facts. Readers who
have enjoyed Truskoff’s work in the past will not be disappointed.
Those who are receiving their first exposure to the writer should
brace themselves.
Truskoff does not hold anyone’s hand in this collection. He takes on
the current Bush administration, Israel, Jewish liberals, and
African Americans. His opinions about these groups can, of course,
be disputed, hotly challenged. But one has to admire Truskoff for
his honesty and insight.
In the opening essay, “Seize the Moment,” Truskoff introduces the
reader to his activist background and his belief that the sacrifices
he and others made have not produced the fruit expected. “I want to
see more results of my efforts and the results of the efforts and
sacrifices of my family. Today we are marching backwards (16).” The
author repeatedly points out that there are still segregated schools
in the United States and poverty remains a significant obstacle for
many African Americans. His outrage is warranted: lives have been
damaged and lost so that long-lasting change could occur.
“Who Owns the American Congress” exposes the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC) a foreign lobbying group that, according
to Truskoff, throws it’s weight around in the United States Congress
by “…raising more money from around the world to support or defeat
candidates than any other political structure (76).” Truskoff spends
a lot of time with this organization and the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. As a Jewish American, Truskoff offers tough words against
the practices of the Israeli government and includes horror stories
from the Palestinian side of this struggle.
Having participated in the Civil Rights Movement, Truskoff freely
shares his thoughts about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott
King. He also offers strong words against current African American
leaders such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. In “Am I a Racist,”
the author recounts his meeting with Jackie Robinson in 1963 when he
arranged for the former baseball player’s appearance on a television
show. Truskoff was shocked when he learned of Robinson’s support of
Richard Nixon from Robinson himself. The essay goes on to discuss
the Don Imus controversy and Jewish liberals questioning themselves
about being racists, but the set-up leaves the reader wanting on
this particular topic.
This book is rife with historical references, the author’s personal
accounts, and his theories of what needs to be done to erect change
as a permanent edifice in this country.
What the Hell is a Liberal? is enlightening, fiery and forthright.
You will talk back to this book. You will scribble agreements and
objections in the margins. And, I believe it is the author’s hope
that you will also be moved to jump into action.
Melissa Levine for Independent Professional Book Reviewers
What The Hell Is A Liberal, May 11, 2008
** In today's world, war, violence, poverty, disease, starvation,
and oppression, have become an unspoken accepted reality. These were
issues that Liberals once fought to overcome. In his book, What the
Hell is a Liberal? author David Truskoff presents a candid look at
how liberalism has been successfully minimized by the powerful
political "right." The rich are getting richer. The growing gap
between the "haves" and "have nots" is increasing, and our natural
resources are being rapidly depleted.
The term "Liberalism," is defined as equality for all that includes
such aspects as engaging diplomacy instead of choosing war to
resolve political turmoil, ending poverty, promoting free
governments, advocating education and affordable healthcare...etc.
Truskoff has been an active participant and witness to Liberal
struggles such as the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King. Truskoff
provides an in-depth account of the evolution of the relationship of
the US with other foreign powers, particularly the US and Israel
partnership. As well, he chronicles the influence of powerful lobby
groups such as the American Israel Political Action Committee, one
of the most powerful lobby groups in Washington.
Delivered as a well-plotted series of essays, Truskoff is able to
chronicle how the evolution of the Right has successfully exploited
and depicted Liberalism as a negative philosophy to mainstream
society. The book is not presented as completely anti right as he
notes a number of high profile figures on the left who have
abandoned key principles of Liberalism for their own agenda.
Truskoff points to Senator Joe Lieberman as one important example of
abandoning one's principles and ethics. He discusses Palestine,
without supporting the acts of terrorism, but the apartheid type
conditions the citizens of Palestine live in. Fundamental themes
that emerge throughout the book are how the greed and indifference
of a select elite, with the help of the media, have been able to
successfully change the dynamics of the world to everything Dr.
Martin Luther King struggled against. That is, there are people in
the world that are now considered disposable and military
colonization has become an accepted method of resolving conflicts.
Survival of the richest is now defined by Military Might.
Truskoff writes with clarity, having witnessed the decline of
liberalism and the rise of capitalism without compassion, morality,
and ethics. It is a very well researched and well written book that
acknowledges this new breed of capitalism that seems unstoppable.
Truskoff explains that it is not and writes with hope. He points to
our own need to learn from the past so that we can go forward and
adopt liberal ideas that seem to have been lost over the years. What
The Hell Is A Liberal? is an engaging and compelling read meant to
open our eyes to our past, present, and future. Whether you agree or
disagree with arguments made in the book, it will definitely make
you think and hopefully start a dialogue with others. It is a must
read for anyone concerned about the future of humanity.
Tracy Roberts, Write Field Services
** Somehow over the past 30 years America's right-wing neo-cons have
managed to make 'liberal' a political dirty word. They've somehow
made 'liberal' synonymous with notions of being un-American,
elitist, and morally unsound. It's a classic example of the Big Lie,
of Orwellian-style 'double-speak'. Now finally, in a series of
articulate essays, that neo-con Big Lie has been successfully and
persuasively debunked by David Truskoff in "What The Hell is A
Liberal?". Of special note is Truskoff's cogent essay 'Who Owns the
American Congress'. These essays are particularly timely in view of
the current presidential campaigns and should be considered a 'must
read' for anyone who supports progressive solutions to our chronic
problems of involvement in foreign wars, dilapidated
infrastructures, faltering economy, failing schools, broken health
care systems, the shrinking middle-class, and the growing chasm
between the rich and the poor. Now at long last we have a book that
we can simply hand out the next time someone asks what a liberal
believes in, stands for, represents, or aspires to, thanks to David
Truskoff!
By
Midwest Book Review, James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
