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Fred Stopsky has expended the past 50 years as a secondary teacher and college educator who has taught over 12,000 teachers. He is the co-author of “The American Experience: The History of the United States and Social Studies in a Global Society,” as well as the author of almost a dozen other books including, “Freedom and Control: Censorship in America,” “George Bush on the Planet of Xul,” “Nuremberg Principles and International Law,” “Catholicism and Slavery,” and “Bartolome de las Casas: Champion of Indian Rights.” Fred likewise devised the Veterans Accelerated Urban Learning for Teachers (VAULT) program to help Vietnam War veterans further their education. Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Fred. I have to say you have rather a title for your new book. To begin, would you tell our readers a little bit with regards to how you would classify the book? Fred: Thank you Tyler for having me. “Don Rumsfeld & Dick Cheney In Hell” is a political satire that mixes sardonic wit with severe exploration of key issues confronting America and the world. We live in interesting times, so political satire will have to possess offbeat qualities. It’s a book regarding political and social issues, but it is comic mood enables readers to smile and engage them in severe thinking. Tyler: What is the plot of the story? Fred: Don Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney awake to discover they are in an anteroom in Hell with Ken Lay of Enron fame, who has been told by the Devil to coordinate the routine by which a host of witnesses will offer testimony to determine if the two men belong down there or way up in Heaven. People from each place on the political spectrum, along with usual citizens, offer evidence. The book depicts how each person, no matter whether famous or not, is impacted by the jokes of these two men and has something to offer in the way of testimony. The material is fundamentally staged in a dialog manner making for easy reading. Each chapter enables a peculiar group of persons to offer testimony. In all cases, various views are presented. The Devil remains off to the side until the end when he begins injecting cutting remarks. Tyler: I understand the Devil calls on assorted witnesses to make his decision. Most of these witnesses are widely known and esteemed celebrities, but not inevitably politicians. How did you determine which celebrities to include? Fred: Great question. I wanted to present the views of conservatives like Ann Coulter or Tom de Lay because their words are sufficient in themselves to indict Rumsfeld and Cheney. I plainly had to concede Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Al Franken, Michael Moore, Jay Leno, and Howard Stern to carry out their shows because in innovative times we remunerate severe attention to comedians and consider politicians to be comics. In particular, I felt compelled to grant that terrifi young man, Pat Tillman, to speak for himself as well as family members of those who have died. I love Kinky Friedman and am an admirer of Willie Nelson so I just had to work them in. Mixed in with the famous are prisoners from Abu Ghraib and some regular working class people. Of course, I even drew upon a Law and Order team to uncover the TRUE story of the widely known and esteemed Weapons of Mass Destruction. I believe most readers will be amazed to discover the real meaning of “Weapons of Mass Destruction;” this selective information is alone worth the price of the book. Tyler: All the celebrities are from our time it seems, except the Marx Brothers. Why did you determine to include them? Fred: The Marx Brothers represent the height of American zany, madcap humor and who else could match the zany madcap ideas of Rumsfeld and Cheney? I had fun permitting the Marx Brothers to run wild in the chapter with the contemporary Robin Williams because these people are competent in their satirical offbeat remarks to make more sense than any fellow member of the Bush administration. Please likewise remember, Groucho Marx was president of Freedonia, so he is as much an expert on politics as Rumsfeld and Cheney. As Groucho once put it, “fish and politicians smell after three days.” Whew, after four years, the smell… Tyler: Fred, tell me a little bit with regards to the non-famous characters–especially, did you include soldiers who fought or even passed away in the war, or family members such as the mother who camped out at Bush’s ranch in Texas for weeks after her son was killed, only to have the president refuse to speak to her? Fred: Every day I read blogs written by members of the military and armed forces publications such as the “Stars & Stripes” and “Army Times” to keep abreast how they feel. I came all over assorted things written by mothers of soldiers who passed from physical life and included their views in chapter 14. I remained unfeigned to their feelings; one of them was very pro-Bush. I also was tremendously impacted by the story of Pat Tillman. In doing exploration on this fine young man I ran into he was an intellectual who read enormously and was very patriotic. I tried to convey his sensations and those of his family members who are furious regarding how Pat’s death was used for political purposes. I am rather proud the account in the book coincides in an outstanding manner with what is now being revealed to the American media — that George Bush was told the real story by General McChrystal of Pat’s death and ignored the truth to stir up anger and hatred. I could never in good sense of right and wrong ever lie regarding the sensations of family members or those who died. Tyler: Fred, how did you come up with the idea for this book? Fred: This may come all over as a bit of corn, but the deaths of our sweet young men and women has given me great pain. I served in the military, and have worked to help veterans, so they stay close to my heart. I was walking one day thinking in regards to the day’s casualties when in my mind I heard the words, “the Devil himself couldn’t formulate more chaos and death than what is going on today in Iraq.” Within a moment, I had the idea for the book. Tyler: Fred, tell me a little bit with regards to your own military service? Has the military changed for the better or worse since you served? Fred: I turned down a draft deferment in 1951 and joined the US Army for the duration of the Korean War. I went through four months of basic training and then my unit got orders for Korea– to Heartbreak Ridge. By a lot of crazy mix-up, my orders were misplaced and I wound up going to Europe. Several of my dear friends were killed on those hills in Korea. In fact, my decision to become a teacher stemmed from their deaths, I wanted to do something in life to support prevent war. In those days everyone served, rich and poor, college educated and those who never finished grade school. Unlike WWII, the Korean War was as nonpopular as the war in Iraq. Just like today, in the early stages of the war, reservists and National Guards troops were called up. But men who were drafted quickly substituted them. Everyone who was on the front line put in 18 months and then went home with no return obligation to Korea. After General Eisenhower was elected president, he without delay pursued negotiations and arranged for a truce so our fighting men could come home. We were fortunate to have Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower as presidents, two men who highly valued the Constitution and were more than willing to negotiate to end fighting. Of course, both men had served in the military and understood the meaning of death, something unknown to George Bush. I often times wish we had a Dwight Eisenhower as president–he was a Republican, but a man who loved and cherished the Constitution. Tyler: Fred, why did you choose the devil rather than God to have a trial for Rumsfeld and Cheney? Fred: The Devil has always for me represented chaos, disorder, pain and torture. Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Bush are the best exemplifiers of these humane qualities. If there is a Hell down there, then it is the fitting place for those violating our basic humane values. Anyway, I didn’t want to bother God who spends time caring for those who have love and joy in their hearts. Tyler: You also include various deceased presidents as part of the trial. Will you tell us which ones and why you chose them? What kind of legitimacy do the presidents add to the trial? Fred: I have read extensive into the life of Abraham Lincoln. I often times become sick to my stomach at President Bush’s refusal to honor those who died. Lincoln continually visited sick soldiers and was at a lot of funerals. He likewise invited family members of those who passed from physical life to see him at the White House. George Bush is no Lincoln. Bill Clinton has been outstandingly quiet with regards to responding to charges that he in some way is responsible for al-Qaeda or 9/11. I wanted to offer him an prospect to refute those lies and directly confront Don and Dick with regards to their tragic mistakes. Harry Truman is one of my favored presidents. He always told it like it was and never minced words. He was a self-taught man who loved and revered his beloved Constitution, and I recognise he is turning over in his grave at what Rumsfeld, Cheney and Bush have done to that document. Tyler: What are the crimes or injustices for which Rumsfeld and Cheney are accused in the book? Fred: They deliberately lied in regards to causes for war–the famous Weapons of Mass Destruction. Please read my chapter where a Law and Order unit ultimately uncovers it is mystery. These men have violated constitutional warrants when it comes to reasonable trials, they have discarded the Geneva Convention which each fellow member of the military knows must be obeyed, they have supported spying on the intermediate American citizen, and they ought to take galore obligation for the deaths of over 3600 Americans. Tyler: : Do you feel the American system has failed that these two politicians have not been punished for their actions? Fred: I believe the American Constitution is the biggest political document in humane history. I believe in the American political system. Sometimes, we Americans move slowly, but our scheme in the end always works. I am an eternal optimist when it comes to the American people. Somehow, in numerous way, the American persons in the long run figure out phonies and charlatans and quacks. Our scheme has not failed because books like mine and others are alerting our nation to the madness of those running our government. Tyler: What kind of response has the book received so far? Fred: As I said, I am the eternal optimist. I have been receiving a outstanding deal of praise and compliments, as well as stellar reviews so far. Even even though knowingness has been slow and low-key after being available for just over one month, I believe in the end the book will get enjoyment from a great sale. Tyler: Have you had any negative responses? When Michael Moore’s movie, “Fahrenheit 911″ came out a great deal of theatres refused to show it, claiming it would be unpatriotic when our troops were fighting, yet it seems disgust for the war has grown principally in the three years since then. How would you respond to persons accusing you of being unpatriotic, or hasn’t that been a problem? Fred: Some persons view me as unpatriotic for attacking the president for the duration of wartime. They argue we must stay unified when soldiers are dying. We had elections for the duration of WWII and the Korean War, Republicans said horrid things when it comes to Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, but our nation survived. I find it ironic that Republicans were vicious in their attacks upon Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, but now assert we ought to keep away from attacking the president–of course today, he is a Republican. The essence of patriotism is fighting for one’s beliefs. In entering the US Army I took a solemn oath to defend and uphold the Constitution and it was made clear that if a president violated that document, our initial obligation was to the Constitution, not to the president. If I fail to attack and criticize a president who violates the Constitution, then I am derelict in my responsibilities as a citizen. Saddam Hussein never attacked this nation. Our president lied to the American people with regards to reasons for going to war. I completely supported our attacks in Afghanistan versus those who initiated the 9/11 attacks. I agree with the view of the new prime minister of England, Gordon Brown, who is now arguing terrorism is best handled by police forces. You can’t have a war versus an abstraction –terrorism. In terms of America, our law enforcement personnel will best handle terrorism. I will have to confess to galore sensations of disgust when those who have never fought for their nation attack the patriotism of those who served–what Republicans did to John Kerry was unpardonable. I do not question the patriotism or dedication of any American; such words are not portion of the American way of life. Tyler: Fred, I cited earlier that you likewise have written “George Bush on the Planet of Xul.” Would you tell us a little bit in regards to that book? I’m assuming it is also a satire of the Bush administration, so why did you feel the need to write this second book, “Don Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney in Hell”? Fred: I am a science fiction addict so writing science fiction is share of my dream. One day while reading a sci-fi novel the idea just entered my mind, “What would take place if aliens got in contact with George Bush?–They would go crazy attempting to understand his mind.” The book is regarding aliens from the planet of Xul who take Bush to their planet and then fetch a host of humans from Earth who may help decipher the manner in which his mind functions. Oh, the people run range from businessmen, writers, politicians, actors, comedians, and so on. I had fun with Whoopie Goldberg giving the Xulians her version of Bush’s mind or how soldiers fighting in Iraq view him and Cindy Sheehan at last gets a shot at Bush and there is even a Seinfeld episode in which Kramer explains to the Xulians how the war in Iraq may be ended. At the conclusion of the book, Bush takes on the universe. In all honesty, I am ofttimes confused how his mind functions. The other day he indicated opposition to a new bill that would give medical care to children on grounds it was the primary step on the road to socialism. Or, opposing the Congressional proposal for a 3.5% compensate raise for soldiers on grounds it was “excessive.” He sees things in his own inimitable way and I thought possibly aliens could figure it out. I can’t. Tyler: Do you have plans for future satires on American politics? Next year, if the Democrats are elected to office, do you think you will satirize them, irrespective of party lines? Fred: As a satirist, there is no question I would love Giuliani or Ron Paul to get elected. In fact, right now I’m playing around with a title, “The Seven Faces of Rudy G.” Hillary would be fun to poke fun at because she so ofttimes acts severe and a bit pompous, but Barack Obama is tough because he has this fresh young face. I may never get straight whether it is Ron Paul or Paul Ron. I would struggle with John McCain because the man has suffered so much and been through a great deal of pain, it would be cruel to go after him. Rudy reminds me of the wicked stepmother in Snow White who is always asking the mirror, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is fairest of them all.” Anyway, if one believes in satire then no one is exempt. Tyler: Fred, thank you for joining me today. Before we go, please let our readers recognise where they may find out more data when it comes to “Don Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney in Hell.” Fred: Currently there are three methods. You may go to Amazon.com, order it through your local Border’s Bookstore, or you may buy a copy directly from my political blog, http://www.TheImpudentObserver.com, where I will compensate shipping and personally autograph each single copy sent out. Tyler: Thank you, Fred. I’m sure the book will become very popular with readers. I hope you have a bestseller on your hands. |
