Many of you have seen my “Story of Stuff” critique. I also learned a few weeks ago that Annie Leonard would be releasing the “Story of Bottled Water,” and “The Story of Stuff” book, which I have almost finished reading. Sadly, I know many compassionate teachers will attempt to bring the book into classrooms the same way they used the video.
Despite the flaws in Leonard’s arguments, which I outlined extensively in the critique, there is hope because Annie writes in her book, and states in interviews, that she welcomes debate. Consequently, I attended her book signing yesterday to challenge her to debate the merits of her work at any university in the Country. I even brought her two gifts: 1) Thomas Sowell’s Basic Economics, A Common Sense Guide to the Economy, 3rd edition; and 2) An “Enjoy Capitalism” T-shirt.
As you will see in the video below, she seems willing to have that discussion with me, and although she thinks I lack compassion, I hope she’ll prove the late William F. Buckley wrong when he said: “Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.”
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice one Lee!
Has a formal date been set for the debate between you and Annie Leonard, Lee?
I'm not as concerned with the idea of bringing the "Story of Stuff" into classrooms as you are. Yes, it's a deeply flawed video with a lot of misleading assertions. But in theory, college students should have critical thinking skills and should be able to see through at least some of its poor reasoning.
I was introduced to the "Story of Stuff" in a college classroom myself. After the video finished playing, our professor qualified, "Obviously, this is a far left leaning video. Are there any questions or critiques about it?" If she had presented as "balanced, objective gospel truth" I may have been peeved. But I think she did present it fairly; it was meant to promote discussion, not be taken at face value.
So yes, I think that the "Story of Stuff" is full of fundamental holes and you did an excellent job analyzing and refuting it. But I don't think showing it in college classrooms is necessarily the end of the world. As John Milton said in Areopagitica, "Let [Truth] and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?"
to Ms. Hutcheson,
The major problem is not that "The Story of Stuff" is being shown to college students, who hopefully have developed critical thinking skills, but that this video is being viewed in elementary school students. In that capacity, it is indoctrination, and very frightening.
All of us–Lee Doren included–need to realize that not all issues can be viewed through the lenses of "left" and "right." The idea that, when used regularly, finite resources will run out is not a political idea. It is simply a fact, and there is nothing political about it.
Obviously, Dave, you have no critical thinking skills yourself. The whole point of the US public education system, most of which is run by and taught by liberals, is to indoctrinate young, impressionable minds who have no preconception of being indoctrinated into liberal thought. As long as unionized public school teachers, many of whom received their education degrees in left-leaning public universities, and complain to the NJ governor that they don't want to take a paycut (must be tough living on $60-65K a year) fluff up the minds of little people with their fantasies of how the world should work, as demonstrated in "The Story of Stuff", rather than how it really works, our children will undoubtedly believe the notion that government takes care of everyone. After all, "my teacher said it" is a statement millions of parents heard from their children's mouths. Just try to correct a child when she learns something appalling and her argument is "my teacher said it" (parents never know anything, anyway).
Mr Doren,
I very much doubt that she will fulfill her agreement to debate with you. From what I have seen of her work, she is not a concerned citizen, but is driven ideologically and has an agenda, not a desire for public debate. I will be VERY surprised if she actually debates you and goes through with it.