Re: How to approach the troops?

[Peter McLaren <mclaren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Jeff:
Working in critical pedagogy for twenty years has helped me to see the
wisdom in what Walter says about remaining calm, and using facts from
numerous sources, including mainstream sources.  I would also try to direct
your friend to individuals in the military who have published arguments
opposing the war, because it is important that there is some connection to
the vernacular and experiences of your friend, especially when
counter-intuitive arguments are made..I think, too, that it is important to
develop a language of critique, a critical vernacular that will help your
friend 'mediate' arguments, unpacking their contradictions. I have found
Bertell Ollman's How to Take an Exam and Remake the World (something to that
effect) is a good introductory book, presenting Marxist perspectives without
hammering folks over the head...students initially resistant to leftist
critique have enjoyed the book...but the problem is finding a support group
to start exploring  issues from a critical perspective, developing a new
language of critique, etc., and in the military I can see that this would be
exceedingly difficult...
Peter