A frightening look at what has happened to the American psyche after 9-11. Is this really what we have become? Our own worst enemy?
Did You Know?
Did you know that the instances of police brutality witnessed against the Occupy Protestors last year meet four out of five conditions for being a "Domestic Terrorist", according the USA Patriot Act? Interestingly, for non-police officers meeting just one of these conditions is theoretically enough to earn you a waterboarding and an extended stay at one of Guantanamo Bay's finest establishments.
Did you know that 96.41% of states recognized by the United Nations, including the United States, considers tear gas and pepper spray too dangerous for use in open warfare against foreign enemies? Did you know that use of these substances is a violation of Article 1.5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), even when protecting your own sovereign territory from foreign invasion?
In 1981 the entire free world was cheering for Lech Walesa's Solidarity Movement in Poland as he led the Soviet Union's very first labor organization to protest in the hope of improving the common Polish citizen's living conditions and prosperity. In 1983, Lech Walesa won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts...much to the delight of the United States. Today, the governmental response to people doing the same thing in this country is virtually indistinguishable from that of Chernenko-era hardline Soviet policy. If you strip away the punditry that so often distorts the historical record and current events...the images speak for themselves.
What in the hell is wrong with us, anyways?
How and why has this happened? How is it that we go to war in the Middle East and instead of bringing them freedom, peace, religious tolerance, and democracy...we brought back the opposite. Incredibly, we have become more like our historical adversaries than ever before. We have adopted the policies of oppressive regimes that we found positively appalling just a short time ago.
The answers to these questions are out there. Perhaps it goes without saying, but not only does your favorite news channel not have the right answers... they don't even bother to ask the right questions.
What emerges is a complex tale of corruption, fear, population demographics, and willful ignorance. The America we once knew is not the America we are living in. America has morphed into Amerikaanistan. We have become our own worst enemy.
So...why should this project get funded?
1. Integrity of the project: Contrary to popular opinion, there is no "right" or "left" wing media conspiracy aside from the simple fact that highly polarized, ultra-opinionated, punditry sells. From the first draft, a publisher, editor, agent, or other media outlet is far more concerned with marketing, controversy, and revenue than accuracy. Unfortunately, utilizing the usual channels to release this book will all but force me to become an apologist for either Republicans or Democrats...despite the fact that I can no longer discern any difference between them. The best, and perhaps only, way to avoid this pitfall is to release the first edition of this book as self-published and completely crowd-sourced.
2. Graphic Design: I need cash to hire a professional-quality graphic designer. As you can most likely tell from my fledgling attempts in making the video and graphics for this project....I am clearly a writer and a researcher...not a content developer, graphic designer, or videographer. :)
3. Footnotes: I use them. Yes, shocking as it might be...this book will actually be able to substantiate the evidence it presents. This is a remarkable departure from tradition in the subject area of American politics.
4. Copyrights: I would like to include some images in the book which will require me to obtain the rights to their use. This costs cash which I do not have. I could spend a small fortune on these...but I'm asking for just the bare minimum amount so that I can at least get a couple of key images included.
5. REWARDS!!!: I offer some of the best and most creative rewards on Kickstarter! They are new and unique at every level. There is no duplication of rewards such as giving out five identical bound copies of the book!!
Postcard Images (One copy to be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty calling attention to police brutality another copy sent to you for rememberance):
Amerikaanistan Decal (clear vinyl suitable for windows, bumpers, and more):
T-Shirt Design #1 from CafePress (size, color, mens/womens cut, etc all able to specified in standard CafePress selection options)
T-Shirt Design #2 from CafePress (Back of shirt contains the verbatim text of Article I of the CWC Treaty banning pepper spray & tear gas for use in warfare, with provision I.5 highlighted in red. Size, color, mens/womens cut, etc all able to specified in standard CafePress selection options)
FAQ
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Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on May 28, 2012.
Funding period
Apr 22, 2012 -
May 28, 2012
- First created · 2 backed
- Henry Volk 0 friends
- Website: twitter.com
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Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. BONUS: Good karma & positive mojo.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $5 or more
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Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. BONUS: Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $10 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. BONUS: A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $25 or more
1 backer
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Bonus: Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $45 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. BONUS: Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $50 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. BONUS: Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $75 or more
1 backer
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion & a free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. BONUS: Bound copy of the printed version (domestic shipping only).
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $100 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. Free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion. BONUS: Bound copy of the printed version, autographed by the author, domestic shipping only.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $150 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion & a free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. Bound copy of the printed version, autographed by the author, domestic shipping only. BONUS: Personal thank you call and Q&A session (telephone or skype in the domestic U.S. Skype only internationally.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $200 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion & a free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. Bound copy of the printed version, autographed by the author. Personal thank you call and Q&A session (telephone or skype in the domestic U.S. Skype only internationally). BONUS: Your choice of an Amerikaanistan t-shirt design (domestic shipping only).
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion.. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. Free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. Bound copy of the printed version, autographed by the author, domestic shipping only. Personal thank you call and Q&A session (telephone or skype in the domestic U.S. Skype only internationally. Your choice of an Amerikaanistan t-shirt design (domestic shipping only). BONUS: VIP status gets you special offers on future works, pre-releases, and other cool stuff.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $300 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion.. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion & a free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. Bound copy of the printed version, autographed by the author, domestic shipping only. Personal thank you call and Q&A session (telephone or skype in the domestic U.S. Skype only internationally. Your choice of an Amerikaanistan t-shirt design (domestic shipping only). VIP status gets you special offers on future works, pre-releases, and other cool stuff. BONUS: Be a part of the creative process. Vote on certain topic choices, provide feedback, make suggestions and requests of subject material examined.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion.. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion & a free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. Personal thank you call and Q&A session (telephone or skype in the domestic U.S. Skype only internationally), Your choice of an Amerikaanistan t-shirt design (domestic shipping only). VIP status gets you special offers on future works, pre-releases, and other cool stuff. BONUS: Invites to participate and collaborate in future “Yes Men” style pranks and demonstrations. Eternal gratitude.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
Emailed thank you note. Name in the credits listed as a patron and a PDF copy of the book emailed upon completion.. Good karma & positive mojo. A postcard will be sent in your name to Amnesty International Secretary-General Salil Shetty asking him to raise international awareness of the unconstitutional subversion of human and civil rights which peaceful demonstrators in the United States are experiencing nationwide. Natively compiled .epub copy of the book for e-readers. Grandfathered in for a free copy of the .ibooks interactive multimedia format for iPad upon completion & a free copy of .mp3 audiobook read by the author upon completion. Your Choice of Amerikaanistan decal. Bound copy of the printed version, autographed by the author, domestic shipping only. Personal thank you call and Q&A session (telephone or skype in the domestic U.S. Skype only internationally), Your choice of an Amerikaanistan t-shirt design (domestic shipping only). VIP status gets you special offers on future works, pre-releases, and other cool stuff. Invites to participate and collaborate in future “Yes Men” style pranks and demonstrations. Eternal gratitude. BONUS: Will give an in-person presentation about the book and/or the process of creating it to an audience of your choosing at any location of your choosing in the U.S. or Canada. (Locations not in Wisconsin or Chicago may have additional travel expenses).
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012
