If you dont know who we are we are located in harrisburg pennsylvania a few blocks down from the state Capital Building we are not open at the moment but we are still shipping across the country so please in this weird strange time we are living in. Thank you for your support and for tonight if you have a question for jared at any point we try to get to as many questions as possible later in the program. Introducing her author and speaker it is the author of the man they want me to be his political writing has appeared in publications including the New York Times and the new public and salon. As the associate professor of creative writing and of course his new book is titled american rule. Just one blurb on the website the right think of american has a companion to peoples history of the United States with the Public Education system and that would be required in high school curriculum. If you have not yet purchased american rule i would encourage you to do so and with the future of the bookstore. Take you directly to the website and is on the special and then to include a signed copy of his first book like the water supply in your sure so work in the chat room and once again thank you for your support so without further ado please welcome me to welcome jared. Thank you alex i really wish i was in harrisburg tonight but i had a wonderful time coming to harrisburg and thats near and dear to my heart and in 2017 and water from your shores covering the trump rallies during the 2016 the tracing the collapse of the company and charlatan like donald trump and on that tour stop you are operating from the basic understanding of American History. I had seen the movies and i had a copy with me it was drizzling and kind of cold and if they are watching right now but this one i did not get a name she stop me and looking at the end of america. Not to have the question whether or not we are watching the decline of america and she asked me if america was in trouble and answered so lets be frank it is in trouble. The only way to fix the situation is first of all but she asked how we arrived at this point and how we got here. And the answer that i have is pretty conventional history. And through the sixties and seventies with vietnam and the Civil Rights Movement and Richard Nixon and the rise of Ronald Reagan and that conventional history we are pretty familiar with but then she looked at me a little bit and said hello did we get there . That is how began there and ended their the story of world war ii in world war i with john adams and the new series on hbo so i realized after i left that night with a long drive back to georgia and that my understanding of American History was a consensus opinion history were all familiar with whether School Movies and go back to the very beginning and what a diet and that finding blew my mind to be honest but absent is the idea the history of america that a lot of us are familiar with and that he started to allow the idea with the narrative about slavery and genocide and i started to realize diving deep into American History for what i have been taught to what i came to understand and from the very beginning and started of the founding which i do not have a good enough understanding of and with the Constitutional Convention and i realized weirdly enough that was never on my radar before that the framers of the constitution they were there to reframe the articles of confederation and the chief admitted outright in the actual conversation written by James Madison they were incredibly racist and elitist and i found almost immediately that the entire system of government is in order to control and protect a wealthy aristocracy and the slaveholding class the founding of america was the white supremacist. Thats just the beginning and i didnt understand that. And didnt understand the actual construction of things. And what happened when america was dressed up in this nationalistic method of exceptionalism not to be charged by a god or dod or the champions so then we start to realize that where is the marketing slogan to make things look better than they were so i removed from the equation at the history of america and i realize american exceptionalism was not only present from the very beginning that one of the greatest that mankind ever created and produced and then i realized over the course of our existence we have used that narrative, mythology and propaganda to promote america to exercise power and suppress other people and to undermine democratic elected leaders around the world to create the Economic System that exploited people that we saw as lesser to further the idea of White Supremacy and elitist control so all of a sudden the election donald trump made a lot more sense we look at trump as the operation and then how we reach the highest office but if we look at it through the lens of real American History we realize that trump is actually a symptom of a much larger disease is so leading to this Unequal Society the problem a nationalistic religious myth when empires and country start to falter as a start to falter and that mythology flickers watch in the absence is fascism is not necessarily the thing that happens in the 20th century but when they started to flicker and i so that country that america in germany or italy that shows an exceptional country. Like make America Great again. To say yes so how can we lose but the answer is me will be trade. On the outside. Those conspirators trying to destroy america. And also trading on the inside is trading against america who are not patriotic the terrace. And that creates a religious and the idea that with the divine creator could never possibly falter with a conspiracy of some sort. And then to give you and your family and everyone you know unless you arrest them first and then the cycle will play itself out and we are watching is a growing movement and that is the american rule in trying to dismantle the weapon with the nostalgia with the religious civic religion that america is chosen by god and it is involved in a supernatural war and all of these conspiracy theories that are trying so American History with american exceptionalism it is incredibly surprising and disturbing so then i have the understanding of how donald trump with this movement and Conspiracy Theory and polarization but not until i learned the actual history of america that i came to understand exactly what. And then we will read from the prologue and then to get a little bit of background what do we need to wake up from this mythology . I grew up in the world in the world of factory workers i was surrounded well the pageantry of america. And they have american flags. In school i was taught the exceptional country and then with that civil war with the message of demand liberty to be impoverished and abusive and the United States of america and those to police every sunday morning we see through the prism and talk about my childhood people often react that they died intuitively cannot understand. But with that necessary context and that exposure to the outside world i was trapped. And there is some way to escape and it is understood and was some underlying problem and what then how do we as chosen people still suffer . Why we deteriorating . And to answer a Conspiracy Theory across the country a National Narrative and to be put against others that are responsible for their ills. With that popular messaging and with those evangelical leaders and so in my church and that could appear at any moment to age and i. And that is to find a. And those people were more specific. Outside of church and they fell under the spell the devilish trickster. Those who could fight and kill and those that are dedicated to understanding the conspiracy the International Cabal of find the book of revelation whether any other volume in the bible ordered from catalogs and pick up on the yard sales and with American History with that and with that information and through this culture to remain ideologically for one poor listening to the radio or a movie at the theater so we have to a on the news and be obedient not until two years later and then to understand the true nature now what to as the evangelicalism and then by proxy so that way identity evangelicals corrupted American Religion and all of politics. And 2016 the put themselves into the throw donald trump conversations support the child probably developing into something larger and more sinister is a long line of decisions primarily the way to and wealthy and in World Affairs the strategic manipulation to provide a cover for aristocracy and to be more complicated and contradictory so trapped in the cycle of mythology and cap change with that inconsistency in contradiction to demand all that is possible to take comfort in the few centuries from its founding from the republic to the empire now we can recognize from disenchantment and clearing inconsistencies in spite of my oppression the story of which america makes little sense those that have lost their shoes and metaphors in history with that perspective and then with those headlines based on life pursuit of happiness. So there is a great as a greeting for that perception of the United States was never true that shadow city to american exceptionalism so that objective reality with the patriarchal supremacy so that never existed beyond the imagination with the disadvantaged american will is how it was constructed of the downfall and destroyed an ideology and as a means to gain power in the story of the philosophy that in the people in the system leftparenthesis the very people it is the chronicle of oppression however interrupted and coopted to recognize the moment of change to have control of freedom. Is a purposeful rejection of exceptionalism that provides a more objective american empire and on the battlefield when that was traveling west estate those lives so often extinguish by the method of exceptionalism with a complicated history of the United States of america. This constitutes a distraction of the american myth it is my hope to replace it with Something Better sound and genuine america certainly is in danger but the sad that has begun to crumble is hold us captive and in doing so they could establish a new reality with a partner spectrum of perspectives so familiar refrain has in the last few years so familiar refrain has in the last few years with the unarmed africanamerican slain with them marching through cities and confederate flags and shake their heads to say this is not who we are. Unfortunately that is not true these are not aberrations this is what has afflicted us since the moment of our founding United States of america with american exceptionalism has perpetrated some of the worst crimes in the history of humanity and subjugated to have a more opposed to the concept of true and Human Dignity to manufacture everyone and everything we hold dear. Sadly this is who we are but is not we have to be. Thank you. If you a question please use the button below so once again the book is american in rule so open up the chat room you can purchase american rule so lets just dive into it. So to have the misconceptions available and our history so i am curious doing your research for the book what surprised you the most that we believe are have been taught about ourselves that is not true what is the most interesting. That the framers of the constitution had no authority i had to walk around the neighborhood a couple of times it is so shocking to find that out. And tell me if this sounds familiar the basically says there will be when the street coming to your house and they will kill you. Where they skated . They are manipulated and one of the things that has really stuck with me is finding out the truth the civil war, the lead up to it know what they are done with that were with the sins of slavery and racism. And then to look at it and with those military maneuvers and then they would outflank another but they were not the true heirs of the United States of america. They thought they were another group of Founding Fathers. And then to believe all those conspiracy theories. And then to move further west. And so those that believe in these conspiracy theories that they have to actress to protect themselves so because of those conspiracy theories they will be portrayed and then what that life supremacist. And then that religion of confederate christianity and actually inspire people like Jerry Falwell or pat robertson. And that is one of the reasons the situation is now and then to free slaves out of america. Right after the war with the messiah and that easter is a and he becomes the messiah and you actually see the American ReligionGeorge Washington who is treated like the father like god and the holy spirit and then hes treated like the martyr son. And all the literature to have the idea that lincoln died for our sins and slavery so there was a a lot of racism in the north and then eventually and then as a propaganda plan. And then to portray is a lost cause. And the defining moment of her history because the civil war did not just and in 1860s is manifested a lot of the problems. Im curious to hear your thoughts to engage with family and friends for those that believe in the myth of american exceptionalism and then those that engage with fox news in this way. I think thats a leading question and so to frame this in the discussion we are having come a lot of the conversations like fox news traffic not just misinformation but knows on a daily basis and on the Conspiracy Theory called the new world order or whatever you want to say but the idea is that god is chosen america to be exceptional anyone else is a conspirator across the country it is the same Conspiracy Theory over and over again and those that began the world order so one of the ways to be lost in that reality so a lot of americans with the polarized society we are living in with the talking points. In fact we are doing we are actually fighting the entrenched war. They would never concede the point. One person has to when one person is to lose and those that are lost in the narratives and i frame it i think its left versus right versus better democrat versus republican they are all dichotomies. When we come together was solidarity when we come together was solidarity is organized labor so those are successful until the wealthy and the powerful based on conspiracy theories. Grassroots first is topdown is that warfare . One person into another one named or to another and when you start engaging them all of the staff like t to the way because is not just the posture anymore. And look at solidarity an organization and all the stuff then you start to realize the two of you in that conversation. And with that investment clearly in the founding of the country had we hold on to the constitution as a guiding document as our democracy for some within the constitution. The essence of that argument of the defining thing of our time. Lets look at what the Founding Fathers side and many of them believe the declaration of independence blair divinely inspired they literally believe the declaration and to have divine inspiration but what i argue and i get the question all the time so jefferson and all these people so what the early ruling class. And then to take responsibility it reminds us people can do extraordinary things and people can dismantle to any but the problem is the treated as the founding of this country was the be all and all of freedom. Like the oligarchy will. So if you start realizing the constitution is in perfect it empowers us to create a future that is. A for us and more equal and more decent. This comes from one of my questions but you are very active with the social Media Presence on twitter so deeply the rise of social media and the internet has accelerated the distortion of the truth and conspiracies . How do you see the realistically impact selections . When the internet was first conceived in a very new topic the idea to communicate better with new up at the event realize the future actually some of the original proponents those that were involved in the counterculture in the sixties and seventies that held both the economy and movement for the grateful dead we were heavy on the internet and then to create a Better Society not just social media it is a giant Marketing Tool so we talk to people that were republican but facebook makes its money right wing propaganda was leftwing but what were looking at his people control social media are people dont want to deal with elections they think about their bottom line so there is no incentive whatsoever for a place like facebook to traffic in truth this is fiction and propaganda interference in elections it will affect the bottom line so it takes a crisis conscious look at the history of capitalism established in 1776 evidence is the essence of capitalism is doing what is good for you. It is just that relationship between selfinterest. And with that nation they are international and in china will give them any work that populist movement. And then they will continue in society because they pay up on those invasions for what we already believe they make their money keeping addicted to the products since can go down the rabbit hole to become more and more radicalized. That only this country but around the world to rely on that technology in a capitalistic pursuit for those that carry out terrorist actions. I want to read your line from the book that you tackle the philosophy of the nazi germany and hitler to say the philosophy was directly related to american exceptionalism and inherent white supremacist ideology. I think some or most may instinctively back away. One of the things we are celebrating because it feels like the third rail. To say you are the alarmist but the actual truth is there is a direct link between america and the lives of nazi germany. And that this moment that modernization is taking place and mythologizing and in america we started to talk about in the idea is just a bunch of settlers and chopping down trees and eating rock candy manifest destiny in germany had is a Movement Like that. And he of the 20th century we go really deep into eugenics and then to terrace american citizen some of these laws are still on the books those who are eugenicists they go to germany and the raising third reich and on top of that a lot of that philosophy that motivates it where to create and vocalize from those philosophers in america and those people not only bestsellers to tackle immigration and then on top of it with the Conspiracy Theory the antisemitic is appropriate the calls of the others of zion and anyone that will listen to above to make and we for that of your of america actually they became thousands and thousands and thousands of followers with 20000 nazis those plastic. And those of the president ial run. We should actually join into the union with them. And suddenly we start throwing the on those connections so i ended up happening with the rise of fascism that is right now from neil fascism and ultimately to manifest more vulnerable to those in the country. And of the middle class policy based on his hatred so if you agree had reflect this . It has to be a different vision. Is not enough to defeat donald trump the main mission is to beat donald trump and to get in the white house. But what to replace this american exceptionalism with this power struggle and to find out that mythology. And the reason why america feels like is in decline because it is in decline. And with those identity worlds and then to alter the alternate vision and then how to people of all colors and creeds so you have to come up with the alternate idea which is actually a reversal of time to take that back into the past. So the next question from john that he was really enjoyin enjoying. s i want to frame this as seems like religion was a dominant force do you see religion as a time in this country and how do you see that transitioning Going Forward . With the history and christianity in america. That is those who identify i confirm those who still consider themselves culturally christian. That i would even go so far to say even a lot of democrats say that as well. And then to engage in public life in america and with that criticism to open evangelical christians. I would say there is still Cultural Capital so those evangelical christians and those that are motivated by a persecution impressed each and then to be eradicated or persecuted themselves. So there is a group that has diminishing power over politics and culture and watching that Minority Movement with trump is a man republicanism taking a right now which is what happens when people in our start to destroy democracy. Unfortunately that is what we are watching. Now the final question of the night. What your readers to come away with . There is one reviewer who said they read the book that it was the dismantling of the patriotic ideas of america so what people need to understand when they look at the real history of america is that upsetting . And that is incredibly damaging practice by the suppression and control and misinformation and then to fight against it and for a lot of people and that authoritarian society rely on people to be powerless and empathetic and demoralize. And then they find solidarity every single time. So that is a process and was history looks like to realize you and the people you have been exploited and manipulated and then to find other people to understand what has happened then you need to form communities if we can do that we can take power back and create Something Real from this lie of american exceptionalism can be destroyed that it is real and decent and something to be proud of you thank you so much for coming out the book as american rule work in the chat room we have a couple of copies and also we have signed copies thank you for the chat room thank you for your questions is so good to see you. Thank you for doing this. Come back to harrisburg some day the last word goes to the audience. Thank you for coming out check out american rule and again i wrote this in order to disabuse ourselves theres Something Better we can do or pull them were we get rid of this then we really cant build something very special. Have a good night. Stay safe. The victory all that rain down on obama the distraction and hatred and you see that policy wise as the republican legislatures and governors so just like the mississippi grant of this one doesnt get them this one will. The way that gerrymandering works. And as you describe black and brown prefix to have fewer operations and Voting Machines and few her coworkers and the small stretch four hours where basically in White Communities to get in and get out and what we know from workingclass communities, which again, demographically black voters most often are. Brown voters most often ar are, what you dont have is the combination of time and money you have lost a day of play if it takes between five and seven hours that is a poll tax. Thank you for joining us here at the center for National Security of florida law we are delighted to bring you the conversation with me today is awardwinning author journalist documentary maker his new book is the spymaster showing history and the