Introduction

Abstract

The question that would be asked of me, especially by those who will pose the question without having read this book, is this: Are you suggesting that the American conservatives are terrorists like the Taliban? I will not answer that question here, for this book, read in its entirety, is the answer to this and so many other questions. There will be other questions and the display of dramatic outrage that defines a certain segment of American right. My purpose is to speak the truth and to talk about difficult subjects and I have, to the best of my ability, tried to be fair. There are no apologies, though: I am, unapologetically, a progressive and liberal scholar and find no reason to apologize for my political and social leanings. But in fairness to my readers, I must first provide a brief genealogy of my own thought and practices, and, most importantly, my reasons for writing this book.