Whose Freedom? The Battle Over America's Most Important Idea

“There is a radically different and frightening notion of what extremists on the right call ‘freedom’ shaping our culture and our political life,” he warns. Lakoff talks about the right’s use of the word and decodes a July 7 statement by George Bush on “freedom” in Iraq.

Mother Jones Radio

Michael Krasny discusses the meaning and uses of the word “freedom”, and its political significance, with linguist George Lakoff.

Forum on KQED

At Book Passage - Corte Madera, CA George Lakoff talks about Whose Freedom. An advisor to the Democratic party, Lakoff states that the conservative revolution has remade freedom in its own image and deployed it as a central weapon on the front lines of everything from the war on terror to the battles over religion in the classroom and abortion.

Fora TV broadcast

“Framing the political battle in America (and across the globe, really) around the idea of freedom, Lakoff focuses attention on what really is at stake in the trench-bound war of attrition we call contemporary politics: continued expansion of human freedom or a retreat to an elite-run distopia, a kind of knaves’ old world in brave new world clothing.”

Alternet site

“Illegal immigrant: A loaded political term used by beneficiaries of globalization who are caught up in the fog of “culture war.” While referring to immigrants who violate the letter of the law as “illegal” is technically correct, the terminology sheds more heat than light.”

Immigration story

“[Lakoff] makes a very persuasive argument that Democrats have allowed Republicans to hijack words such as “freedom” and “liberty” in fundamental ways that have undercut Democrats’ credibility.”

Chicago Tribune story

The F Word
No, not framing. Freedom! TAP speaks with George Lakoff about freedom, populism, and the common good.

American Prospect online

Both conservatives and liberals say they’re for freedom. But they don’t always agree on what the word means. In Whose Freedom? , George Lakoff argues that freedom has been politicized, and redefined, since September 11th.

WNYC

Lakoff will be at Black Oak Books on Tuesday, August 1, 2006.

Black Oak Books is located at 1491 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 90709.