If You Wonder Why the World Is Going Crazy...
...this book may provide some answers...
Clearly, a very intelligent and observant man, Saul Alinski's offers much insight into social and human interactions. You will find truth and understanding and as well as deception and a near diabolical nature in what this book really achieves.
Alinski teaches how to use what means you have to gain what you want, but he never offers any method to determine if what you want and desire is what you have earned or have a right to. The techniques in this book will be equally useful for the oppressed and down-trodden as they will the greedy and immoral. Indeed, the unethical use of Alinski's methods have been utilized and even integrated into permanent fixtures of American and other cultures around the world.
Alinski teaches a philosophy of never ending struggle between the haves and have nots. Because he views the world through a corrupted version of yin / yang philosophy, he sees the haves and have nots as equally deserving partners in wealth or poverty with no regard to the choices made, that bring them to these states. His stated goals are not to raise up the have nots, but rather to take from the haves and redistribute. He does not teach understanding and well meaning cooperation, but rather different means of forcing one's will upon others. In some circumstance this may be appropriate. People suffering under tyranny are morally right to use extreme measures to create change, but politicians and the greedy seeking greater wealth and power do not have this moral equivalency and yet... Alinski never addresses such issues.
Alinski preaches "the ends justify the means" with no regard for "truth" or what effect it's destruction has on a society or community. Using the idea that being a patriot or a traitor depends on whose side you belong to, making untrue allegations, obscuring the truth, ridicule, lying outright... even to those he leads, are all fair game as long as the desired results are obtained. The worth of truth and honesty as components of a working society between well-meaning members is not considered in his philosophy.
The polarization of our nation is likely a direct result of the use of many of his techniques, such as utilizing tragedies to create controversy and "enemies". (Think: mass shootings = Republicans) His methods to use "key words" to drive media and messaging narratives can be seen as a constant in our mainstream media outlets every day.
His methods employ creating "teams" or "communities" of bonded groups even though their interests and goals may be completely unrelated. (Think rallies where "Liberals" concerned about abortion rights, women's rights, the environment, college education, racism, xenophobia, animal rights, islamaphobia, gay marriage, LGBQT rights, child labor, etc. are all gathered together.) Numbers = "power". It's not that all these groups share such diverse concerns but rather, if pulled together, they become much more influential. The problem with such alliances, (Again not addressed and likely not even understood by Alinski), arises from groups of angry, passionate people gathered under vague and personally meaningless causes. These undefined, wide brush accusations directed towards the "enemy", create a society where "hatred without just cause" becomes normal for those caught in the flow. Ironically, it is those creating this social order of comrades and enemies that suffer most from such a manufactured world view. The word diabolical seems appropriate for such a machine.
It's not that Saul Alinski isn't expressing truth in the observations he makes between the haves and the have nots nor in the effects of his methods. And it's not that genuine good can't come of "forcing" change when injustice is in control. What gives this book and it's concepts such an insidious nature is the impact it can have on the people it influences over the course of years, as society and humanity journeys forward under false notions and unwarranted rights and offenses.
There will always be rich and poor, the have and the have nots. This is the nature of our existance.
Contrary to popular sentiment, we are not created equal. It is certainly true that some are born into wealth or poverty, some have higher or lesser degrees of intelligence and some, better or poorer educational options. Some people have physical strength, some do not, some have beauty and talent, some not so much.
We are not equal, but every person makes choices that influences the outcome of their lives and it's these choices that determine failure and success in finding happiness or discontent. The higher call should be for every individual, no matter their state, to find personal satisfaction and happiness outside the limits of what others may do for or against them. In truth, this contentment can be found no where else.
Saul Alinski was no doubt an intelligent man, but he was neither wise nor honorable in his actions as a leader of people.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
