Review of Death of a Nation (2018) by Carlee J — 21 Aug 2018

I taught public speaking at the college level which included logic and ethics. I constantly had to evaluate presentations and give a fair grade whether I agreed with them or not. I've also taught conflict resolution. One of the basics is the foundation of being able to state your opponent's objection/position in a way that they will confirm that is, in fact, their view. While Death of a Nation has a concervative bent, it has been excellent at presenting multiple points of view giving a platform for the opposing point a view. I appreciate that, as is educational whether I agree with them or not.

I do listen to multiple sources for political information. So far, all my liberal friends scoff and refuse to see the movie. I've listed to the Dinesh debating liberals. I'd like to see him have a debate with someone with the same integrity with an opposing view. Is that possible???

Watching debates with people like "The Young Turks" host Cenk Uygur at Politicon 2016 is almost a waste of time in terms of educational value. It mostly allowed Cenk to show he has nothing significant to say. He played so many psychological games that it undermined EVERYTHING he said as it reflects that his content is weak. He has repeatedly tried to manipulate the listener by telling us what we just heard is not in fact what we heard-a common tactic of politicians and news reporters when they have no rebuttal! Either Cenk was not able to understand or he purposely tried to manipulate. Regardless of his motives, he rendered himself ineffective.

One of the most difficult concepts for my Speech students to grasp was the difference between fact and opinion. That foundational element could make or break their speech drastically--as in the difference between an A-B vs D-F. Whether I agreed with their facts or not, they could get an A if they defended it well. And, even if I agreed with them on their personal opinion, they could fail the speech. At the college level, one should at least know the difference between a factual statement or an opinion statement.

Students struggled most with the concept that a fact can be true or false. A common misused/misunderstood term is, "And, that's a fact." It's misused when the speaker means, that is true/accurate. A fact is simply something that may be evaluated so as to be supported as true or false.

Dinesh is an accomplished speaker and debater who consistently takes the high ground in pedagogical integrity, understanding of vocabulary, and the difference between fact and opinion. That is reflected in his movies. I appreciate Dinesh D'Souza, for taking the heat as an effective spokesperson for the conservative view. I have yet to hear one for the liberal view. So far, they would all get D/F if they pulled those psych stunts in my speech class!

I'd really like a new debate too if it were possible to find an opponent who had the same pedagogical integrity. The others are boring at best aggravating at worst. However, it's always good to hear and see your Dinesh's skill in keeping cool while his opponent digs themselves into a pit of poor credibility by the very use of the psychological tactics such as "gaslighting." That's the term for when you just heard a speech and the commentator comes on telling you that the speech REALLY said something totally different than what you just heard.

I look forward to Dinesh's future movies. He is shining some light on the political madness so prevalent in the US-madness that is getting more and more dangerous due to the hate and fear and license to destroy without investigating the facts.