Why We Whisper: Restoring Our Right to Say It's Wrong | 
| Authors: Jim Demint, J. David Woodard
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $4.95
You Save: $20.00 (80%)
New (32) Used (23) from $4.64
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 296975
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6.1 x 1
ISBN: 0742552527
Dewey Decimal Number: 342.730853
EAN: 9780742552524
ASIN: 0742552527
Publication Date: January 25, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: never read, excellent condition
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Product Description
Why Whisper? calls on Americans who believe in traditional values to resist the urge to stay silent and thus safe under the shameless onslaught of pressure, intimidation, and ridicule from the San Francisco-loving, NY Times reading, multicultural, anti-business, French-first, tree-hugging secular progressives and liberal political elites.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Not a waste of time July 29, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Why We Whisper" is meant to rally support around a generalized conservative religio-political agenda, one that seeks to gain control by limiting federal oversight and overpowering local opposition. Those fearful of this strategy are thus forewarned.
That stated, the book has content worth recommending to anyone. Despite a devotion to coded name calling, the observational narrative is compelling (those on the other side of the aisle will have to drop a bagful of preconceptions to appreciate its flow). The conclusions, skewed toward political correctness and ideological purity, are often unconvincing and generally not well thought out, tend to shift blame and confuse cause and effect; but whether viewed as righteous dogma or a shower of hubristic debris, the delineation of values, their assigned cost/benefit scale, and the utter freedom from objectivity make for an intermittently entertaining read. Obviously, the book is not geared toward persuading ideologues of whichever stripe to seriously reconsider their positions.
All the standard social conservative topics appear in random mishmashes of reportage and propaganda, alternately cogent and flawed, enervating and shallow, factual and irrational. The less familiar idea of "para-governmental" organizations is interesting, but too narrowly handled. Wavering stylistically between fluid testimonial, and clotted, graceless pamphleteering, the tone is sourly condescending, sprayed with the lack of respect commonplace in current political discourse, but over-arched by a tight, sunless layer of atmosphere. With repetitiousness kept light, the interludes of feigned objectivity feel like literary structure.
Forays into history, sociology and science add little to the text, there being no evidence that either author possesses the kind of scholarship that brings depth to these subjects. The historical plasticity of moral and natural law, with the tendency to conform to contemporary sentiment, circumstance and convenience, and change in general, is overlooked by Woodward and DeMint even as they introduce politicized considerations as newly minted moral law. Dubbing themselves traditionalists, the authors offer pages on their own victimization at the hands of secularists, prefaced by a single clause reducing traditionalist histories, such as slavery, to "blemishes." Statistics are read politically, which doesn't automatically support or negate them: the financial effects of single parenthood seem clear, while numbers can't explain the obligatory animus toward gays. Fortunately, Woodward and DeMint don't go much further into science than to give the literary stink eye to anyone who might question the orthodoxy of Intelligent Design.
Freedom of speech, ostensibly the central theme, is the most effective argument of the book (read this section first, instead of the rather indulgent introduction), but the actual main event is traditionalist vs. secularist. The issues are real, but the choice is false: most Americans look elsewhere for leadership and inspiration. Since neither camp is yet willing to remove politicking from the search for answers, the book's importance becomes its vivid, particular account of various and general social decays (apparently, we all need reminding).
Be aware: "Why We Whisper" is a partisan election year political tract, one essentially identifying Republicans with God, and Democrats with childhood obesity, among other things. A more honest title: "Why They Should Whisper Instead of Us."
 Outstanding book June 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of the best reads of the year. Recommended by Rush. Helps understand our declining culture and the high cost of a liberal agenda. Well researched & presented. Huge collection of information makes for a fairly slow read, but most worthy. Would have preferred a few clear Biblical links, although the principles are clear. Highly recommended.
 Avoid this book! June 2, 2008
3 out of 11 found this review helpful
Save your money.
If you are a like-minded conservative, you will find nothing new I suspect. The arguments, such as they are, tend to consist of one of two types. Quotes digested from other sources (and endnoted to a fare-thee-well). Or polemical argument, oh those evil secularists. You've seen this before.
If you are, like me, not a like-minded conservative, but interested in learning more of the conservative arguments, you will find little of use here. Conclusions are generally stated without supporting explanation.
One example. The authors (page 37) state that the Supreme Court ruled against a school board that required every class to start each day with the words "Almighty God we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessing upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country." Okay. The authors opine (page 38) "It is a stretch to call this statement a prayer or a religious activity." Huh? Looks to me that the authors are not even being true to their own beliefs here. They're really arguing that this isn't a statement in support of some particular sect, but to call this statement non-religious is noncredible.
A last general observation is that the authors seem to have hailed from a different world than the one I grew up in. They extol a land in the 1950's where there was a Judeo-Christian heritage that was the basis of a well-ordered society. From that time I remember arguments about whether the Jews were condemned to a special hell for being responsible for crucifying Christ. Intermarriage in the church I grew up in did not mean whether whites could or should marry blacks -- unthinkable -- but whether it was possible for a Methodist to successfully wed a Presbyterian. Catholics also were out of the question for members of my mainstream Protestant church.
Full disclosure statement -- I've not completed the book yet -- I will finish it -- if my opinion changes by the end of the book, I'll update this, but that seems to be about as likely as the Rockies repeating this year.
ENLIGHTENMENT FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TRUTH May 28, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
"Why We Whisper" is a well researched compilation of ideas and beliefs that led America to stray from the Foundation of American Government. This book will educate and enlighten Republicans, Democrats, and those looking for supported answers to the moral decay of our society. I cannot believe a Jim Demint is a politician - he sounds to honest.
Why not? March 8, 2008
18 out of 22 found this review helpful
The "opinion" by jg "saved" (maryland), as to why we should not buy this book, incorporates all the reasons the Marxists wish to silence us and stop us from even whispering. His Marxist view of God would force us to pay for his wish list of programs (his tithes, in his view), so he can feel like he did something for (he dared to say it) ---egad, be careful now---JESUS.
It seems to be the thing to do for Marxists to sit in their PJs in front of their PCs, bashing books that they have no intention of buying, so they can silence those for whom the Constitution gave the freedom of speech. This is why I am no longer one of them. The freedom of thought, speech, and disagreement is one of our most cherished rights, and they bend over backwards to silence all those with whom they disagree. Just for once, can any of you grow up and not review a book that you haven't read? Uhhhh yep, I thought not...
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