America: Imagine the World Without Her presents a well-organized, well-researched exploration of how and why we've been lied to about certain events from American history. Co-directors Dinesh D'Souza and John Sullivan combines archival footage, interviews, dramatic re-enactments, and references to pop culture quite smoothly. They start off by describing the events that are supposed to make you feel negative about America such as: the American Indian Genocide, the Mexican-American War, American slavery and how capitalism is widening the gap between the rich and the poor. Interviews with Chomsky and others, including a Native American rights activist, will indeed make you angry and sad about our nation's past. You'll question whether or not you should be feeling that way after hearing the refutes against each of those events which, in turn, will provide you with different perspectives about our country. Whether or not you believe in the refutes is a whole other matter, but at least they will promote debate and tempt you to read up on each of them further. For instance, the doc cites historian William McNeill when refuting the notion that genocide had occurred against the Native Americans when Columbus colonized America. McNeill's version of history is that the vast majority of Native American were killed by plagues of cholera and other diseases, not by genocide. The arguments attempting to refute what makes American slavery and the increasingly high income inequality are somewhat simplistic and less persuasive, but they are nonetheless refreshing because they're a different perspective on a part of history that you thought assumed was true because you read it in a history book at school.

      America becomes more fascinating and provocative when it tackles the reasons why Americans have been led to believe that they should feel bad about America's past. Those reasons have a lot to do with politics and the progressive-socialist Saul Alinsky whose ideas are still alive in President Barack Obama as well as Hilary Clinton. This doc at least has the guts to shed light on the fact that our government has grown too big with too much surveillance and has exploited the American public all for the sake of benefiting politicians and increasing government power. Our government goes to the extent of silencing key thinkers like Aaron Swartz who dare to oppose their party line by investigating and threatening them with harsh punishments for minor offences. Watch the recent doc The Internet's Own Boy for more about how Aaron Swartz fought for the freedom of information, and how the DOJ's prosecutors overstepped their powers when prosecuting him. By the end of this doc, you'll agree that America has gotten quite far from where our founding fathers had intended it to be. America needs to be restored or else we'll become like the Romans, but before that restoration happens, there needs to be awareness and intellectual debate using critical thinking. Whether or not Americans are prepared for critical thinking without resorting to ad hominem is a whole other matter. Fortunately, refreshing docs like America: Imagine the World Without Her arrive to spark awareness and debate about America's past, present and future. Lionsgate Films opens it nationwide.

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Earth to Echo
Directed by Dave Green