The College Fix

Christmas is almost upon us, and Hanukkah is already underway, so if you’re (like many of us) scrambling about wondering what the heck to get your fellow right-of-center pals and/or relatives, have no fear for Hube is here — here to present to you some terrific right-minded gift ideas. Because … you asked for it (whether you know it or not!)

BOOKS … you may not have heard about:

The Heterodoxy Handbook: How to Survive the PC Campus. Edited by David Horowitz and Peter Collier, this is a collection of vignettes that probably won’t shock regular College Fix readers too much, but regardless, will make you laugh and wince at the same time. Horowitz, as you may know, is the brain behind the site FrontPage Mag.

Dictatorship of Virtue. This mid-1990s offering by Richard Bernstein — a New York Times liberal — is still very relevant today and obliterates political correctness in education. I don’t think a better title exists for a work about PC — or as a substitute for the term itself.

The Disuniting of America. Another noted liberal, Arthur Schlesinger, dissects political correctness and multiculturalism. It’s always fun when progressives themselves rip apart that stuff.

Bias and Arrogance by Bernie Goldberg. The noted journalist and regular “O’Reilly Factor” guest takes on what any clear-thinking person knows exists: (liberal) mainstream media bias.

The Theme is Freedom. M. Stanton Evans’s classic work about, well, its subtitle: religion, politics and the American tradition. Most interesting argument? The American Revolution was conservative in nature.

Vision of the Anointed. Thomas Sowell strikes again with this take-down of failed progressive social policies of the last forty years.

ASSORTED MERCHANDISE:

The Hillary Clinton Nutcracker. Show up at one of her $200K-plus college speeches with one of these, all the while enjoying your favorite stone fruit. Also serves as a possible metaphor for what will happen if she wins in 2016.

“Your Political Correctness Offends Me” t-shirt. Guaranteed to irritate your college professor and any “[Fill-in-the-Blank] Studies” majors. Every conservative/libertarian should own one.

“Think — It’s Not Illegal Yet” t-shirt. Although some would probably argue it is already.

“Republican / Democrat / PISSED OFF” t-shirt. Because if you care about common sense and rule of law, there’s plenty to be PO’d about.

The Obama Countdown Clock. Great gift idea, but could result in uncontrollable bouts of impatience.

“Oppressed Leftist Fascist Revolutionary” golf balls. Best thing about these? If you slice one out of bounds and can’t find it, who cares?

“America: We Will Kill You in Your Sleep. On Christmas” shower curtain. Not what you may think (be sure to check out the picture); an instant classic and must-have item.

“Prepping In Case Another Liberal Wins” flask. For medicinal purposes.

“[Null symbol] Sharia Law” pajamas. What every free person with two X chromosomes needs.

“Warning: Politically Incorrect” dog t-shirt. Guaranteed not to make you many (or any) friends while walking your dog around Manhattan.

“Trust Government” serving tray. View the picture, gasp at the irony.

Liberty Bell bike bell. Start your kids off right. And put it on your ride, too.

“Race Card” business card templates. Hand one out when an opponent is losing the argument and begins sounding like Sharpton.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Movies

The Lives of Others. One of the best — perhaps the best — movies about life under Communism. Keep this in mind as our president “opens up” relations with Cuba.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. British vessel takes on militarily superior French vessel around South America. With Russell Crowe commanding the former, the French should be worried! Bonus: The French vessel is American-made.

Gran Torino. Embittered Clint Eastwood is bugged by his neighborhood’s changing demographics, but realizes his Asian neighbors embody his (conservative) values better than his own family. And assimilation into US culture? Guaranteed to gag a “progressive.”

Miracle. The story of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team’s yes, miracle victory over the juggernaut USSR squad. The gold medal was actually icing on the cake a few day’s later. Terrific dramatization of the actual event, as anyone who witnessed the real game (like me) can attest. Kurt Russell is sensational as coach Herb Brooks.

Stand and Deliver. Sure, math teacher Jaime Escalante uses appeal to ethnicity to reach his street-hardened Latino students (“It was your ancestors, the Maya, who first contemplated the zero …”) but it’s effective, and he’s a no-nonsense, no-excuses instructor amidst excuse-making colleagues. One of Edward James Olmos’ best performances.

(Science) Fiction Novels

“The Disappearance” Trilogy by John Birmingham. An inexplicable energy wave decimates virtually the entire United States right at the onset of the Iraq War. Author Birmingham does a masterful job depicting world events in the absence of the world’s most powerful nation. Includes the novels Without Warning, After America, and Angels of Vengeance.

Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. Forget the ridiculous 1997 film; it’s nothing like the book outside of the military fighting giant insects. The ultimate failure of 20th-21st century democracies is discussed at length (and you’ll probably be thinking “Wow, how prescient!” while reading), as are preposterous social and cultural norms, many of which we follow today. Individual growth and maturity are also a big themes, not to mention the unique nature of humanity.

Fallen Angels by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Michael Flynn. First-rate (and fun) glimpse at what could happen if global warming climate change fanatics ever got real power.

“The Axis of Time” Trilogy by John Birmingham. In the near-future, an aircraft carrier battle group engaged in anti-jihadist activities participates in a teleportation experiment. It goes awry, and the group is shunted back to … 1942. Birmingham not only aces the military aspect, but the cultural one as well as the two time periods’ attitudes about race and gender cause their own degree of conflict. The ending of the second novel also gives our contemporary wishy-washy leaders a good idea on how to deal with radical Islamists. Includes Weapons of Choice, Designated Targets, and Final Impact.

Dave Huber is an assistant editor of  The College Fix. (@ColossusRhodey)

IMAGE: christmassweaterfun/Flickr

Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter