Considering I don't even know what that phrase means, I will say 'no'. I'm curious, too, what level of schooling you mean: grade (K-12) or university. I have li

Considering I don't even know what that phrase means, I will say 'no'. I'm curious, too, what level of schooling you mean: grade (K-12) or university. I have lived in the US my entire life and went through public school. I'll vouch that critical discussions of such things is not broached, generally. Consider the media frenzy a little while ago regarding the (minor) re-wording of the Pledge of Allegiance, as said in grade schools. Having just finished Chris Hedges' "War is a Force that Gives Us Meaning", I will also vouch that main-stream US media is largely bereft of this level of unflinching critical discourse. I'm somewhat heartened to see this article appearing on NYTimes.com. The core of the message, for me, is the line 'But no institution — particularly one financed by the taxpayers — should be immune from thoughtful criticism.' And the author nails the fact that none in the political sphere can proffer these dissensions without facing derision. The whole discourse seems like a ratcheting forward to an escalation of war-mongering. Finding alternative uses for funds and citing the possible security failure of a war mono-culture should indeed provide a viable alternative, but again, prime-time outlets don't trade in that currency. The tired sound bites of 'valor' and 'patriotism' reign ascendant. The honest resistance against this tide will probably be quiet desperation for some time yet. Hedges came to my attention lately for standing the opposition to section 1021 and 1022 in the US NDAA 2012 in courts. But his work, and that of many others, doesn't make pleasant water-cooler talk. I was born in the waning days of the civil rights movements and often wonder why we don't mobilize for peace as well anymore. I think we've become contented -- fat, dumb, and happy -- but it might also be the gradual swing back towards a police state: useful response necessarily maintains a cautious economy of action.