'SIMPLE TRUTHS you won't hear from most politicians'

Author Encourages Moderate Americans to Speak up on Issues of Terrorism, Country's Future

Doug Matheson addresses the critical state of the United States and the War on Terror as he urges his fellow moderates to stand up to extremism of all kinds in the new book, "SIMPLE TRUTHS you won't hear from most politicians" (now available through AuthorHouse).

Matheson presents a careful and detailed analysis of how the country and the world arrived at their present states and outlines the steps needed to procure a better future. "Are we going to re-narrow the fight with terrorism or let the conflict broaden to involve whole cultures?" he asks. "Further, how do we keep American society strong and stable internally?"

The first section of the book focuses on America's role in the world affected by terrorism. Matheson examines the roots of terrorism and addresses government policy, the role of fundamentalist religion and aspects of political leadership as they affect the fight against terrorism. "The central question is whether we have a narrowly focused fight with the radical extremists behind terrorism or have a full-breadth cultural war with Islam," he says.

The second section focuses on America's internal societal strength and stability. Matheson discusses the roles of education in general, science education in particular, race relations, affirmative action, energy, taxes and spending policies. "Part of what may well help us get through the next 20 years intact could be that we begin now to think and act with the long run in mind," he says. "What we want now, politically and otherwise, can't continue to be the driving force behind our decisions."

Throughout the book, Matheson advocates a moderate approach to solving the world's problems and criticizes religious fundamentalism and extremism in any form, including Christianity. "On that day we came under attack ... we felt that visceral fear. Various religious and political leaders have used that initial primal fear and the subsequent lasting feeling of insecurity to magnify our cultural differences," he says. "Real education, not indoctrination, promotes independent and analytical thinking, the very antidote to fundamentalism."

Matheson grew up in India and Singapore and worked in Beirut, Lebanon, for a year after graduating from Walla Walla College. He earned his master's degree at the University of Oregon and then worked in both Canada and Rwanda. He has been teaching science in rural Oregon for the past decade and enjoys coaching, writing and spending time with his family. More information can be found at http://www.simpletruths.biz.