In what ways does Benjamin R. Barber criticize America?

Benjamin R. Barber is the author of Jihad vs. McWorld (2001 Introduction: Terrorism's Challenge to Democracy)In what ways does Benjamin R. Barber criticize America?
He said that in light of all the debates over American government, it is up to the people, not just the system, to help resolve and fix these problems with the government and society. ';Everyone knows their rights but not their responsibilities,'; Barber said.





He added that ';Democracy is the art of living.'; He said citizenship must be learned, and power must be responsibly used. The best and only acceptably democratic means for learning responsibility is through empowerment. He described democracy as the right of people to make their own mistakes.





';We are born with the right to be free but we have to grow the ability to be free.'; Barber said.





Another topic addressed was America's focus on the social and moral problems of other nations. Debates about terrorism and illegal immigration may have caused society to lose sight of what is important.





';We don't have enough venues or places where citizens can talk to each other,'; said Barber.





He cited all the malls and other places where people walk right by each other, not bothering to interact with each other unless they have to. Under these circumstances, people soon start to lose touch with each other.





He noted that only when a disaster or tragedy occurs does it seem that people start truly interacting with each other.





Barber said that it is imperative that citizens volunteer and find ways to engage with the world around us. He added that civic acts such as voting are not enough.





If people feel engaged as citizens, then neither terrorists nor cynics can make individuals feel fearful or disempowered.





Barber also stressed the importance of education. It's in school where children can learn not only about government, but also citizenship. He added that it's not just the special interest of parents, or of kids going to school, but it's the interest of America that the youth are educated as engaged citizens.





He said, if we valued citizenship, we would give national service and civic education more attention.





Identifying schools as immensely important, we need to make them into models of critical learning, civic courage, and active citizenship.





In an excerpt from his novel titled ';Fear's Empire,'; he stated that ';It is hard for the U.S. to be the beacon of freedom that Bush's speech celebrated -- and the world so admires -- when it has in many places come to be seen as the maker of war the world most fears鈥?It is hard to lead a global struggle for human rights when the U.S. holds enemy aliens prisoners without rights and when Americans who criticize the preventive-war policy are vilified.';