Customer Reviews

Sorry, Everybody: An Apology to the World for the Re-Election of George W. Bush

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After the results of the 2004 Presidential election were made clear, a student from USC started a website www.sorryeverybody.com. The book is a collection of pictures from that website.

Ted Rall (author and political cartoonist) wrote a forward for this book. People from all over the U.S. wrote how they felt and took pictures of themselves holding signs. Some signs were very creative. I would say these are not only some of America's best people, these are also some of the best Democrats. The people in this book are in the long haul and will always work for better education, healthcare and human rights issues.

If you are non-American, I recommend taking a look at this book so you can see a much better alternative to the sorry "elected" officials who represent this country.

This book, what it is and what it represents, is a part of what makes America great. It's the voice and image of the people (well, around half of them), made into something tangible that you can see, read, and experience for yourself. It is the concept of freedom of speech made into reality. Whether one agrees with the message or not, one has to admire the power of the idea itself, and how it caught the imagination of so many.

This is not a book by one person, but thousands. It is not a single voice, but many voices, speaking from the heart in simple terms words of apology for a wrong they felt was done. From anger to sadness to hope, the feelings expressed in these images and on these handwritten signs are honest and true and heartfelt. The word "grassroots" is thrown around a great deal these days, usually inaccurately, but that word describes the idea behind this book perfectly...something that started as a simple idea and inspired many others to follow suit. It was not planned. It just...happened. This is the essence of a true grassroots effort.

The pictures willl show you that the people represented here are not stereotypical in the least. They're not all hippies, peaceniks, or college students. They're not even all Democrats! There are people here from red states and blue states, from Boston and Seattle but also from Texas and Georgia and yes, even from Ohio and Florida. There are people young and old, blue collar workers, teachers, high school students, farmers, mothers, and members of the United States military. There are no celebrities here, no political pundits, no "loony lefties." Just everyday people, most of whom you've probably never met and never will, but they all have something to say.

Each page has something funny to offer, or something touching... often both. It is a reminder of how we took that difficult time after the election in 2004 and turned it into a unifying moment, showing the world that we were better than how it seemed on November 2nd, speaking the same words in the voice of thousands, reaching across the country and around the world to spread the simplest of messages: "We're so sorry."

Like it or not, this book is not the voice of the loudest few. It is the voice and the image of the many, who are usually silent but on this occasion had to speak, to make their voices heard so that their silence was not interpreted as acquiescence or agreement. These are the voices we don't normally hear from, speaking honest words from the heart.

This is the face and the voice of America. Whether we agree or disagree with what they're saying, maybe we should all at least take the time to listen to them, and to see them for what they are. Americans.

All political debate aside (since this isn't the forum for it), this book is a collection of photos sent in just after last year's presidential election by (mostly) Americans who were disappointed and upset over the results (though there are a few photos of people from other countries, commiserating).
The website was a great outlet for people to express their feelings, and they did so with wonderful photos of themselves with signs that were sometimes very touching and often quite funny (like the woman who offered to bake everyone cookies). Each photo expresses a lot with few words, and you get a sense of their genuine love of their country, their hurt over the election and irrepressible sense of humour.
I don't think this book was intended as anything other than a snapshot (pun intended) of a portion of the country in a vulnerable moment in history, but it's very well done, and will renew your faith that there are many people out there who, after sending in their photo, probably took a deep breath, dusted themselves off, and are now working very hard towards the next election.

Until I saw Sorry Everybody, I used to say "Americans." Now I say Republicans or Bush-voters; I say Democrats or smart liberal Americans. I must honestly tell you that right after the election, when someone said that 2000 was a travesty but 2004 showed America's true nature, I agreed.
But the book showed me that Americans don't speak as one. I was overwhelmed by the creativity, humour and wonderful humanity revealed in the photos and messages. You're not just good people, you're artists!
It isn't easy being a Canadian and coping with Bully Bush next door. In fact, it's scary and miserable. Sorry Everybody makes me want you all to come up here for a visit or become a citizen, if you don't mind winter.
Now we like to smoke up, we like our gay marriage and full abortion rights, we like going into a doctor's office without worrying about cash, we like hockey and canoes -- we are different from you. But we like you Democrats so very much. I will treasure this wonderful historic volume.

Far from being full of liberal crybabies and anti-American whiners, this book contains photographs of individuals who feel strongly and passionately about the future of our country and wanted to express their sadness at the outcome of the '04 election to the rest of the world.

Other reviewers who have bashed this book as garbage should have taken a closer look instead of dismissing and blindly criticizing. This book wasn't a premeditated Bush-bashing project, it was the outcome of a website of the same name which received an overwhelming response (in the form of amateur photographs taken of individuals' apologies to the world) from Americans who were disappointed and dismayed following Bush's victory and wanted to share those feelings with people across the globe who share those sentiments. For those of us on the liberal side of the fence, the website, and now the book, are comforting and inspiring. Comparing this book to any anti-Bush or Bush-bashing book (or film) is unfounded and the result of a lack of understanding of the purpose of Sorry Everybody.

This is a great book. It is a tribute to what a wonderful country America really is.

Aside from the politics, this book is well-done. The photos are high-quality and there is no unnecessary commentary or chatter.

The only thing is, now I'm really sorry because I didn't know I had to specifically give permission to get my submission to sorryeverybody.com into the book. I had a really great picture but it won't be published :(

I am a librarian and I am buying one for my library and donating one to my public library. I have watched the face of a person pick up this book, browse, and be strongly moved. Hundreds of American pictures with short messages apologizing to the world for the actions of the current president is persuasive and compelling. The story of how this book came to be is a testament to our country's ideals. It preserves a little piece of American history for future generations.

All I can say is this book sure helped me deal with a lot of anger and frustration and sadness. For the (slim) minority of us here in the US (and the majority of the world) who have been absolutely abhorrent of governer bush's handling of the presidency, this book is a much needed catharsis. More power to you, James Zetlen, and to the publishing company who made this book available to all of us. It is a wonderful documentary snapshot of this turbulent time. If you have read this far, and have not been polluted by the pro-bushies' anger, above, i seriously suggest you buy this book. Not only is it history, it is a breath of fresh air. I am proud to have it on my shelf, if for nothing more than to announce to all visitors who i am NOT allied with.

I finally got this book (after weeks of waiting). I had to drive twenty miles int he rain, but it was worth it.

After the election, I felt completely alone in my red state. However, it is incredibly refreshing to know that many of my fellow Americans feel the same way. "Sorry,Everybody" is perfect for anyone who felt lost, confused, and/or angry after November 2nd. Flipping through this book, I felt rejuvinated.

Must admit that as I went through these pages, my eyes welled up with tears.

Wonderful, wonderful book. Will make the next four years bearable. :)

No book like this has ever been conceived prior to our current president's election. This does NOT show what sore losers the anti-Bushes are; rather, it is a reflection that the anti-Bush crowd, while perhaps BARELY of the minority opinion in this country, is completely in sync with the majority of the rest of the world.

Though I am in no way suggesting Bush is Hitler, I don't think the international community has been as unified in opposing a world leader since Hitler as it is is with Bush.

After the election, I was pretty disgusted with my fellow Americans who voted for Bush. This election was a battle of awareness versus ignorance, and ignorance won. I do not believe that people who voted for Bush are bad people, just very sorely misguided.

Today on the freeway, I saw a "We vote pro-life" bumper sticker. How bad does a president have to be before people to actually wake up and THINK, outside of blindly voting always for one particular party? My God, we could be rounding up blacks, Hispanics, gays and non-Christians to the middle of Nebraska to be gassed, and people will STILL vote Republican because the candidate says "Yee-haw, I believe abortion should be illegal and those baby-killers in jail!" Yee-haw indeed.

As someone who is politically active with ending the War on Drugs, I am here to tell you that we do NOT live in a free country. A society that always votes FOR guns and AGAINST legalized marijuana is a society paralyzed with paranoia. Every time I read about a nonviolent marijuana possession bust, and I think of Bush's pontification over freedom and liberty, my blood boils.

While the Canadian Senate recommends legalizing marijuana, over here in the "land of the free," the government is pushing for more laws, penalties, fines and jail time.

What does this have to do with Sorry Everybody? Well, you Bush voters are the ones who voted for continued restrictions of civil liberties at home.

I also saw a sticker today that said "Say NO to taxes - vote republican." While I am as against WASTED tax dollars as anyone (i.e. the $500m per anum budget for the War on Drugs), I think anyone who possesses such a blanket anti-taxes attitude is anti-society. It means they care for their own well-being only. Remember, taxes are channeled toward public services. Once again, the "yee-haw" attitude: we're causing international hatred and resentment against us, we waged an illegal war in violation of international law, but hey, the Republicans say they're "against taxes," so we'll vote for him no matter what's going on in the world!

Having completed my rant against the current state of this country I love, I am now going to state how touched I was by the thousands of photos in this book. These photos give me hope. They give me hope that the red states are not destined forever to stay red. They give me hope that millions of people are paying attention. I was touched by all the under-18s who promise to vote next time. Finally I was touched by the overwhelmingly warm feeling of knowing that I'm not alone.

And since I didn't make it into the book, I too want to say: Sorry, World!

And God Bless you James Zetlen!