Abstract: This chapter considers three phrases from Theodor Holm “Ted” Nelson’s Computer Lib/Dream Machines. The first is the famous line from the Computer Lib cover: “You Can and Must Understand Computers NOW.” Less famous, but equally crucial in our present moment are a second line, “presentation by computer is a branch of show biz and writing, not of psychology, engineering or pedagogy,” and a third, “All Simulation Is Political.” Taken together, these three statements call for a creative and critical literacy of computing broadly, and computational media in particular. Nelson’s call is not only of historical importance, but one that can guide our work and thinking today. This chapter outlines how even noble attempts to address public understanding of computers often fail to consider the important messages of these three statements, with results that could serve precisely the wrong interests. It also gives an example of work influenced by this set of Nelson’s ideas, from a project of the author and collaborators critiquing and expanding the Kodu introductory programming environment. It also argues that we must unite work that follows in Nelson’s footsteps by reading software critically (e.g., “software studies”) with work that aims to broaden the writing of software, if we hope to successfully answer Nelson's clarion call for a public that is computationally engaged, computationally expressive, and understands what is at stake.