I don't need to repeat all of the ways white people cheated the Indians. They are amply demonstrated in the book. But there was another side that seemI don't need to repeat all of the ways white people cheated the Indians. They are amply demonstrated in the book. But there was another side that seems to be forgotten. People often speak of Native Americans like they were some superhuman beings that are totally different from other peoples. In this book I saw the dark side as well. When the Sauk tribe killed people they took scalps. Young boys who had not killed anyone yet stood aside ashamed when the warriors did their dance. The Sioux were treated like awful creatures to be killed. And finally Black Hawk's plan for the whites to remove black skinned people is so awful I am not even going to write it down. I think it is important to understand that our problems are within us, all of us....more
Well worth reading. Yes, she was a communist, but it was the wealthy industrialists who drove her there. What I don't forgive her for is that later inWell worth reading. Yes, she was a communist, but it was the wealthy industrialists who drove her there. What I don't forgive her for is that later in life she never spoke out against Stalin or the Soviet Union. Did she really believe workers were treated well there? ...more
Something at the beginning of the book reminded of a blog post I wrote on Goodreads once. Updike describes someone asking him about writing his biograSomething at the beginning of the book reminded of a blog post I wrote on Goodreads once. Updike describes someone asking him about writing his biography. But that idea seemed "repulsive" to Mr. Updike. Lots of writers have biographers, why not him? If he doesn't want one, that is fine too, but repulsive? That is too much.
Here is the blog post where I describe meeting Mr. Updike once:
". . . it appeared to me that when we try in good faith to believe in materialism, in the exclusive reality of the physical, we are asking our selves to step aside; we are disavowing the very realm where we exist and where all things precious are kept--the realm of emotion and conscience, of memory and intention and sensation."
"I have the persistent sensation, in my life and art, that I am just beginning." ...more
Written in the 1950s, the book shows Attenborough before he became the great environmentalist he is today. He gathered animals for the London Zoo and Written in the 1950s, the book shows Attenborough before he became the great environmentalist he is today. He gathered animals for the London Zoo and filmed animals for the first tv series on animals, Zoo Quest.
My favorite picture in the book shows him with a mass of butterflies on his hand drinking his sweat. I had never seen that before....more
Audio book read by Al Franken himself. I found it simply told and totally fascinating.
If you want to learn about politics, you could do a lot worse tAudio book read by Al Franken himself. I found it simply told and totally fascinating.
If you want to learn about politics, you could do a lot worse than reading this book. I miss him. He was an excellent senator.
Franken lost his job after writing this book. I have known people who kiss on the lips as a way of greeting. I would never do that nor do I want anyone to do that to me. I remember one person thinking of me as being ridiculous that I would not let her kiss me on the lips. She kissed everyone on the lips. Franken seems like that.
I respect everyone's air space, and I expect them to respect mine.
When The Satanic Verses was first published, I made sure to buy a copy to support the author, the publisher, the book store. I thought then and I stilWhen The Satanic Verses was first published, I made sure to buy a copy to support the author, the publisher, the book store. I thought then and I still think now that what went on because of that book is a disgrace. So I put my money up to show my beliefs. I am opposed to any and all blasphemy laws. They are used to punish people for no good reasons. The idea that people should be murdered because they blasphemed someone's supernatural belief system is abhorrent to me.
Rushdie believed his problems started with an article published in India with the headline AN UNEQUIVOCAL ATTACK ON RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM. The last sentence of the article was "The Satanic Verses is bound to trigger an avalanche of protests . . . " Islamic conservatives in the Indian Parliament read the article and opened up with a barrage of angry ad hominem attacks against Rushdie. Do you think any of them bothered to read the book? Or even cared? But any book with the word "Satanic" in the title must be actually satanic, right? False information spread and was believed.
Naguib Mahfouz won the Nobel Prize for literature and was accused of blasphemy for his novel Children of Gebelawi, an allegory of the lives of prophets from Abraham to Muhammad. In 1994, he was stabbed in the neck. He survived and went on to denounce Rushdie after originally coming to his defense.
In Britain, the Labor Party found themselves meekly opposing free speech as they defended the point of view of their Muslim constituents. Rushdie offered to insert a brief comment in his book to allow Muslims to explain why they found the book offensive. No one, of course, took him up on the offer.
The Guardian ran an ad with the words "DOES SALMAN RUSHDIE HAVE ANY REGRETS?" It seems that the men of violence are not responsible for their attacks, just the man they are attacking is.
There were Islamist attacks on theater, film, music, musicians, performers, Buddhist statues, socialists, unionists, cartoonists, journalists, prostitutes, homosexuals, women in skirts, beardless men, frozen chickens, and samosas. Extremist ideologies grew.
H. L. Mencken: "Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy."
U2's Bono became a supporter and wrote a song for Rushdie.
Let us honor Farag Foda assassinated in Egypt by an Islamist group for committing blasphemy according to a committee of clerics. He was one of 202 people killed between March 1992 and September 1993. His books were banned in December 1992. One of those who was convicted of the murder was released in 2012 and still defended the killing.
Let us honor Tahar Djaout assassinated in Algeria in 1993 by the Armed Islamic Group because of his support of secularism and his opposition to what he considered to be fanaticism. Rushdie introduced a documentary about him called "Shooting the Writer."
Let us honor the victims of the Sivas massacre. Sivas is a town in Turkey where 37 people were killed in the Madimak Hotel when it was set on fire by Islamic extremists who were intent on killing secularist Aziz Nesin. He was actually saved by firefighters. When it was realized who he was, he was beaten. A politician shouted, "This is the devil we should really have killed." The riot was referred to as "the Rushdie riot" as if he were responsible for it.
Let us honor Professor Hitoshi Igarashi. He was the Japanese translator of The Satanic Verses who was murdered.
Jose Saramago: "Inside us there is something that has no name. That something is what we are."
Here are quotes by supporters: 1. Syrian poet Adonis: "Truth is not the sword / Nor the hand that holds it." 2. Mohammad Arkoun of Algeria: "I would like to see The Satanic Verses made available to all Muslims in order that they might be able to reflect in a more modern fashion on the cognitive status of revelation." 3. Rabah Belamri of Algeria: "The Rushdie Affair has very clearly revealed to the entire Muslim world that Islam . . . has now demonstrated its incapacity to undergo with impunity any serious kind of examination." 4. Fethi Benslama of Turkey: "In his book Salman Rushdie went the whole way, once and for all, as if he really wanted to be, all by himself, all the different authors who had never been able to exist in the history of his tradition." 5. Zhor Ben Chamsi of Morocco: "We should really be grateful to Rushdie for having opened the imaginary for Muslims once again." 6. Assia Djebar of Algeria: "This prince of a writer . . . is nothing else but perpetually naked and alone. He is the first man to have lived in the condition of a Muslim woman (and . . . he is also the first man to be able to write from the standpoint of a Muslim woman)." 7. Karim Ghassim of Iran: "He is our neighbor." 8. Emile Habibi a Palestinian: "If we fail to save Salman Rushdie--God forbid!--the shame will haunt global civilization as a whole." 9. Mohammed Harbi of Algeria: "With Rushdie, we recognize the disrespect, the principle of pleasure that is freedom in culture and the arts, as a source of fruitful examination of our past and present." 10. Jamil Hatmal of Syria: "I choose Salman Rushdie over the murderous turbans." 11. Sonallah Ibrahim of Egypt: "Every person of conscience must go to the aid of this great writer in hardship." 12. Salim Jay of Morocco and France: "The only truly free man today is Salman Rushdie. . . . He is the Adam of a library to come: one of freedom." 13. Elias Khoury of Lebanon: "We have the obligation to tell him that he personifies our solitude and that his story is our own." 14. Abdelwahab Meddeb of Tunisia: "Rushdie, you have written what no man has written. . . . Instead of condemning you, in the name of Islam, I congratulate you." 15. Sami Nair of Algeria and France: "Salman Rushdie must be read."
All of the above are acts of courage.
Cat Stevens, who later became Yusuf Islam, demanded Rushdie repent and withdraw his book. He would much later deny that he said any such things, in spite of all of the records of exactly what he said.
The Blair government tried for many years to find ways to make it illegal to criticize religion, in other words Islam. Blasphemy laws from the Middle Ages were formally abolished in England and Wales in 2008. May we see the day when they are abolished everywhere....more
I did not enjoy the book as much as most reviewers. In fact, three stars is a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, I love his book The Triggering TownI did not enjoy the book as much as most reviewers. In fact, three stars is a bit of a stretch. On the other hand, I love his book The Triggering Town. A few of those essays are in this book as well. My favorite page was a picture of Hugo after landing from a bombing mission in Italy in WWII. I also love the idea of doing a Self-Interview. I think I want to try one.
I wanted to give this five stars. In fact, I thought it would be automatic. I loved Diane Rehm's NatioUnabridged audio tape read by Ms. Rehm herself.
I wanted to give this five stars. In fact, I thought it would be automatic. I loved Diane Rehm's National Public Radio program. And it is a topic that is very important to me: the right to die. But listening to Diane Rehm's wailing and moaning in her "poor, pathetic me" tone was just flat out unbearable. I might have even given the book one star if it were not for the moments of clarity.
Rehm is supposed to be a leader in the struggle against Parkinson's disease and in the fight for the right die. Well she just missed a golden opportunity to put up a fight. She practically ignored Parkinson's. And I think she failed her husband who would have wanted her to fight in anger against those religious and conservative and medical ideologues who prevent people from dying.
Her husband had to refuse food and water to die. That is a damn shame. That's the story. She missed it except for a few spots.
Instead I got a lengthy description of her recipe for baklava. I got a list of who attended and did not attend an Easter dinner. I got a description of a "nightmare" when she had to deal with a leaky ceiling and had to remove her priceless paintings off the walls. This from a woman who follows the news? And most of all I got a lot of me, me, me....more
This was an abridged audio version read by the former President himself, Jimmy Carter. The man is a model for what an ex-president should be like.
I wThis was an abridged audio version read by the former President himself, Jimmy Carter. The man is a model for what an ex-president should be like.
I was thoroughly engrossed almost throughout the book. The fascinating voice of Mr. Carter and the interesting stories kept me listening intently. While I found some similarities with my own boyhood, basically the South seems to me like another planet, and I felt like I was reading a science fiction story. And a wonderful one. ...more
I think the phrase "odd duck" must have been invented to describe Sartre. He just quacks away about whatever.
I would not recommend this book to anyonI think the phrase "odd duck" must have been invented to describe Sartre. He just quacks away about whatever.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who is not interested in Sartre.
Here is its most famous quote:
“I began my life as I shall no doubt end it: among books. In my grandfather's study, they were everywhere; it was forbidden to dust them except once a year, before the October term. Even before I could read, I already revered these raised stones; upright or leaning, wedged together like bricks on the library shelves or nobly placed like avenues of dolmens, I felt that our family prosperity depended on them. They were all alike, and I was romping about in a tiny sanctuary, surrounded by squat, ancient monuments which had witnessed my birth, which would witness my death and whose permanence guaranteed me a future as calm as my past. I used to touch them in secret to honour my hands with their dust but I did not have much idea what to do with them and each day I was present at ceremonies whose meaning escaped me: my grandfather - so clumsy, normally, that my grandmother buttoned his gloves for him - handled these cultural objects with the dexterity of an officiating priest. Hundreds of times I saw him get up absent-mindedly, walk round the table, cross the room in two strides, unhesitatingly pick out a volume without allowing himself time for choice, run through it as he went back to his armchair, with a combined movement of his thumb and right forefinger, and, almost before he sat down, open it with a flick "at the right page," making it creak like a shoe. I sometimes got close enough to observe these boxes which opened like oysters and I discovered the nakedness of their internal organs, pale, dank, slightly blistering pages, covered with small black veins, which drank ink and smelt of mildew.”...more
I am afraid I found his writing very boring. But what an interesting life he lived. I admire people who are handed privileges in their lives and then I am afraid I found his writing very boring. But what an interesting life he lived. I admire people who are handed privileges in their lives and then decide to give back by serving their country and humanity. John Kerry was that kind of man. ...more
Charles M. Blow is a columnist for the New York Times. Here he talks about his life with a focus on coming to terms with his homosexual desires. He reCharles M. Blow is a columnist for the New York Times. Here he talks about his life with a focus on coming to terms with his homosexual desires. He reads in this audio tape.
There is a bit of a sidetrack at the end where he writes about pledging at Grambling College. I actually enjoyed that story because the same type of pledging incidents happened to me. I tried to end pledging in my fraternity of about 50 guys. I had the support of only about five others. I could never figure out why people wanted to do that to other people. There was just so much cruelty in it. The main argument was, "Well we had to go through it, why not them?" It was like Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." ...more
I just finished a biography and decided to reread his Autobiography, which I read in high school. I loved it then. What kind of boy did that make me? I just finished a biography and decided to reread his Autobiography, which I read in high school. I loved it then. What kind of boy did that make me? A nerd? A dork? I prefer to say "budding intellectual." I remember myself thinking then about how I could be a better person. Nothing wrong with a book that does that. ...more
An abridged cd with a magnificent reading by Fred Contreras. The other day as I went to a car repair appointment, I arrived all misty-eyed and runny-nAn abridged cd with a magnificent reading by Fred Contreras. The other day as I went to a car repair appointment, I arrived all misty-eyed and runny-nosed. Very sad story. Black Elk speaks of the creatures with roots, legs, and wings. I add the creatures that crawl and swim. And any other creatures that are left out. I hope to read the full unabridged version in book form some day so I can copy down a few quotes.
Riding home from my appointment, I noticed the melting snow. The seven-day forecast was all temperatures over 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Monday, February 1, was predicted to have a high of 49 degrees. Winter didn't even start until January. Winters are getting shorter every year. And I live in Central New Hampshire. This is what we have done to this planet and continue to do. Yet ignorance and supernaturalism reign. Haters inspire people around the world. Or they turn to some sort of spiritual world. The difficult work of protecting the planet is often forgotten. Rest in peace, Black Elk. You would not want to witness this. ...more
Autobiographical stories by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the author of The Yearling, about her life in Cross Creek, Florida. She tells of characters likeAutobiographical stories by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, the author of The Yearling, about her life in Cross Creek, Florida. She tells of characters like 'Geechee, who is named after the Ogeechee River. 'Geechee was a young black girl who was bought by the author for five dollars to do her housework. Seems like the girl's family was too large to care for her themselves. And there's Mr. Martin and his pigs. No fences in Cross Creek to keep animals in. You have to build them to keep other people's animals out. Rawlings has to shoot one of Mr. Martin's pigs, so she becomes in debt to him. Much of the book deals with the flora and fauna of the area. Stories about food and customs. ...more
A must read for anyone interested in Malala's fascinating life, Afghan and Pakistani history, and women's issues.
One criticism I had. I just can't heA must read for anyone interested in Malala's fascinating life, Afghan and Pakistani history, and women's issues.
One criticism I had. I just can't help but feel that religion has been a curse upon humanity. Malala is so proud of the fact that Pakistan became the first Muslim nation, but she seems to me to be missing the point that that is part of the problem. Then when she is wounded, her mother becomes a fanatical prayer, as if that would even matter. The book is filled with tiny moments of superstitions, coupled with a desire to be educated. Start by dropping religion, but, of course, that would really get her killed.
I learned about a kind of Pashto folk poem called a tapa. It has two lines: the first is nine syllables and the second is thirteen syllables. Here are some examples, translated so the syllables are off:
1. "When you start your journey from the end of a snake's tail, You will end up on its head in an ocean of poison."
#1 refers to the Pakistan military trying to fight the Taliban. They totally messed up by at first using them and now trying to get rid of them.
2. "If the men cannot win the battle, O my country, Then the women will come forth and win you an honor."
Malala wanted to change #2 to this:
3. "Whether the men are winning or losing the battle, O my country, The women are coming and the women will win you an honor."
One her mother liked:
4. "Don't kill doves in the garden. You kill one and the others won't come."...more
For me, I thought of this book as one for young adults. It is an easy read. Ms. Sotomayor shows how she developed her self confidence by doing such thFor me, I thought of this book as one for young adults. It is an easy read. Ms. Sotomayor shows how she developed her self confidence by doing such things as giving herself an insulin shot. Unusual influences such as watching Perry Mason on tv inspired to become a judge. The only thing that would have disappointed would have been if she hinted at that old canard, "If I can do it, why can't you?" I'm glad she didn't. Her altruism can be an inspiration for teenagers. It also shows how such things as scholarships helped to overcome some of her problems. A lot of good lessons here to learn. ...more
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