Monday, September 1, 2008

Some Good Books




"Reason to Believe" by Mario Cuomo





If you want to be witness to a very active and functional liberal mind, it's Cuomo's writings you should explore. Cuomo lays out several well thought-out arguments against the 1990's republicans, and successfully argues, I think, for the need to strengthen the democratic party, in order to get back to the democratic principles that made this country great!
Cuomo has excellent speaking skills and this is reflected in his marvelous writing.




"There is a Spiritual Solution for Every Problem" by Dr. Wayne Dyer




Take what you need and throw the rest out. Say what you want about Dyer. He has some good insights. The spiritual side cannot be ignored, even though the scientists have a heck of a time trying to define it. I like the quotes from writers and philosophers he interjects into his talks. You may be a bit taken aback when he talks about the "vibrations" ... low vibrations represent spiritual atmosphere's we should try to avoid, sort along the lowest common denominator of Maslow's hierarchy, and higher vibrations are a pseudo-scientific way to grasp what the scientific definition of high level spirituality might be. Kind of hard to understand, but I know what he is grasping at, trying to define spirituality in a scientific way when there are simply not the words. (Sam Harris is now attempting some ground breaking scientific studies on spirituality) Dyer is one of a kind and his basic message is that the spiritual world should not be lost in such a materialistic, science based. Dyer is not afraid to talk about this stuff even though some may think he sounds very crazy, flightly if you will, in his attempts to articulate all these heady thoughts.




"Homegrown Democrat" by Garrison Keillor




This sums up much of what I feel about this book, which I listened to as an audio book in the car. "Worried and angry, he(GK) warns against the threat to our democracy as the heartland virtues and civil compact he grew up with, given color in stories from his life, give way to a walled, gated, class-separated state." Sure there is anger and emotion here, but it's done with a lot of class. I found "Homegrown Democrat" extremely refreshing. Garrison Keillor strikes me as very perceptive about the world around him and in touch with forces in the poltical world which are positive and which are especially pernicious. The argument could be made that he takes shots at the GOP, and that he could have been equally critical of his own party. He sees more hope growing out of a party supporting the people from the ground up than the party of corporate America. Looking at some of the reviews most critical of this book on Amazon.com , one would think that the spirit of Joseph McCarthy is still alive and well. A reoccurring theme is a call for Keillor to go back to Lake Wobegon where you belong, and go back to being that silly storyteller that tickled our ribs so consistently and so effectively. Unfortunately for those on the wrong side, this is Keillor's serious side and when it hits too close to home, those who are overly zealous about such issues as right to bear arms, the death penalty, abortion, flag burning, the war, etc. get rubbed the wrong way and they don't like it. It was funny that many of the most critical of Keillor said he was "mean spirited." It doesn't take much intelligence to figure out that where this guy is coming from is love, love of country, love of democracy, love of purity, love of innocence in the young artist, and so on. I believe one of the underlying messages is Keillor's angst over this country losing its innocence. I think he is very sad about this. To say he is not knowledgable about the world is way out in right field. Some have even called him a socialist. I think idealist is a lot closer to the truth. Also among the most severe critics are the "I earned my money and I can do what the hell I want to with it" crowd. They hate Keillor for wanting good services even if taxes are at a high level. At many points in the book, I believe that Keillor is exaggerating to make a point or using sarcasm. Those on the far right don't get this complex guy and would just assume this wombat is some loser intellectual who has lost touch with reality. One of the critics, Kevin Willis, is so harsh, maybe Ann Coulter used his name as an alias. If one takes a good look at the subject matter Keillor gently weaves in this masterpiece, one realizes he is more than an author. He is more like an artist painting his most unique and inspiring vision of what America can be. He has a lot to say, and no he is not a "political hack." Someone suggested that we read Al Franken to be far more enlightened about reality. Frankly, Al Franken is mental midget compared to Garrison Keillor. One gets the feeling that Garrison is a person who wears his heart on his sleeve, but feels so strongly about politics and some of the wrong directions this country is going in, he is compelled to speak out, and to call a spaid a spaid. Life is too short to beat around the bush, as I am learning as I approach age 49 years of age. I cannot understand this barrage of hate of Keillor from the far right. There is a lot of misunderstanding in this world, including the misunderstanding of this gentle genius from Minnesota.






p.s. Favorite Keillor quotes from the book: "In September, I was writing big throughts in my journal: 'Death is the price we pay at the most wonderful show there is. There are no free tickets. Being fully alive is the only true success; to not love is a form of destruction.' "George Bush is trying to give that country, where taxes are cut and services are stripped and the schools go to a four-day week and the local library depends on bake sales and user fees and police and fire are outsourced to a company that provides those services and soon 10-20 million Americans realize they are living in the rye at the edge of the cliff. This helps cut labor costs on the plantation. The field hands line up for work and Mr. George offers them 25 cents an hour and a cold potato for lunch."


2 comments:

Gonzo's Chicken said...

Hey there. I suspect you commented on my blog to get a return comment on your own. No shame in that. In answer to your question about Christianity and my decision to believe - I hope you're prepared to receive the answer without becoming either offended or argumentative, because I will be answering honestly and you may not agree with me. That's fine... just respect my right to worship as I see fit, and remember that you asked.

I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; in other words, a Mormon. I live the way I do, according to good and wholesome Christian values, trusting in Jesus Christ, because it gives me peace, confidence, and ultimately makes me happy. It's sad that many people despair, feeling that life is meaningless, and that no one cares about them in that personal way everyone desires. I can tell you with certainty that life does have significant meaning, value, and purpose. We have a loving father in heaven who created this mortal experience for us so that we might be able to taste the good with the bad and choose between the two for ourselves. Christianity in general works because it encourages people to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ when they encounter problems they can't solve on their own, or make decisions they wish they could reverse, or even when they just want to change who they are and become better people (which, honestly, is applicable to every individual at one point or another). Since Jesus is God's son, and has eternal power over things like pain, illness, discouragement, and even death, he's in the perfect position to help those of us who ask for his help and then follow his directions in faith. I have experienced this kind of interaction with and assistance from the Savior's sacred power, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that it works, Every Time.

I live according to the dictates of my own conscience - and allow everyone else the same privilege. My conscience agrees with the teachings of the Savior in the Bible, and for clarification I also study The Book of Mormon, a second witness of his divinity and mission. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has helped me to answer all of the significant questions I've ever asked, largely by drawing on these two resources. I am grateful to not have to wander this mortal existence alone. I am grateful to have the freedom to make decisions about my life and my family, and grateful to have confidence that if I study and follow Jesus' teachings I will be happy with the consequences of those decisions. I'm grateful to know where to turn when I'm in trouble, or in doubt, or in pain, or in fear, and to be sure of finding relief. I'm grateful to know of and have access to someone wiser than myself, who loves me and cares about my happiness and success. My understanding of the gospel of Christ is not that I have to change, but that I can, and I'm so grateful for it.

A reminder: you asked.
Please visit www.mormon.org with any questions about my faith. I would encourage you to read through the Book of Mormon, if you are seeking for answers yourself, and follow the instruction to "ask if these things are not true". And remember, if there are things you don't like about yourself, memories that give you pain, relationships in your life that need strengthening, or you cannot escape your own bad decisions or habits, you CAN change. Just ask, act, and believe.

I end this sincere testimony in his name, even the name of Jesus Christ.

Questions About Faith, Etc. said...

Thanks for your heartfelt words. You and I just have different world views. If believing in Jesus Christ and believing that a God can read everyone of your thoughts helps you in your life, I would be wrong, I think, to try to aggressively talk you out of it. There are a lot of ways to get there, right?
Spiritual enlightenment is a tricky matter, indeed.