Pandemic Reading

I can't believe that it's been almost a year since the pandemic seriously kicked in.  In many ways it doesn't seem that long but I think it's just because most people have settled into a life that is more mundane than they are used to.  Most of us, especially at my age, have been careful in who they associate with, where they go for groceries and daily human tasks, and have restricted most travel that isn't absolutely essential.  We've actually been a bit more liberal than many of our our friends in our movements in the community, but have still felt the oppression of "hunkering down".  Of course, in our case it really isn't that bad and we have much to be thankful for.  As retirees we've got plenty of resources, a comfortable home, and friends and loved ones nearby.  But still...

One of the fallouts of the pandemic has been my reading has increased rather dramatically.  I've always been a reader and my normal custom has always been to have a book that I'm reading with one in the wings.  But now it seems normal to have one that I'm reading with about 10 in the wings.  Once I start looking I wind up finding a lot of books that interest me.  I'm not a reader that likes to stick to one distinct type of book or one genre.  Fiction or non-fiction, traditional or contemporary it doesn't really matter.  About the only thing that I don't really like very much is science fiction.  

So since I've read what seems like a ton of books, most of which I really liked in different ways, I thought I'd provide a listing in case any of you out there might be interested.  I'll also provide a short (very short in most cases because I don't want to give anything away) description or critique.  I hope that if you're a reader you'll find something that you might like.  Because for goodness sakes we have plenty of time to read!

1. I Love Capitalism by Ken Langone.  A rags to riches story by the founder of Home Depot. This is a book optimism, rags to riches and a celebration of capitalism.
2. The Coldest Winter by David Halberstam.  A no holds barred story of the Korean War.  Intense, gruesome, maddening and heartbreaking.
3. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.  The story of a teenage girl and her family torn between a life in the 'Hood' and an upper class neighborhood.  A raw story of race in America.
4. Educated by Tara Westover.  A memoir of a young girl's struggle for education.
5. Call Sign Chaos by Jim Mattis.  Some great stories and vignettes on leadership.
6. The Sword and the Scimitar by Raymond Ibrahim.  Fourteen centuries of war between Islam and the West.
7. Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts.  A semi-autobiography of a man who escapes from Australian prison and flees to India where he lives his life.  This book is a fascinating look at life in Bombay.
8. Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers by Brian Kilmeade.  The story of the early days of the Texas and the defense of the Alamo.
9. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.  An epic historical novel about a Korean family that eventually emigrates to Japan.
10. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson.  A saga of Churchill, his family, and defiance during the Blitz.
11. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.  The story of an African American labor and delivery nurse and the racism surrounding her care of a white supremacist couple's newborn son.  This was a very powerful, eye-opening novel and highly recommended.
12. Fortitude by Congressman Dan Crenshaw.  American resilience in the era of outrage.
13. Invisible Prey by John Sandford.  One of the "prey" books.  Sandford is a prolific mystery writer and one of my favorites.  He spins an intricate and exciting story.  I've read most of his books.
14. Aria's Travelling Book Shop by Rebecca Raisen.  The story of a young woman and her mobile bookstore traveling in Europe.  A great romantic comedy.
15. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett.  Black twin sisters from the South run away at 16.  One winds up back in the same small town and one moves to California and passes for white.  A fascinating contrast.
16. Weenie Kleegan  and The Mayor of Olangopo by Hamlin Tallent.  Both of these books tell a good yarn about Naval Aviators on deployment.  I liked them because I knew Ham back in the day and could relate to the stories.
17. Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon.  My favorite of all that I've read.  The story of a wagon train heading west from St Louis.  Spellbinding.
18. The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi.  A portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern.  A fascinating read.
19. 28 Summers by Elie Hilderbrand.  I will confess to reading several (maybe 10) Hilderbrand novels.  They are short, fun, emotional and a usually a great read.  She has a trilogy set on St. John Island in the Caribbean that is great.  This book turns out to be very poignant.  
20. The Last Mile by David Baldacci.  I've read most of Baldacci's books and they are all good.  He is a great mystery writer.
21. The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory.  This is a definite "chick book" but it is a fun read that provides definite escapism.  I liked it so much that I found her other 4 novels and read them all.  She is a really good story teller.  And not to ruin anything, but there are a lot of twists and turns but it all is alright in the end.
22. Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger.  This book has won all kinds of awards and it was good.  I wasn't as enthralled by it as I thought I would be.  It's about a kid in the '60s who faced tragedy as told by himself 40 years later.
23. The Last Mile by Brad Thor.  Thor tells a great spy story.  I've read all his books.  Suspenseful, lots of twists, good guys win and bad guys lose.  What could be better?
24. Raven One by Kevin Miller.  The first of three novels about Naval Aviation combat.  I read all three.  For a guy who's been there some of it is pretty far fetched but it is great escapism.  Miller keeps the characters together through three novels and it's easy to identify with them.  
25. The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett.  This is the prequel to The Pillars of the Earth, one of the best books I've read.  It takes place around 400bc in England.  Follett is a great storyteller and this book makes you want more.
26. The Kill Chain by Christian Rose.  The subtitle of this book is "Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare".  It's all about China and it's scary.  I know enough about the subject that I paid close attention.  
27. Killing Floor by Lee Child.  This is a Jack Reacher novel.  What can I say?  I've read all the Reacher novels.  They are ridiculous but compelling.  At some point it becomes sort of fun to speculate what crazy fix he is going to find himself in only to escape.  It's sort of an American James Bond in blue jeans.  
28. Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave.  If I say much I'll give it away but suffice to say this is a wonderful story that is poignant, compelling, maddening, fun and contains a lot of unexpected turns.  I didn't think I would like it but I couldn't put it down.  One of my favorites.  I just bought another book by Laura, "Hellos Sunshine" and it was terrific.  Not as good as Eight Hundred Grapes, but good.
29. True Colors by Kristin Hannah.  This is the story of three sisters whose once-solid world is broken apart by jealousy, betrayal, and the kind of passion that rarely comes along.  Kristin Hannah is one of favorite authors and I've read most of her stuff.  She has a new novel coming this year that I'm looking forward to reading.
30. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.  This book grabs you from the first page.  I couldn't put it down.  One of my favorites.  This novel tells the story of a woman and her child escaping murderous violence (literally) in Acapulco and ultimately winds up taking a migrant train North and then going with a Coyote across the border.  It is a heartbreaking story and caused me to rethink some of my thinking about immigration.  It was really good.
31. Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen.  I've read a lot of this humorists books and they are all funny and a bit ridiculous.  They offer a unique portrait of life in Florida.  A funny, brainless read.
32. A Time for Mercy by John Grisham.  A typical page turner by Grisham.  I've read most of his books.  He writes legal thrillers and they are all good.  They are full of twists and turns and the good guys usually win.  This is the continuation of a small town lawyer in Mississippi.
33. The Princes of Ireland and The Rebels of Ireland by Edward Rutherford.  A friend recommended these books and I'm glad he did.  But man, it was a long trek through pre-Christian Ireland to today.  Rutherford tells an epic tale of several families over hundreds of years and it is a magnificent story.  I really never understood the oppression of the Catholics in Ireland until I read these books.  Rutherford brings the country alive and some parts are page turners and some are arcane country and church history.  I really liked the books, but if you decide to read them, set aside some significant time.
34. Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn.  This is a Mitch Rap spy novel.  I think I've read all of them and this one was as good as the rest.  They are a bit far fetched but the story is very intricate and keeps you turning pages.  Not for the feint of heart though.  Mitch is a CIA assassin who doesn't hesitate to do what needs to be done in defense of the country. 
35. A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett.  I've told you previously what a good storyteller Follett is and he doesn't disappoint.  This is the story of a young Scottish immigrant escaping the coal mines of Scotland and making his way to America in the 1760's.  It's a gripping, inspiring tale.
36. Waking up White by Debby Irving.  This book is easily the worst book I've ever read.  Easily.  It  is infuriating.  I know that it's very popular and oh so woke to take on the mantle of white guilt and by saying it's terrible some would brand me as a certain type...namely that of a racist.  But this book is so insulting, so full of stereotypes, so sophomoric in its examples and comparisons that if it wasn't so damaging to our culture, it'd be laughable.  I only see this book as Ms Irving seeing a crisis, banging out an infantile and simplistic explanation according to her elite musings and seeking to make a buck off the crises that we see in our culture over race.  It's shameful.  Don't waste your time or at least don't buy it...borrow it.  
37. Robert E Lee and Me by Col. Ty Sidule.  I'm only about 1/4 of the way through this but so far it's really good.  Since I'm a bit of a Civil War geek I think it's especially good.  It's the story of a retired Army Colonel and West Point Historian who grew up in Virginia who has realized that his entire upbringing was based on a lie.  That lie was the great myth of the Lost Cause.  I'll not say more but if you are interested in unvarnished truth about slavery and the nature of the Confederacy, check out this book.  And better yet, read this instead of the book immediately above.  

Here are the books I have in my iPad and are ready to read.  

1. Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman
2. Sailing True North by Admiral James Stavridus
3. Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier.
4. The Seekers by John Jakes
5. Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
6. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
7. Caste, The Origins of our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson
8. Big White Ghetto by Kevin Williamson
9. Sophomores by Sean Desmond
10. London is the Best American City by Laura Dave
11. The Road by Colmac McCarthy

Everyone is different and likes different things.  Some don't like reading at all and would rather be out doing something in the real world.  And I can relate to that.  Some only like non-fiction because for whatever reason they don't see value in the stories that novels tell.  And I can't relate to that.  Because for me I can sometimes lose myself in a book and when I read a story that I become so immersed in that I don't want it to end, well that is sublime.  So if you see something that looks interesting, give it a try.  You most likely won't be disappointed.

Storming the Capitol

We've all seen countless videos and images of the thousands of people who stormed and ransacked the Capitol last week.  I wrote about the insurrection when it happened here.   This has obviously been the biggest story in a sea of big stories and has resulted in a vote to impeach President Trump and lock down the Capitol for the inauguration like we've never seen.  I think most people are just anxious for it to be over and move on.

As we dissect and evaluate what happened, there is still one thing I just can't wrap my mind around.  So say you're an ardent Trump supporter and you heed his call to come to Washington DC on Jan 6.  It doesn't matter where you're from but you make your way to the Mall for the big demonstration.  There are thousands of supporters there and they are being whipped up by various speakers culminating in the President of the United States who tells everyone to march to the Capitol and fight like hell.  Of course, you being a relatively intelligent person realize that much of the rhetoric is political posturing and made for TV, but still it's exciting.  And maybe you even have half a brain in your head and know that the certification of the election by Congress is largely ceremonial and there is no way that objecting to it by sympathetic Congressmen is going to make a difference.  And not in a million, billion years is Vice President Pence going to somehow singlehandedly overturn the election.  It's never going to happen.  It's over.  But like I said, it's an exciting and heady environment.  So off you go with the crowd.  And you probably think you're gonna wind up at the Capitol and there maybe will be more speeches and a lot of milling around but that you will have been part of history and exercised your freedom of speech.  

But when you arrive you realize it's way more serious than you expected.  The rhetoric is turning fowl.  The people in the crowd look like people who could take a lot more serious action than you expected.  And as you're in the crowd it starts to surge forward.  Then you realize that the police are giving way because they aren't authorized to use deadly force.  And you get swept along with the crowd and all of a sudden you're on the steps climbing toward the door.  

So here's my question.  How in the world do you go through that door?  It's the door to the U.S. Capitol and you've realized that if you stay with that crowd nothing good will come from it.  In what world do you think taking over the U.S Capitol is a legitimate activity?  I get that there are a lot of violent, stupid people who occupy the far right and the far left in this country and it's not surprising that some of those knuckleheads would lower themselves to such despicable actions, but how does the normal political activist or political junky who simply attended a rally for the President advance to the point that they think violently entering the U.S. Capitol is okay.  I just can't wrap my mind around that.  

But I will say this, I hope they find you and I hope they hold you accountable.  And I'm not talking about a slap on the wrist or a fine.  I'm talking about making little rocks out of big rocks.  Because you are a traitor and an idiot.

The Trump Presidency

There will probably be more articles, essays, speeches, panels and debates than we can count that will assess the Trump presidency.  They will go on and on and on.  Depending on who is doing the talking or writing, the assessments will take on dramatically different tones.  And ground truth will depend on where you sit.  You will either believe the proposition being put forth or you won't.  

I've already seen several attempts at describing the past four years.  Most are superficial and of course probably premature because time needs to go by to make assessments.  That is in most cases.  In Trump's case, there is plenty to dissect.

I saw an article in National Review today that caught my eye.  I generally like the author's take on things and I think even as the ink isn't dry on the Trump Presidency, he has done a good job of laying out the goods and bads.  At least I think he has done a good job.  You can read the article, "A Final Assessment of the Trump Presidency, and the Path Forward" here.  It's a long read and the lead in to the meat of the article is a bit tedious, but like I said, I think he captures it pretty well.  

I particularly like the three critiques of Trump's Presidency..."the incalculable damage his character and behavior has caused, the precedent of what he has done in fiscal management, and the dysfunctional management of personnel".  Many will not agree but I think it's pretty spot on.  

Truth

 What is truth?  When you think of truth do you think of circumstances that lead to truth?  Are you one of those folks who talk about "your truth"?  There is an increasing tendency in our society to water down truth or at least to apply qualifiers to truth.  The loss of objective truth is one of many reasons that there is so much angst and conflict in society today.  If we can't even agree on what is objective truth, it's pretty difficult to agree on causes, processes, and outcomes of anything we do.  

A good friend and retired Priest who I've quoted several times in this blog had a great reflection on the mayhem at the Capitol on Wednesday.  One section particularly struck me and is something I've been concerned about for some time.  Objective truth.  Why have we lost it?  Or are losing it?  Here are his words:

"..,the political chaos in our country is a symptom of our abandonment to objective truth. President Trump’s lies reflect a postmodern culture in which there is no longer any objective truth, only the “truth” that I want to hear, or agree with, or accept. Truth is only a perspective from an individual and not an objective reality. It is truth as I see it, that suits my agenda, is in my self-interest, that furthers my policies and reflects my will to power. The Nazis of old and the Chinese Communists today have practiced this kind of truth. George Orwell warned against it in his books 1984 and Animal Farm, and even C.S. Lewis wrote a powerful book on the subject titled The Abolition of Man.

 

America today is a nation without truth, only “truths” for different segments of the population. If you are a liberal, you tune into MSNBC or CNN. If you are a conservative, there is Fox News or Newsmax. You read papers or go to web sites that appeal to your preferences and prejudices, never hearing or listening to any other viewpoints. This is a frightening phenomenon in our country, and it is preventing intelligent discussion and rational debate because each side is absolutely convinced they have the whole truth and their opponents are completely wrong – and not only wrong but evil. No dialogue is possible. There is no conversation, no willingness to listen and understand the perspectives of the other. No wonder there is violence and political heavy-handedness in America. We can’t even sit at the same table and talk to one another with mutual respect as citizens of one great country. "

 That pretty much sums up my views.  And the concern is how do we get it back.  One of the many websites I've been watching is Axios.  They are relatively new but are popular with the younger crowd who want quick stories that cut to the chase.  There is one this morning that particularly resonated called "Insurrection and misinformation tears the country into Three Americas".  The pull quote that struck me is here: 

"Now, more than ever, is the time to read and reflect: Our nation is rethinking politics, free speech, the definition of truth and the price of lies. This moment — and our decisions — will be studied by our kid's grandkids."

"The definition of truth".  Why does truth need to be defined?  Is it because we have moved to a place where everyone has their own truth?  If truth were objective, there wouldn't need to be a definition.  This little blog isn't going to change any of that.  But it's worth thinking about next time you hear someone say "their truth".  Is it your truth?  Is it the truth?  Good questions to be thinking about.

Along with truth and maybe just as important is trust.  Who do you trust do provide you with truth?   Do you suspect it's their truth and not the truth?  Do you seek multiple sources to figure out truth for yourself?  Most media has bias.  That's just a fact.  And it's nothing new.  I saw a quote the other day from George Washington from a letter he wrote in 1797 to James McHenry, the 3rd Secretary of War.  President Washington wrote, "We get so many details from the Gazettes (media), and of such different complexions, that is is impossible to know what credence to give to any of them".  So figuring out truth from media has always been a difficult task.  Add to this that these days many, many people get their information from non-traditional sources.  Blogs, websites, newsletters, podcasts, and many other forms of information have proliferated across the net.  There. is usually little control and they can say anything they want.  In the last week I've heard wild conspiracy theories from people I would otherwise deem level headed.  Our current strife has served to feed these theories.  So be careful.  Don't be the person who passes on bogus information that doesn't pass the logic test.

There is an increasing potential for the population to break into factions that only believe what they are fed.  When this happens it is only bad for the Republicans.  With their disappointment with Trump since the election, I think more and more people will turn away from him.  But there are a significant number of rabid zealots who believe in him as the renegade outsider who wanted and wants to "drain the swamp".  When you add in the far right white supremacists, you have a recipe for recalcitrance and even violence.   However, his actions and rhetoric along with disgust of the actions and beliefs of some of the people still in the Trump camp are increasingly alienating to a large number of Republicans.  So the next few years will be a critical and defining time for the Republicans.  And I think if there is a fracturing of the party that results in two (or more) smaller parties, then Conservatism is dead.  Or maybe not dead, but certainly on life support.  If you're a conservative Republican, which way will you go?

Insurection

There is no other word for it.  Unless you're totally checked out you know about the assault  by Trump supporters on our Capitol building today.  It was egregious, disappointing, outrageous, and shocking.  I really have never even contemplated something like this happening in the U.S.A.  As others have said, this is the stuff of banana republics.  The last time this happened was 1814 and it was the English doing it, not fellow Americans.  There is no excuse for it and those who were involved and can be identified should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  

If you've read at all you know that I've been one of those peoplefor the last four years who held his nose and supported Trump.  He is all the things we know he is but his policies have been more to my way of liking than the other side.  In fact, in my view the other side has the potential for some really dangerous and damaging actions.  If I'm being honest, part of my support was rooted in the fact that the other side went to such alarming and sometimes illegal lengths to destroy him.  His stamina and resilience was something to behold.  But after his election loss and his irrational and obnoxious behavior, I've been more and more disturbed.  Time after time, incident at incident, in courtroom after courtroom, in state legislature after state legislature, he has been turned back.  The claim of massive election fraud was dismissed time after time after time.  I don't think there is anyone who doesn't agree that there were some incidents and that the States have a lot of work to do to shore up their election systems.  However, was there enough to turn the election?  Clearly no.  But today ripped it for me.  First he put all his marbles in the barrel of intimidating the VP to single-handedly overturning the election via the process in Congress today.  That was never gonna happen.  And then during a speech to thousands and thousands of rabid supporters on the Capitol Mall this morning he whipped them into a frenzy and encouraged them to go to the Capitol to protest.  And the rest is history.  It was the most irresponsible and despicable thing I've ever seen a President do.  Ever.  

After the dust has settled a lot of people are piping up with what aboutisms.  What about the BLM and Antifa terrorists who looted and rioted and destroyed whole sections of cities?   I'll say what I've said.  Those incidents were terrible.  Like at the Capitol today, those people should be identified and charged.  But here's the deal.  The Antifa crowd is just a bunch of anarchist assholes.  They should be rooted out and destroyed.  The BLM people come from all walks of life and are protesting what they perceive as long term injustice and specific incidents.  Their tactics are horrendous and they should be held accountable for the destruction they caused.  But they weren't attacking me.  The people at the Capitol today were attacking me...and you. 

When I was at National War College, I took a course called Congress, the Media and the Military.  It proved to be a fascinating course conducted mainly at Capitol Hill.  But I'll never forget the first day.  The professor, a man who had worked almost every consequential job on the Hill including Chief of Staff to a powerful Senator, walked to the window and pulled back the shades.  There loomed the Capitol Building.  He said, "That building is the most important building in the world.  It is a beacon of freedom to the world and a symbol of the rule of law.  And you're getting a chance to study it up close and personal."  I've spent the better part of my life wearing the nation's uniform sworn to uphold the Constitution, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.  I never really thought about the domestic part.  But I thought of it today.  The attack on the Capitol and our Constitutional processes is an attack on all of us.  They should hang their heads in shame.   

I'm heartened that Congress returned to work tonight and will proceed with the process.  It provides reassurances that they will not let this attack thwart their duty.  The mob did not win.   This grand experiment called America will continue.  For now.  We're heading for some rough waters with the new administration, but as I have for every new administration I will offer my support until they lose it.  It may not take long.

I posted over on FB that "Today we may be seeing the demise of the Republican Party".  Some have called me out and queried me on that.  Here's my thinking.   As the incumbent President, Trump is clearly the leader of the Republican Party.  After is actions in the last few weeks and especially today, I think a significant number of people will turn away.  I know I will.  How can you not?  So what does that leave us with.  There are a lot of talented people in the party, but the power plays that will surely emerge will be crucial.  I believe that if Trump tries to hold power, the Party is done for in national elections. That would lead to fracturing and splitting into segments with dramatically reduced power.   Or there may be a strong, dynamic leader (there are plenty of them) who take the reins and the future turns brighter.  Or it may be something in between.  Only time will tell.  

A good friend and fellow Rotarian posted his thoughts over on FB (as so many have) and I think he is spot on in his analysis.  I stand with these remarks!

If you attempt to illegally access our Capitol, White House, or Supreme Court, you are making an unequivocal statement that you do not respect the institutions of our country.

If you "protest" in a way that puts the lives of our law enforcement at risk, you cannot claim to support law enforcement.

If you resort to violence in an effort to interrupt the electoral process provided in America's Constitution, you are committing treason. (18 U.S.C. sec. 2381)

It's Not Rocket Science

Can you believe this inept and embarrassing rollout of vaccinations?  I mean, in what universe are we not going 7/24, balls to the wall to get as many people vaccinated as possible? There are supposedly 20 million doses ready with more coming and only around 3 million have been vaccinated.  Give me a break!  This is an epic failure of the federal government.  Epic.  Why on earth isn't there a federal standard and a federal plan?  To leave this to the states invites chaos.  I normally will default to planning at the lowest level but the current scheme isn't cutting it.  Each state choses how they are going to do it, what the priorities are, and what the urgency is.  No...just no.  This the Katrina in the medical world.  

There should be massive recruitment of anyone who can jab a needle in someone's arm or can be trained to do it and an implementation process designed to get it done asap.  There are plenty of people who need work.  Sign them up.  There are a lot of schools sitting idle.  Convert gymnasiums to vaccination centers.  Set priorities and get people in line.  Create an organization infrastructure to get it done.  I could name several folks who I know from the military who could get this done.  Put a group of veterans in charge who know how to organize, can give orders, recognize the need for urgency and stand back.