Books Worth Reading in November

I noticed the other day that a Danish book “Countrymen” by Bo Lidegaard is now on sale in the history bargain section at Chapters.  This book is a great read for anyone interested in the German occupation of Denmark and the Danes’ view of “their Jews”.  There are not many books about Denmark in general nor about the Danes’ rescue of the Danish Jews from the Nazis.  This book has a very good perspective including some possibly negative aspects of how the Danish government cooperated with Germany.  I paid full price for it when I was in Dickson, Alberta but currently it is marked at $10 which is a great bargain.

I’m currently reading 2 books at the same time – “Song of the Lark” by Willa Cather which is the third of her Western American novels (the other 2 being “O’ Pioneer” and “My Antonia” both of which I have already read).  I like the way she writes about ordinary people who still manage to live an extraordinary life although not celebrated.  Cather depicts the early pioneers of Nebraska and Colorado with true empathy be they Norwegian, Bohemian, Swedish or American.  She also has a vast appreciation for nature and waxes eloquent about the beauties found in the stark prairies.

I picked up “Camelot Court” by Robert Dalleck the other day (on the eve of the election actually).  Irony of it is not lost on me.  Most of the beginning of the book is very familiar to me but I read with an open mind and in the hopes of understanding a little more of the quality and character of John Kennedy and his administration.  One of the best books I have read on Kennedy is “A Question of Character” by Thomas Reeves.  Still ahead is Dalleck’s “An Unfinished Life” which has been languishing on my shelf for a few months.  The fascination with JFK continues for many flaws, warts but so much charisma.

So many books, so little time!  I love going to the bargain books in Chapters and the other day I found some wonderful books that I can hardly wait to get at, but all in good time.  More for them next month!

 

The Pursuit of Knowledge - You

This past week the world was rocked, shocked, incredulous or bewildered after the remarkable American election win of Donald Trump.  I don’t want to write about how I feel as it is only more of what has already been posted on Facebook or elsewhere.  Let’s give the man a chance to prove that he is worthy of the position that people have elected him to and move on.

What I will say about the general state of the world is that many factors are moving us inexorable to a day of reckoning.  I am not talking about a religious apocalypse but rather I am talking about a push from people who are feeling marginalized economically, politically and socially.  Danish clergyman and philosopher Kaj Munk said that the branch is supple and can be pulled back, further and further, but eventually it will slap back and beware it doesn’t hit you in the face (I paraphrase).  I learned this as a little child and it struck me forcibly as an excellent description of how people can rise up and protest.  In history we have seen many rebellions and revolutions around the globe and there is one thing that they all have in common, the hunger and suppression of the “common man” causes an uproar at last.

Today the world has the potential to provide for the whole of humanity with complete sustenance; food, shelter and warmth.  The world has the knowledge and the means but the few who actually control the distribution of the means do not have the will to do so.  Shame on them.  For some people, these people, enough is never enough.  They do not understand the meaning of “making a living, not a killing”.  They do not appreciate the words of wisdom “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.  These people consider themselves smart because they avoid having to give, they pride themselves on not doing their fair share.  They have contempt for the meaning of fair.

This is the world that we live in today but what is even worse is that the tendency of the world is moving even further in that same direction.  People take a narrow and egotistically view of where our world is going.  They seem to think that if it is not affecting them directly it doesn’t matter.  Or they believe that their vote doesn’t matter, nothing will change anyway.  The world will definitely change no matter what you think or how little you do and in the end those who do nothing are as culpable as those who perpetrate the ill of this world.

It matters whether you vote, it matters whether you inform yourself, it matters whether you stand by as wrong is being done.  You matter.  Never forget, each person makes a ripple in the world.  You matter.

Second Yale Course - The Old Testament

In the spring I told my readers about the New Testament course I was taking on Open Yale and how much I enjoyed the learnings.  Christine Hayes is another brilliant professor and her knowledge of the Hebrew Bible (as she continually referred to the Old Testament, correctly) is profound.  Once again I admit that I learned so much about the historical development of this part of the bible.  Understanding the history of the Israelites and how their canon was written is very rewarding.  You may recall how disgusted I was as I read the Old Testament through as part of my year of reading the bible cover to cover.  I now have a very different perspective on the stories contained in the bible and why there was so much admonition going on throughout most of it.  Anyone wanting true knowledge of the history of the bible would find both courses rewarding.

Would a study of the “history” of the bible cause a person to lose faith in God or their religion?  I think it is possible if one has relied heavily on their bible for the source of their faith.  One is taught that “all scripture is inspired by God” and clearly you will learn that this is doubtful since many of the stories have strong parallels in other, older religions of (for example) Canaanites and Assyrians.  As well, you will learn that there are many conflicting ideas in different books of the bible.  Doubt is thrown on the existence of notable writers as well as characters of the bible.  With respect to the character and teachings of Jesus, in particular, there is a lot of doubt and conflict of what the various books of the New Testament propound to be his teachings.

Nevertheless if one has faith in God regardless of the “holiness” of the bible, have no fear, you will not be shaken.  Instead, you will actually come away with a greater regard for humanity and a better appreciation of people’s struggle to understanding the meaning of life.  Our ancestors were as confused, doubtful and seeking as we few, we happy few, are today.

More on that tomorrow.

The Power of Media

Like much of the world I woke up this morning to the shocking news that Donald Trump is now America’s President-Elect.  There has been a great deal of chatter, post-election wisdom and hand wringing angst so I will attempt not to go on about what this win means in political terms.  Instead I would like to think about the power of media.

In 2008 I watched with intense interest the Democrat primaries as Hillary Clinton duked it out with Barack Obama.  I was always stunned by the after debate analyses when moderators declared Obama had out talked Clinton.  I’d ask “What did you hear that I didn’t?  She gave indepth answers while he talked nothings”.

In 1990 the Ontario NDP’s won a majority government which took corporate Canada by surprise.  In the years that followed I have heard this comment many times “look what the NDP did in Ontario” and I’d ask “what was that?” and responses floundered or were tentative such as “they sank the economy”.  I’d go “really, the NDP had the power to sink an economy that was already in a recession, how did that work?” and of course there’s dead silence after that.  But the people who are anti-NDP (or against any type of social programs – except, naturally they need help) blindly listen to what they have been “told”. 

Where do people get their “facts”?  Since the invention of newspapers, then radio and then television some people get some sort of information from these sources.  These people will then pass on a somewhat garbled account of what they have read or heard (although I believe that they honestly think they are being accurate in their interpretations). 

In the early 1980’s I worked for a lawyer who was extremely political and it was through him that I first learned the term “yellow journalism”. This is a type of journalism that uses little or no legitimate research in its story.  Instead these yellow newspapers use exaggeration, sensationalism and scandal-mongering to create eye catching headlines in order to sell more newspapers.  This type of “journalism” has spread into radio and television to the extent that many journalists become celebrities with their own brand or style of “reporting”.  People become more and more confused about what they are actually hearing or learning about any given topic.  Movie stars and other celebrities weigh in on topics that they often have little or no real information about (witness Leonard DiCaprio believing a chinook was a sign of global warming) and yet their comments will influence their followers, some profoundly. 

Now I have looked at a question that arose in a writing contest feature and pondered answers.   The question was, “Are digital technologies making politics impossible?”

For today, I will leave you with that to ponder as you absorb the news of Donald Trump’s win over a woman who, in my opinion, has brought more experience, intelligence, human compassion and a lifetime of public service into this race than any other presidential candidate in modern history.