Working second shift I rarely watch much television but if there is something I am aware of that I missed and want to watch I can often watch is belatedly online. Such was the case last evening when I finally watched the first in the First Ladies Series that C-Span is running. You can find it HERE. The series started on Presidents Day of this year and I was told about it by a friend. The first program was on Martha Washington and was very well done. I hope to watch the entire series and highly recommend the program to others. It is interactive in that people participate through twitter, facebook and by calling in questions. They have White House historians as guests and on location videos that are included. It is indeed top notch programming.
Since the beginning of 2013, I have been listening to Team Of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin and am sad to have come to end of the book. It will definitely be on my top ten list for 2013 if not in the number one spot. I wanted to either read of listen to this book for two reasons, one being it was recommended to me by a friend, and the other reason being it is the book that the recent popular movie "Lincoln" was based, although there is volumes more information in the book than what the movie came close to touching on. I started saving credits at Audible last fall because the book originally cost three months worth of credits, but in December they bumped it down to one credit so I grabbed it. As soon as I finished the book I was in the middle of at the time I downloaded it, I began to listen to Team of Rivals. If you click on the book title above you will follow a link to a NPR interview with the author that explains how the book biographically covers each of the members of Lincolns cabinet along with Lincoln himself while weaving these peoples lives through the current events of the time period in which they lived. One becomes acquainted with the various cabinet members entire families as wives and daughters are supportive of their struggles. I was especially fascinated by Kate Chase and not only the role she played in her father's career but also her eventual demise. Indeed, after hours and hours of listening and becoming knowledgeable of all the cabinet members and their families, the last thirty minutes of the book explained the events surrounding each of the individuals deaths. Be sure and click on the author's name above to follow the link to learn more about Doris Kearns Goodwin and enjoy the video that follows.
This is a novel about an adolescent male named Holden Caulfield who is floundering. He has not only the normal angst of the usual teen aged coming of age stuff but, as with many teens who begin to fail, his family experienced a major loss which left him grieving when his younger brother died of leukemia. With no sense of belonging and no support system of any kind his grief has developed into depression by the time frame the story takes place. His parents have failed him, as have the adults in the boarding schools he has been attending, as they place blame on him for his lack of concentration and poor grades rather than working with him. During the course of the story, the only adult he trusts betrays him by making sexual advances. It is a book that makes the reader laugh at times but at the same time is a very sad story. Reviews of the book can be compared and contrasted by the essay that is linked to the title above. This book is the March selection for my library book group. It is a book that has had a great impact since it was published. Sometimes taught in schools and other times on censure lists due to language and sexual content, most Americans have read it. I had read it many years ago but had forgotten most of it so enjoyed reading it again from the perspective of an adult rather than a teen. It will not make my top ten list for 2013 but I am glad to have been re-exposed to this novel. One thing that has added insight for me as I re-read it this time was to study a bit about J.D. Salinger's life. If one clicks on the link of his name in the title line above one goes to a biography of the author. In the bio is the following:
In a 1953 interview with a high-school newspaper, Salinger admitted that the novel was "sort of" autobiographical, explaining that "My boyhood was very much the same as that of the boy in the book ... [I]t was a great relief telling people about it."
It is interesting to note that having grown up Jewish, Salinger later learns that his mother was a convert and not born Jewish. Since the Jewish line is considered to follow through the mother this would contribute to a lack of a sense of belonging in Salinger himself. Also his constant move from one religious tradition to another through out his life leaves one with the feeling he was searching for answers himself. Salinger's reclusiveness buddies up with Holden's depression. In my opinion The Catcher In The Rye has a lot more to do with what was in inside J.D. Salinger's head than it does with the state of American youth.
Freedom of speech is one corner stone of what the United States is supposed to be about yet with every freedom comes responsibility and there is a time to speak out and a time to sit down and shut up. Dialogue is important in a society where we vote and need to have an understanding of the issues but along with keeping up with current events should go an understanding of historical perspective. Often when looking at the historical perspective we realize what is happening is not new. It may not have been done correctly in the past either so having been done before does not automatically make it okay now. If we examine the time frame of the Civil War there were people who strongly opposed the war who were called Copperheads. One such man, Clement Vallandingham was particularly outspoken. He was arrested and imprisoned and then later banished. Read about it HERE. President Lincoln was widely criticised for the suspension of Habeas Corpus. In defense of the banishment of Vallandingham, President Lincoln wrote a letter that was published called Letter To Eratus Corning and others. Read it HERE. One of the more interesting things Lincoln said in the letter was:
I understand the meeting whose resolutions I am considering to be in favor of suppressing the rebellion by military force — by armies. Long experience has shown that armies cannot be maintained unless desertion shall be punished by the severe penalty of death. The case requires, and the law and the Constitution sanction, this punishment. Must I shoot a simple-minded soldier boy who deserts, while I must not touch a hair of a wiley agitator who induces him to desert? This is none the less injurious when effected by getting a father, or brother, or friend into a public meeting, and there working upon his feelings till he is persuaded to write the soldier boy that he is fighting in a bad cause, for a wicked administration of a contemptible government, too weak to arrest and punish him if he shall desert. I think that, in such a case, to silence the agitatorand save the boy is not only constitutional, but withal a great mercy.
Being a peace-nik myself, I find Lincoln's comments interesting. No doubt it is important to support the men and women of our armed forces who sacrifice so that I have the right to complain about war. Still I do not like them put in harms way and feel it is necessary to say so from time to time. The situation that involved Vallandingham brings into focus the issue of governmental power. Recently there has been some current events that spark the debate once more of how much power should the government exercise. To cite a couple of examples, the situation with Bradley Manning can be read about HERE and the extent deadly force is appropriate can be read about HERE. I have not formed a definite opinion on either situation yet but when one studies the history of our country and in particular the time frame of the Civil War it becomes obvious that The Obama Administration has not re-invented the wheel. No doubt the importance of discussing and maintaining a watchful eye on appropriate governmental use of power should not be minimized. Never the less, some perspective needs to be maintained.
