As I am a white person educated in white schools, it should come as no surprise that I‘ve never heard of Diop until this morning. Was glad to find some of his works at the library.
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As I am a white person educated in white schools, it should come as no surprise that I‘ve never heard of Diop until this morning. Was glad to find some of his works at the library.
pickA quick and impactful read, this book by Richard Haass is like a distillation of David Brooks's writings about character. It was written before the 2024 election but predicts many of the threats to democracy that resulted. The suggestions are moderate and bipartisan, although in the current environment would likely be considered radical.
TL;DR: Protecting democracy is necessary, nonpartisan, and requires our active participation.
Back when I was a recent college graduate, I wrote a letter to John Glenn, one of my senators at the time, proposing an expansion of benefits associated with voluntary civil service (essentially making AmeriCorps service and military service equivalent). I never got a reply. Here in Obligation VIII, Haass proposes almost exactly what I did at age 21. I feel vindicated and also a tiny bit wise beyond my years (retroactively).
Please don't let one of the obligations be strict sobriety. 🤞
@MaleficentBookDragon I was inspired by your bourbon posts to make myself a Friday night Harlequin Racerunner (except with rye instead of bourbon because I wanted something less sweet).
Apparently it‘s “terrorism” to expect due process for all? Fun fact! As a #longtimefed I had a passing acquaintance with Seb G when he worked for an organization downstairs from my office. He struck me as a bit grumpy and kinda “out there.” He has some books in the Litsy database, but I‘m not going to highlight them in any way.
pickThis is #Rwanda President Paul Kagame‘s story through 2008 (he‘s still president today). A young Tutsi refugee from the violence by the Hutus even back in the 1950s, he fought in Uganda, secretly training to become a rebel soldier to try to return to Rwanda. As he built a secret army, the genocide in 1994 occurred. He was able to dismantle the Hutu government and would eventually be elected president. He assembled a Hutu/Tutsi government, and ⬇️
I just opened some book mail to discover this atrocity. 😭 I hope it comes off.
pick4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ March 2025 Bookclub Pick
First half better than the 2nd half. Enjoyed that the author came with facts and made historical comparisons. Did not expect it to predict current day issues despite being published in 2017.
#bookclub
#bannedbooks
Well, this dedication hits hard.
