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).
Hey y‘all, last month I didn‘t get a chance to read much because I had a lot going on. Work was crazy, I was dealing with the loss and I was planning my trip to Puerto Rico. Just got back last Tuesday and I have to say I cannot wait to go again. It was beautiful and everybody there was so amazing. I did take a book to read, but the weather was against me and I lost it to the rain gods. However, here‘s a few pics of the trip I wanted to share.
My oldest is home from college & wanted to go to the bookstore. I bought myself some books for Mother‘s Day (my husband did buy me some new flowers for my pots in the front of the house). The tagged book is one that the Naval Academy has on the banned book list, so definitely one to read.
pickHoly fuck. Exquisitely sharp writing.
Secondary to what he's saying, of course, the message is most important, but it's of unimaginable benefit to have crucial matters communicated in such a fashion.
There's a skilled interweaving of El Akkad's experiences both growing up and throughout his journalistic career with directly addressing the genocide in Gaza, the murder of Palestinians, 1/?
“To be accused of speaking too loudly about one injustice but not others by someone who doesn't care about any of them is to be told, simply, to keep quiet.“
