Vacation days and time to read.
Geo bought me a copy of David's McCullough's first book The Johnstown Flood,an account of the disaster in Pennsylvania May 31, 1889. Similarities between that event and the current event in the Gulf States is remarkable. In both, engineering deficiencies were evident but not corrected to withstand a catastrophe. The lowest economic classes were most affected. Communications broke down. People survived on rooftops. Families were separated. The blame game began at the outset. There were rumors of looting. Stench was horrific and- in Johnstown- it lasted for months. In one paragraph McCullough refers to the displaced victims as "refugees." (What was that discusion a few days ago? Are hurricane/flood victims "refugees" or "American evacuees?") A worthwhile read.
A second book recommended to me by Geo was Barak Obama's Dreams from My Father. I was struck by Sen. Obama's candor. This is not an autobiography simply of the events of his life, but of a driving search for his identity as an African American. He bears his soul in this book in a way few others would even dare. It is an important book for a perspective on ethnicity and race in one's self-identity, and in the role of family in one's education and social achievements. It is an important book regardless of any political persuasion. Watch for Sen. Obama's rise in the national political scene. My prediction is: Democratic VP candidate 2008.
On to the next literary adventure...
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