Book Description
My new friends have begun to suspect I haven’t told them the full story of my life.
“Why did you leave Sierra Leone?”
“Because there is a war.”
“You mean, you saw people running around with guns and shooting each other?”
“Yes, all the time.”
“Cool.”
I smile a little.
“You should tell us about it sometime.”
“Yes, sometime.”
This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.
What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But until now, there has not been a first-person account from someone who came through this hell and survived.
In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts.
This is a rare and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.
Customer Reviews:
Written too well........2007-10-15
I feel a little odd giving 5 stars to a book with such horrific subject matter. The fact is, the author has written such a clear account of all that happened in his life that I was physically affected by some of the chapters I read. No child should ever have to witness much less participate in the events that happened in Sierra Leone (or any war torn country). Beah is a true survivor. I think everyone NEEDS to read this book.
Enlightening........2007-10-03
I think this is a wonderful book, so moving and beautifully written that you wonder how a person can manage to lead a "normal" life after experiencing what he has been through. The author tells the story matter-of-factly without whining or complaining about the hand he's been dealt. Because of this, it makes the story even more impressive.
Not just a good read, a book that enlightens is a must-read.
Fantastic book. Recommend for all ages!.......2007-10-02
This book is truly amazing. It is almost unbelievable to read about the lives of people like Ishmael, but it's true, and it's happening today. Yes, in some parts it is certainly hard to read, but it's worth it. It is better to be shocked and scarred by this book than ignorant to it. Ishmael is a wonderfully optimistic person, and I think we can all learn a lot from his courage. In his own words, Ishmael is not an expert on the history of Sierra Lione, but by putting a face and name to this story, you will still learn a lot from him! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
Easy to read, hard to digest.......2007-10-02
I read this book on my flight to D.C. a couple of months ago. It was probably the fastest I have ever read a book. It was very easy to understand and painted an incredibly vivid picture in my mind. The content is important and the way Beah wrote his story makes it accessible to all.
Painful but Poignant.......2007-09-27
This book is not for the fainthearted who wants a feel good story; this is tough book to read, however, it is an important book to read as well. So often us here in the west are isolated from the fact that there are tough places to live on this planet, places where people are forced to do unspeakable acts and are exposed to unimaginable acts of violence.
This book takes on the voyage of a young man named Ishmael, who lived in the war torn country of Sierra Leone. His life is completely turned upside down by the civil war in that country. Ishmaels story is first a story of losing his family, than of losing his innocence as he is forced to fight for the Countries Army that's fighting the "rebels". After that the story focuses on his rehabilitation in a place called Freetown and eventually his new life in the United States (although I would like to know more about how he is today).
The most amazing part of this story as an American who simply didn't understand the truth, is that this Ishmael was 12 years old and was killing people, not because he was an animal, but because he was drugged and forced to become one merely to survive. This is a concept that as westerners we look on and go oh that's too bad, but do we really take the time to understand that this happens all the time in the same world we live in? Do we take the time to understand that there is big world out there and for the most part it isn't that safe little havens we take for granted? I challenge anyone who reads this book to be able to look at the world the same again.
Book Description
Compelling and humane, this book reveals the lives of the 300,000 child soldiers around the world, challenging stereotypes of them as predators or a lost generation. Kidnapped or lured by the promise of food, protection, revenge, or a better life, children serve not only as combatants but as porters, spies, human land mine detectors, and sexual slaves. Nearly one-third are girls, and Michael Wessells movingly reveals the particular dangers they face from pregnancy, childbirth complications, and the rejection they and their babies encounter in their local contexts.
Based mainly on participatory research and interviews with hundreds of former child soldiers worldwide, Wessells allows these ex-soldiers to speak for themselves and reveal the enormous complexity of their experiences and situations. The author argues that despite the social, moral, and psychological wounds of war, a surprising number of former child soldiers enter civilian life, and he describes the healing, livelihood, education, reconciliation, family integration, protection, and cultural supports that make it possible. A passionate call for action, Child Soldiers pushes readers to go beyond the horror stories to develop local and global strategies to stop this theft of childhood.
Customer Reviews:
Important Book if you want to know more about Child Soldiers.......2007-04-05
The topic of child soldiers has now received the attention it deserves. Beah's moving book of his experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone has now opened the eyes of many. For those who want to know more, Wessells' book takes us into the lives of children worldwide -- Sri Lanka, Angola, Columbia, East Timior, Afghanistan and more. Child soldiering is complex, and the author takes us into the many ways children are recruited, the roles they play, and the facets of their day-to-day lives. Especially compelling are the voices of children, woven in throughout the book. In the end, practical guidance is given -- there is hope for concerned citizens who want to bring an end to the exploitation of children who are forced to serve in the wars of adults.
Crucial Book on Child Soldiers.......2007-03-17
This book is a "must read" for anyone interested in the complex situation of child soldiers. The book is engaging and compelling, bringing forth the voices and experiences of hundreads of child soldiers from around the world, including Angola, Sierra Leone, Colombia, Uganda, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan. It goes beyond the usual stereotypes of such children as "victims" or "perpetrators", carefully detailing the many and varied roles that children participate in -- from human land mine detectors to caregivers of the babies born into armed groups. The plight of girl soldiers and their unique experiences as mothers at a tender young age -- the result of rape by their abductors who are also their "husbands" -- is eye opening and heart rendering.
The book carefully documents the numerous ways children come to be in armed groups (including abduction, fleeing abusive families, volunteering because of ideology, and having no other options because of grinding poverty). Michael Wessells is a psychologist, and writes compellingly of the social and emotional toll that is exacted on these chidlren. He also writes of the children's resilience, and how, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, many children actively cope with their situation.
In spite of the horrors that these children experience, the book offers hope. It provides moving examples of children re-entering their communities and once again becoming part of the fabric of community life -- as students, as citizens, as peacemakers, and as agents of social change. A far cry from categorizing these children as a "lost generation", the book contends that we have the tools and knowledge to stop the wanton exploitation of children as soldiers, and provides the reader with hopeful strategies and initiatives that have worked.
Product Description
History: Fiction or Science? is the most explosive tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by solid scientific data. The book is well-illustrated, contains over 446 graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays, which never cease to amaze the reader. Eminent mathematician proves that: Jesus Christ was born in 1153 and crucified in 1186 The Old Testament refers to mediaeval events. Apocalypse was written after 1486. Does this sound uncanny? This version of events is substantiated by hard facts and logic - validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources - to a greater extent than everything you may have read and heard about history before. The dominating historical discourse in its current state was essentially crafted in the XVI century from a rather contradictory jumble of sources such as innumerable copies of ancient Latin and Greek manuscripts whose originals had vanished in the Dark Ages and the allegedly irrefutable proof offered by late mediaeval astronomers, resting upon the power of ecclesial authorities. Nearly all of its components are blatantly untrue! For some of us, it shall possibly be quite disturbing to see the magnificent edifice of classical history to turn into an ominous simulacrum brooding over the snake pit of mediaeval politics. Twice so, in fact: the first seeing the legendary millenarian dust on the ancient marble turn into a mere layer of dirt - one that meticulous unprejudiced research can eventually remove. The second, and greater, attack of unease comes with the awareness of just how many areas of human knowledge still trust the three elephants of the consensual chronology to support them. Nothing can remedy that except for an individual chronological revolution happening in the minds of a large enough number of people.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Average customer rating:
- The events of Which way Freedom
- Good Book
- My thoughts
- "Which Way Freedom" review
- Read this or you will miss out on a lot of adventure!
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Which Way Freedom? (Obi and Easter Trilogy)
Joyce Hansen
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ASIN: 0380714086
Release Date: 1992-02-01 |
Product Description
Which Way Freedom? Obi had never forgotten the sounds of his mother's screams on the day he was sold away from her. Making plans to run away to find her was a secret game he played with friend Buka, an old African who lived at the edge of the farm. When the Civil War began, Obi knew it was time to run -- or be sold again. If he was caught, he'd be killed...or worse. But if he stayed, he might never know freedom.
Customer Reviews:
The events of Which way Freedom.......2006-02-04
Obi the main character in Which Way Freedom? changes from a tough slave to a hardened soldier through out six suspenseful and surprising events. Obi starts out as a slave on a farm during the Civil War time period. Finally his dream of running away comes true when Buka, Easter and Obi decide to leave the farm for good. But unfortunately they were all captured and sent to a camp where Buka dies of old age and Obi make a new friend named Daniel. Obi makes a bout with Dan and is forced to leave without Easter because she refused. They get to the island across the river where Dan joins the army as a spy and dies, so Obi joins the Army in his place. Obi meets a new friend named Thomas and while at they're camp the camp is attacked! Thomas shot but not dead Obi carries Thomas Seeing two little boys and a girl get shot. At the end Thomas lives and so does Obi living without three of his old friends but gaining a new one.
Good Book.......2005-10-03
This was one of the best Historical Fiction book I've read. It was better than I ever thought it would be which wouldn't be very good.
My thoughts.......2002-06-14
My thoughts on this book was it was very interesting . It was interesting because it talked about the Civil War. This book helped to understand more amazing facts on the Civil War. The language wasn't hard at all and I understood the authors theme of the book. This is one of the best books I've ever read and I would recommened this book to anyone who likes to learn about the Civil War.
- Curtis Kitchen
"Which Way Freedom" review.......2002-02-17
I have read this book before, and I am sure I will read it again. This is a very good book about the hardships of slavery. A slave that works all day in the tabacco fields decides to run away and he joins the Union soldiers as a colored Yankee. I highly recommend this book for readers who would like to learn about the Civil War or people who are looking for a good read.
Read this or you will miss out on a lot of adventure!.......2001-11-20
This is a really cool book and if you don't read it then you are missing out on a lot of fun! If you are looking for a good history book about slavery, then pick this book, Which Way Freedom. The plot of this book is about slaves and the civil war. Who joins a black union formed by all slaves and former slaves. Find our what happens by reading this book. Which Way Freedom is the name of this is an exciting fun book to read. That is only if you would like to read about slavery. My opinion about this book is that it is good sometimes and boring sometimes. If I had a scale I would rate it in a 5, it is ok.
Book Description
The beloved author of more than one hundred wholesome and heart-warming inspirational romance novels, Grace Livingston Hill weaves a story of a soldier who is torn between the love of two women. Both are beautiful yet very different and the difficult decision he must make will have extraordinary impact upon his future. Readers will appreciate the emotional drama, moral conflicts, and riveting action that Hill infused into each of her cherished books. Repackaged in an elegant, keepsake style, this book captures the eye of a new generation of readers. Look for Hill's timeless writing to launch renewed interest in this master of genres.
Customer Reviews:
Average GLH novel.......2004-06-22
Paige Madison returns home from fighting in WWII and secures a job at a successful business. He dislikes having to foreclose people's homes in this new business, and suspects that they are not playing fair.
His boss's worldly daughter, Reva, is a popular beauty, and she sets her mind on winning over Paige, which is an annoyance to Paige.
The new minister's daughter, June, is the opposite of Reva (except that she's a beauty, too). Paige helps June care for a struggling family, and the two are drawn together with their similar beliefs and concerns.
When June has to leave to tend her sickly aunt, she finds herself in a trying situation.
Not as riviting as some of Grace Livingston Hill's novels, but good, nevertheless. The ending was especially good.
Another Grace Livingston Hill Classic.......2000-07-06
I love all of her books. Where Two Ways Met is a heartwarming tale of the conflicts between God and the material world. When Paige returns from the war, he finds life has changed. His parents have aged and he needs to get a job to support them. He lands a job working for a group of men that he was suspicous of from the start. Paige convinces himself to take the job though. One of the downsides to the job is his boss's daughter. She is a spoiled girl with contempt for Paige's God. Meanwhile, across the street from his parents' house is the minister's. Paige learns that a new minister has moved in and he has a daughter, April. April furthers his understanding of God when the two are thrown together in a crisis to help a family in need. Paige finds himself comparing her to his boss's daughter. When the daughter sets her sights on him as her new playmate, the plot thickens. April also finds herself in a stressed situation. But two of God's children find their way through their troubles to find love.
Amazon.com
Nobody can question Hackworth's credentials--he's America's most decorated living soldier, a military reporter forNewsweek, and author of the best-selling About Face. In
Hazardous Duty, he travels to danger spots like Bosnia, Haiti, Korea, Somalia and the Persian Gulf to rate U.S. military performance. All too often, he sees it coming up short. "Our military machine is sputtering like a worn-out tank," he writes in the final chapter, where he also offers a practical agenda for reform that is sure to raise the hackles of what he calls the Pentagon's "Perfumed Princes and Propaganda Poets."
From the Publisher
Colonel David H. Hackworth, the maverick military hero and war correspondent, has earned over 70 awards for heroism as well as eight purple hearts. More than any other military commentator, he has earned the trust and confidence of the millions of soldiers--from foreign armies as well as our own -- who cheered every word of his widely acclaimed autobiography,
About Face: The Odyssey of An American Warrior...
Hazardous Duty is a real-life, hard-hitting, nonfiction thriller set in the ruins of Bosnia and the sands of Saudi Arabia, the deadly alleys of Mogadishu and the teeming streets of Port-au-Prince. Colonel Hackworth returns from these new American battlefields to report that the Pentagon is wasting hundreds of billions of dollars gearing up to fight the wrong kind of wars, and offers a tough-love critique of American military leadership, interpreting the new post-Cold War conflicts.
"I don't want to bash the military," writes Hackworth, "but as an institution [the military] is not above criticism. It desperately needs honest critics who know what they are talking about, not ideologues or fools or people who have been co-opted, but tough minded patriots who will push for a lean, mean, invincible and affordable defense force."
Hazardous Duty highlights include: -- How Hackworth angered General Norman Schwarzkopf by predicting his strategy during Operation Desert Storm with uncanny accuracy
-- How he was nearly killed by friendly fire in the Gulf War
-- Revelations regarding the inefficiencies of both the SCUD and Patriot missiles, as well as other high-tech equipment, which have, for the most part, failed to perform to expectations
-- Why Desert Storm was a hollow triumph costing over $60 billion
-- How the Pentagon's efforts to media manage Operation Restore Hope in Haiti nearly resulted in casualties among the press corps
-- How a lucrative lobby is keeping the POW/MIA issue alive
-- How Army Rangers were needlessly killed as a result of being sent into combat without the armor that they needed to survive in Somalia
-- How U.S. leaders flirted with disaster during the most recent Korean crisis
-- Why U.S. forces presently stationed in South Korea are in jeopardy
-- How Raoul Cedras bluffed the White House into providing him with total amnesty and is now living the good life at U.S. taxpayers' expense
-- How the United States military are forced to wear full combat gear under tropical conditions just to look good on television
-- Why so-called OOTW (Operations Other Than War) are robbing the armed services of their combat readiness
-- The salaries of giant defense contractors' CEO's are disclosed and reveal this group to be among the highest paid executives in the country -- all at the expense of American taxpayers
-- How the armed forces are wallowing in redundancy
-- What steps we can realistically take to reform the military
Published to precede the presidential elections and provide a wake-up call for military reform,
Hazardous Duty pulls no punches in calling America's top political and military leaders to account for selling out duty, honor, and country.
Customer Reviews:
We All Should Know.......2007-08-23
Hackworth is the ultimate soldier. He has been there, done that, and his record gives him the credentials to call a spade a spade in military matters. Recommendations and condemnations are posited on the basis of what is best for each soldier and his defense of our country. Even his technical descriptions are easily understood by an average reader. The writing flows naturally, and Hackworth's integrity is clear on every page. Honor, duty, country. Hackworth was all about that, even without the ring of West Point. He lived it; all of us owe him respect.
A Soldier's Tale.......2006-05-12
Love him or hate him, you can't deny that David Hackworth has a story to tell. "Hazardous Duty" is his very persuasive diagnosis of the problem with American armed forces. Hackworth has "been there." Hew has led men in combat in Vietnam and experienced the "ticket punchers" who were less interested in destroying the enemy than in feathering their resumes. In this book, he takes us from the rice paddies in Vietnam to the scorching sands of Iraq and Kuwait in order to show us the weaknesses in the American fighting machine.
Hackworth takes dead aim at the "military-industrial-congressional complex," the source of much of the problem, in his telling. His "perfumed princes" ride the military promotion machine to high rank while arms manufacturers pad their expenses and congressmen use the revolving door to lucrative jobs in the arms trade. The media and public are bedazzled by a few "smart" bombs and glad-handed into shelling out more tax dollars for Flash Gordon wizzbangery. Meanwhile, the grunts on the ground are outfitted with obsolete weapons and uniforms manufactured for the wrong climate.
Hackworth portrays himself as a soldier's soldier, more interested in what happens on the ground than in some major's efficiency report. His devastating analysis of the debacles of the Grenada invasion and the Iranian hostage rescue are the first serious criticism I have heard about these botched operations. His skewering of Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf is pretty frightening. In Hackworth's telling, it's a good thing that Saddam Hussein was such a horrible tactician; the US might have taken some serious casualties otherwise. By letting Iraq's Republican Guard escape, he empowered Saddam Hussein, and ensured that we would have to fight him again.
Hackworth sees the military as a bloated giant, drunk on appropriations and its own sense of importance. Its leaders are dizzy with bringing home the bacon and fighting the other services, leaving America poorer and less prepared to fight the next war. Hackworth's pre-9/11 perspective is fascinating, if not always on target. He criticizes Reagan and Bush I for blindly throwing money at the military and Clinton for trying to integrate gays at a time of severe cutbacks and low morale. Writing at the time the US was involved in stopping Bosnia's self-destruction, he criticizes that effort as well as our interventions in Somalia and Haiti. The measured success in Bosnia and Haiti were still in the future, and somewhat diminishes Hackworth's omniscience.
Whatever his excesses, Hackworth is passionate about his country and the ordinary soldiers and sailors who defend it. His prescriptions (reducing the armed services from 4 to 1, stopping the revolving door from Congress to arms manufacturers) may be either visionary or unrealistic. But it's clear from his experiences and perspective that a military that persecutes and marginalizes "war fighters," which continually prepares to fight the last war, and is hypnotized by fancy gadgetry is no asset to our country.
Where have all the soldiers gone?.......2005-11-26
There are two types of soldier, peacetime and wartime. Hackworth is from that wartime brand. A pain in the ass in peace but vital in conflict. He clearly identifies the issues and yet is lambasted as a poor staff leader, funnily enough so was Patton, and what a fighting general he was! No one believed him about the Russians at the end of WW2. As an ex-soldier from a recon background i'd really have liked to have met and even served under Col. Hackworth. At least he wouldn't have thrown my life away like modern leadership. The quickest way to resolve an issue is to accept that it exists. The US Military should listen to these views and act on them, otherwise when the big day comes and they are up against an effective force they will be sorely embarrased. Look how badly they are currently handling the insurgency in Iraq.
Hazardous Duty.......2005-10-09
Great read, unique and interesting perspective about the US military from a qualified expert.
Excellent.......2001-12-07
Very interesting book. I couldn't put it down after the first page or two. I've been inspired to read his other books -- esp. About Face, and support his organization Soldiers for the Truth.
Average customer rating:
- Great Read for Kids of all ages.
- Review By:Kevin
- Understand the roots of the Irish/English conflist at last
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Anson's Way
Gary D. Schmidt
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Europe
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The Sin Eater
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ASIN: 0141312297 |
Book Description
Anson has longed for the day when he would become a soldier like his father, and serve His Majesty, the King of England. But by the time the teenager reaches Ireland, where the forces are stationed, he has begun to realize that things are not so simple. The King's Soldiers aren't keeping the peace-instead, fueled by a hatred of the Irish and Ireland, they are determined to wipe out as much of its culture as they can. Soon, Anson is no longer sure which way is right. Can he bear to enforce the law, or will he risk everything and break it?
"[This] engrossing novel realistically portrays not only the tragedies of war but also the battle between the heart and mind of a young soldier, torn between loyalty to family and country, and his own sense of justice."
-Booklist, starred review
Customer Reviews:
Great Read for Kids of all ages........2003-05-11
Gary Schmidt has done an amazing job of researching this rich and realistic novel. Everything down to the color of the soldiers' pants is correct. This book moves very fast and gives the reader an idea of the origins of the conflict between the English and the Irish. The story of the hedgemaster is truly inspiring. I could only give it five stars, but it deserves many more.
Review By:Kevin.......2002-03-20
For someone below the age of 13, you would have to know alot of vocabulary words. The book didn't have much action in it, and it was very confusing. On the positve side, the book was extremly realistic and fast pace. Though I dont think I'd read it again to be honest.
Understand the roots of the Irish/English conflist at last.......1999-05-24
Anson has heard tales of Irish rebellion from his family and willinglly and proudly, accompanies his father to Dublin on behalf of King GerogeII. When he actually lives in the country, meets the people and witnesses the King's justice, he comes of age. Anson becomes an independent thinker and resigns from the King's army. I wonder if a third generation Fencible would break with his family? Reminds me of Charlotte Doyle. Are these characters true to their times or politically correct for 1999? Again, Australia, the land of "transports", was not available to the English for "transports" for at least ten years after King GeorgeII reign ended. It is still a good read, full of excitement. I loved it.
Amazon.com
Colin Powell did not become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1989 because of a quota. He earned his spot at the top. And he is not the only black American to have made a successful career out of the U.S. Army. In fact, no other institution in American life has done a better job of creating opportunity for blacks. Authors Moskos and Butler explain and endorse the Army's "supply-side" affirmative action, with its dedication to non-discrimination and belief that remedial training can open doors better than quotas or lowered standards.
Book Description
[A] magnificent book...Every American--white or black, military or civilian--who cares about building healthy race relations in our country ought to read All That We Can Be.
The foremost authorities on race relations in the armed forces recount the previously untold success story of how the U.S. Army became the most integrated institution in America. Charles C. Moskos and John Sibley Butler observe that the Army is the only place in America where blacks routinely boss around whites, and in this book they lay out the path by which the Army has promoted excellence across racial lines, while also showing how this military model can be adapted to fit the needs of civilian society. The Army way offers hope for our nation in a troubled time, and by following its example, Americans of all races can truly be all that we can be.
Fascinating and well-written...Anyone who sees the need for a border vision of race in America and to reset the terms of the national racial policy debate should read this book.
--William Julius Wilson, Harvard University, author of When Work Disappears
Moskos and Butler...are admirably informative about the principles that under lie 'the Army way' of achieving integration, and their book reminds us that integration itself is not a vain hope or lost idea.
--Wall Street Journal
A great American success story--and a reminder that a truly color-blind America is a 'hill worth taking,'
--Washington Monthly
This detailed, readable book implicitly tells us to stop complaining about the lack of race fairness in America--and look at how the military has begun to solve the problem. Virtually every one of the military's keys to success can be adapted in civilian society, so let's get on with it.
--George Anne Geyer, Universal Press Syndicate
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Description of Success in the Military Life.......2005-08-25
Moskos and Butler do an excellent job of describing how the Army has done a much better job than other American institutions at racial integration. Unlike a few of the previous reviewers, I did not feel that the authors claimed that the Army had done it perfectly, or that there was complete racial harmony. In fact, I think the authors were fairly clear that the Army was far from perfect. Instead, they argue that the Army is one of the best, if not the best, examples we have.
Further, Moskos and Butler do a great job of operationalizing or articulating, the steps the Services used and are using. These concrete examples are extremely valuable when evaluating whether other institutions can follow in the Army's footsteps or not.
One of the strengths of the book is that both Moskos and Butler are uniquely qualified to write about the military. Both served in the Army as soldiers (not officers), both are professors who study the military, and both continue to stay in contact with the Army. In short, they are in a position to blend personal experience, academic analysis and recent events.
EXCELLENT PROPOGANDA.......2001-03-06
Charles Moskos and John Butler have delievered in our hands an excellent propoganda treatsie telling us that integration has worked in the Army. It has worked without lowering standards and has provided an environment in which African-Americans can excel. Surely society and other institutions need to take a look at the Army and borrow some of its strategies to provide equal opportunity for African-Americans in the civilian sector.
If you have served in the Army for any length of time you would know that is is not "race" free. Institutional racism was not addressed in this text. Although you have African-Americans in leadership positions in the NCO Corps that changes when we go into the officer's Corps and when we look at positions that African-Americans hold in each branch. Not everything is equal.
The Army is portrayed as a good paternalistic organization which is able to take low performing Blacks and make them into good soldiers. Very little is mentioned at all that many Blacks who have joined the Army have come from stable homes, have a sense of purpose and are instilled with deep family values. These young men and women will be successful in any environment.
Of course there are certain things that outside organizations can learn from the Army and implement the changes in their structures. We must keep in mind that the Army has different control systems in place by virtue of its nature that can't be duplicated in the civilian world. In such a case the Army is able to be successful in integrating its force. The Army's purpose is to defend our country. It can't do it if there is racial strife in the organization. Racists behavior is not in its best interest for defence.
If you create an environment where there is a level playing field then everyone has the opportunity to excel. What the Army has done is not unique as Moskos implies. Civilian society can not be compared with the Army because of its unique mission. The Army doesn't change until society tells it to do so.
Mr. Moskos would have done a better job in presenting the Army as an alternative for African-Americans to explore as they embark on their way to viable careers for their lives. The Army is not racism free and better attention needs to be addressed to the institutional barriers. Purchase this book if you are highly optimistic or have your head buried in the sand regarding integration the Army way.
Good premise, but a bit unrealistic.......1999-11-26
Perhaps confirming suspicions of most African-Americans, I can attest to the very real resentment that their presence in the ranks engenders. It is true that their representation in the NCO corps is quite heavy, but I have personally observed that the officer corps is equally topheavy with whites. Naturally the officer corps is better educated, if not always smarter. To the average white observer without the benefit of liberal indoctrination,it is quite obvious that the reason for this preponderance of Black NCO's is that the military lifestyle is often infinitely more palatable than the civilian cycle of poverty, drugs, and crime that surely await the average black who is either too witless, or too proud to take advantage of the many programs developed by Whitey to raise him above his circumstances. This is not to say that many African-Americans do not benefit in a true moral sense from the strict meritocracy envisioned and implemented by the military. Quite often they are superior soldiers and human beings when shown the truth and beauty of discipline and self-sacrifice. Unfortunately, there are many more who have never managed to embrace these equalizing truths, and have managed to cling to the ghetto mentality to the detriment of those they presume to command. For this reason you will see most whites leave service after the contracted number of years, and many blacks stay on to fill the NCO ranks.
Uninformed.......1999-02-03
I belive that the author of this book is blaming society, especially Universities, a little too much. In the beginning when he makes this assertion that Universites are racist he basis it on the astute obervation that since there a few African Americans in the Universities that they are racist or something like that. Furthmore since the Military has more African Americans it is a better instiution. Here is a better explanation. Universities are a lot more selective and thus can choose from the entire population. The Army will take anyone it can get its hands on. I just did not like the Authors atitutde that the whole is racist. Furthermore he knows nothing about music. I love when he writes white soldiers are listening to more black music and he uses Heavy Metal and Rock n Roll, both white music! In fact Heavy Metal is white protest music against Black music! Do some research or think before writting a book.
America can benefit from race-savvy;not color-blind policies.......1998-10-24
Can It Be This Simple?
All That We Can Be: Black Leadership and Racial Integration the Army Way by Charles Moskos and John Sibley Butler
Reviewed by Robert Gest III a senior faculty member of The Federal Executive Institute
This book by Moskos and Butler indeed provides a somewhat different solution to the race problem in America; one that I, and I am sure, many others desperately wish could succeed. As a personal friend of both authors, an Afro-American, and a veteran of thirty years in the US Air Force, I read their book with a somewhat biased eye. I believe in Moskos' views of cohesion and community and I know he fervently believes in the solvability of the race issue in this country. However, I found myself reading, accepting many of the arguments of the book, yet ending with a morbid melancholy about the feasibility or soundness of their ultimate argument.
The position that the Army takes which focuses on behavior rather than attitudes is probably one of the few tenable perspectives to take on leading an organization populated by both white and black Americans. Sociologists tell us that attitudes and values cannot be legislated. Such an effort is more likely to harden the positions of people who have come by these attitudes and values from the people and institutions they trust the most. Our parents, churches, friends are instrumental in the formation of our early values and attitudes. And, as many accept, these become part and parcel of who we are at a relatively early age. I like the view of Morris Massey whose seminal work, Who You Are is Where You Were When. Here he argues that short of a Significant Emotional Event, a S-E-E if you will, we are not likely to experience a major shift in attitudes/values. Perhaps the Army, in its effort to ensure harmony, unity, combat effectiveness, presents its newly-entered soldiers with what amounts to a SEE. The Army makes it crystal clear what its expectations are and subsequently brooks little or no deviation. The emphasis is on behavior which can be observed; not on attitudes. Is it possible that this focus makes that much difference? It would seem so.
A war story is in order. In Boot camp during the Fall of 1959, I had the honor of serving as "Barracks Chief" which meant that when the Drill Sergeant went home for the evening, I was "in charge". I had an assistant who like me, was from the Deep South. After about two weeks into an eleven week basic training experience, the assistant and I were sitting on the stoop of the barracks building, discussing a variety of things. Unexpectedly he confided or confessed that had anyone told him three weeks before that he would be sitting with a "nigra", talking as equals and feeling benefitted by the dialogue, he would have called them a "damned liar". His experience with Afro-Americans had been largely confined to the maid and yard man who came to his parents' home to work. Therefore, his world view (read attitudes/values) had been formed by his experiences. Only after he experienced a different paradigm of behavior/relations did he begin to question his assumptions. Richard Tanner Pascale, in his book, Managing on the Edge, states that "it is easier to act ourselves into a better mode of thinking than to think ourselves into a better mode of acting". (p.264) For this reason, Moskos and Butler are onto something when they argue forcefully for National Service. The leveling that occurs when young people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, etc., come together to execute a common mission, forces each "different" to confront the realities of these "others" and begin to reassess their heretofore strongly-held beliefs. Pascale says it this way, "If our experiences are far enough out of whack with our beliefs, we are forced to update our thinking". (p.264) So, the question we might ask is, "Could universal National Service have the impact that the authors suggest?
Yes, National Service could have a major impact on changing both behavior and attitudes. But would it be enough? Would the changes extend to situations outside of the arena where the National Service is performed? The record is mixed in this regard. Anecdotal evidence indicates that when left to their own devices, the races tend to seek out others they perceive as "like themselves". I have first-hand experience that it seems to matter little how wealthy or educated one may be, she/he is still first thought of and identified by the color of his or her skin. The treatment may not be as harsh, but the differentiation is still there. So, I would pose the question to the authors, "How do we get past skin color?"
So, although the authors make a very good case for adopting the Army's approach of race-savvy versus color-blindness and behavior versus attitude, could it not be that absent a "forced behavior environment", this simply will not work for the general public? At least, not as successfully as it has for the Army? Having said all that, America could still benefit immeasurably from creating institutions where its citizens are required to face their stereotypes but conduct themselves as if these false views did not exist. Over time the stark and strongly-held world views might soften and such could only aid in the improvement of race relations in America.
Books:
- Across Five Aprils
- America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It
- Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II: Vol.1: (VIII) Bomber Command
- Be Expert With Map and Compass: The Complete Orienteering Handbook
- Benedict Arnold's Navy
- Beyond Valor: World War II's Ranger and Airborne Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat
- Burnt Offerings (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Book 7)
- Coal Black Horse
- Cocktails In Tahiti
- Cold War Civil Rights: Race and the Image of American Democracy (Politics and Society in Twentieth Century America)
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