Caroline Kennedy has written a book that portrays her vision of the land that she loves. She considers this her Patriots Handbook,and the title was chosen by her daughter, Tatiana. This is a book that belongs in everybodys book collection. Not just out on the coffee table, but in a place that every member of the family can reach out and read a few paragraphs whenever they feel the need. This is a very large book, 646 pages of poems, songs, essays, writings, The Declaration of Independence, the Salute to The Flag, pictures, everything and anything that means or speaks of America. I was astonished at the collection. At first glance, you would think this book would have little bits and pieces of what America means. But, oh no, this includes everything. Caroline Kennedy in her opening chapter tells us this is her interpretation of Patriotism and what was handed down by her family. There is nothing missing! I am most impressed with this book, and I will give it often as a gift. The book is separated into 12 chapters. A selection of the chapters I liked the most follows: The Flag: contains the words to the "Star Spangled Banner", Pledge of Allegiance, US Blues by the Grateful Dead, "The Mike Christian Story" by John McCain and other collections of flag memories. Visions of America: Several essays by Presidents, poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ronald Regans farewell address and other memories of how America has changed. Portraits of Americans: "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde, "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" by Albert Von Tilzer, "The Story of a Novel", by Tom Wolfe, Bush vs Gore-531 US 09 (2000) and other memories of famous Americans. Freedom: "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson, "Freedom" by E.B. White, "Ive Got The Light Of Freedom", by Pete Seeger and other memories of freedon. Equality: "Letter to John Adams," by Abigal Adams, "Brown vs. Board of Education,(1954), "Feminine Mystique: by Betty Friedan and other memories of equality. The Individual: "Self Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Walden" by Henry David Thoreau, "Imn Search of Our Mohters Gardens," by Alice Walker and other memories of strong individuals. Work, Opportunity and Invention: "I Hear America Singing," by Walt Whitman, "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair, "Brother Can You Spare A Dime," by EY Harburg, Richard Nixon and Nikita Krushchev, "The Kitchen Debate"(1959), " King Leer" by Groucho Marx, "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan, Bill Gates on "Capitalizing on the Cognitive Niche, "SurfinUSA" by Chuck Berry and Brian Wilson, Joan Didion, "Los Angeles Notebook", "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell ande many, many other memories of work, opportunity and invention . This book is a marvel. Everytime I open it, I find another page that amazes me. Patriotism is "the IN thing" now, it seems, but reading and viewing this book, helps me to understand how lucky we are, indeed, to be American. Let me quote Alexis De Tocqueville, in "Democracy in America", "How does it happen that in the United States, that everyone takes an interest in the affairs of his township, his county and his whole state? It is becasue everyone takes an active part in the government of society..." Wonderful book, by a great American, Caroline Kennedy- prisrob
I thought I might impose upon your time to tell you what I think about this subject and this book. I found "A Patriots Handbook" to be a good idea by an author, Caroline Kennedy, who is obviously moved by, and concerned about, the state of mind of many people in America today. It wants to answer the question, "what is an American, anyway?". A vast number of people who are supposedly Americans, call themselves Americans, not because of what they feel for and know about America, but merely because they are physically deposited here and make their money here. This book is great to either learn from, or refer to, depending upon where your level of knowledge fits into the picture. I highly recommend it to everyone. And, if youre really interested in the subject of this book, I believe you would also be interested in Bennetts "Book Of Virtues" and Remicks "West Point: Character Leadership Education", two books that, like Caroline Kennedys, contain the similar features of stories, poems, and historical/philosophical anecdotes, Bennetts being topically organized like Kennedys, and Remicks being organized into a story. I recommend both of these books in addition to Caroline Kennedys book. Thankyou for reading what I have to say.
Ms. Kennedy has compiled a goodly set of pictures, speeches, and excerpts from literature that does indeed do more than represent America, they are the important pieces that show how America and Americans are unique from others (and maybe a little odd). The words (all of them, made up by the British to make fun of our troops) to Yankee Doodle. Lincolns first inaugural. The Bill of Rights. Martin Luther Kings Letters from a Birmingham Jail. Transcripts of a trial against Susan B. Anthony after she voted....before suffrage was passed. Excerpts from "Death of a Salesman" and "To Kill a Mockingbird". Gerald Fords remarks upon accepting office, as he faced the hard task of trying to heal a nation from the sting of executive betrayal. Yes, the book leans left, in that there are probably more triumphant Democratic speeches than conservative ones. The only Nixon speech featured is his resignation and the only Reagan speech--albeit a wonderful choice -- is the speech to students at Moscow State University about the technological revolution in 1988. But the others chosen are not unimportant, even if they are controversial...antiwar protesters during Vietnam, Friedans "The Feminist Mystique" ....all the literature and art in Kennedys book is important for Americans to remember. We should remember how important they were to us, to our parents and ancesters, and the impact they had upon the country and the world. Especially of interest during this election year (2004) is on page 465, where part of John Kerrys testimony to Congress on behalf of Vietnam Veterans Against the War in 1971 can be found. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. Kelly
