multicultural education syllabus

Why Black Literature Is Important

2013-12-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

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When I first published my first novel, The Ebony Tree, I'll never forget how I found out later that my then, 23 year-old niece ran through the house and screamed with laughter, after she read the book. Now mind you, my niece had always been an avid reader of white romance novels since her early teens, but reading my book was like landing on Mars for her. She reportedly asked her mother, "Mama, did Aunt Maxine make this up? Did you guys actually 'play white'?"

My sister-in-law told her, "Not only did we play white, we dreamed in white. That's all we ever saw in the books or on TV were white characters. It seemed like they had all the fun."

Typically, most Blacks grew up in the 50's with pictures on the wall of white Jesus, white Santa Claus and even white angels. There was nothing in the media or in books that reflected the beauty of blackness. Needless to say, if there were any books beside the Bible in the home, they were not Black books. It sent a silent message that Black was ugly and white was beautiful. This was as negative of an experience as when reading was forbidden to slaves.

Fastforward almost half a century. I know from rearing my children, who are now all adults, that having had Black books in the home was, and remains, a good influence on their self-esteem and confidence. When a person sees himself reflected in the literature he or she reads, it indirectly helps build a better self-image. For in literature, we find our role models, our archetypes from which we can learn life lessons. More specifically, in African American literature, the stories are relevant to the Black experience in this country. These experiences range from people coming from different socio-economic classes, from varying urban to country regions, to different professions. We often get the Alger Horatio rags-to-riches story to its reversal, the riches-to-rags story. Most of these stories make social commentaries on how we all play a part in the symphony of the American Dream.

"Black Writers on The Rise," the headlines screamed. I believed them. After all, seeing the different genres of African American books in the local, predominantly Black bookstores, who wouldn't think that? Hadn't things improved for us as Black writers, since the late 1980's? However, after attending the Book Expo of America (formerly the American Book Association) held in Los Angeles, California in late April 1999, I had a rude awakening. Because of seeing all the books in the predominantly Black book stores scattered throughout LA, I had been lulled into a false sense of complacency that we, as African American writers, were being published at the same rate as mainstream books. To say the least, I was disillusioned.

Yes, The Book Expo of 1999 was a big eye-opener. The bad news is this: Our problems (as African American writers) are far from over. When I compared the books represented by the major publishers, I saw that the percentage of Black books is infinitesimally small compared to that of other races. Not one to be a soothsayer, but I feel the number of African American books can disappear like they did after the Harlem Renaissance, after the late 40's, and after the Revolutionary 60's, if we don't take control of our own written words.

However, the good news is this. The increase that is witnessed in the number of African American books can be attributed, by and large, not only to more Black publishing companies, Black editors, but to self-published books. Given the advent of desktop publishing, the Internet, and Black book clubs, many writers are taking control of our destines and empowering ourselves by publishing our own stories.

So consider these questions. What are other ways having more Black books have helped? Is it easier to get published by mainstream as a Black writer, in a tight publishing market? Why is self-publishing so important, particularly for Black writers, if you can't get your books published by mainstream? To encourage other writers to pen their stories, here are some of the good things Black literature has brought to this country.

1. Salvation. To paraphrase Toni Cade Bambara, fiction snatches you back from the edge as a Black person in America.

2. Continuity with your ancestors. To paraphrase Toni Morrison, "If you are not writing about the Village which you come from then you are not writing about anything."

3. A reading audience who is eager to see stories that reflect their reality.

4. A way of restoring history which was not allowed to be written down in the past.

5. A way of lifting up the next generation through the printed word, in addition to our oral tradition, which is reflected in rap, Hip Hop, and Poetry.

6. A way of promoting racial understanding for other ethnic groups. I learn a lot about other parts of the Diaspora when I read books by Haitian Americans, or when I read Chinese American literature, or any other culture's literature.

Recently, a teacher told me at a book signing, that a study was done at her school. It was found that all the little Black girls said that their image of beauty was still a blond, blue-eyed child. Imagine! This was December, 1999! It reminds me of the tragic tale in Toni Morrison's book, The Bluest Eyes, where the scourged Black child, Pecola, went insane, all because she wanted blue eyes. This book's setting was circa 1940.

My point is this. If we keep writing our stories down, we, as African American writers, may not ever have parity in the world of books. But at the same time, we won't have another generation of little Black girls playing white, like my friends and I did, with scarves and towels draped over our hair, which we felt wasn't beautiful enough. Or perhaps, we won't have little girls going crazy like the fictional Pecola did.

Dr. Maxine Thompson is an author, literary agent, literary coach, ghostwriter and Internet Radio Show Host. You can email her at maxtho@sbcglobal.net. You can sign up for a free newsletter at http://www.maxinethompson.com/

The World Is Here By Ismael Reed

2013-12-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

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Ishmael Reed's essay "The World is Here" is preceded by a well-chosen excerpt from a 1983 New York Times article which evokes an image that epitomizes the two tiered concept of Ishmael's proceeding essay. Reed offers several examples of cultural blending from inside the walls of a McDonald's to inside the walls of a respected university, and from Detroit to Houston. Reed aims to enlighten the U.S. Population in general as he peels away at the layers of half truths, at best, that certain entities in the U.S. Continue to foster as he speculates the question "what is Western Civilization?" and follows up his answer with several historical facts.

Reed states that the mirror of our current day world reflects an eclectic cornucopia of cultures that can no longer be ignored simply because it doesn't mesh with the fabricated concept of "Western Civilization". He believes that as evident as the existence of a multicultural society is there are those in power who refuse to accept the current reality and who remain attached to the idea that the U.S. is solely descendant of this so called European "Western Civilization", whose existence Reed questions in the first place based on nearly a dozen examples of how the U.S. has tried to build its history on an already unstable foundation. Reed believes the concept was created by the still-in-power descendants of Puritan patriarchs, as a smokescreen to obscure historical facts and create a false hierarchy in order to justify acts of repression, hate, persecution and murder toward other cultures right here on U.S. Soil in the last century, of which Reed cites undeniable examples.

Reed ends his essay with a message to the ethnocentric entities addressed in the article, the same Puritan posse who believed that their imperialistic expansion was "manifest destiny", that it's too late for their failing agenda because the world is already here, integrated and interconnected.

Copyright 2006-Elle Housman is a freelance writer and graphic designer based in Colorado. Her publications can be found in Toward Freedom Magazine, The Colorado Daily's monthly Women's Magazine, Ujama News and on the website of The Black Biomedical Research Movement. Visit her website at [http://PositiveScribes.com/]

A Book of Dichotomise: Ceremony by Marmon Silko And

2013-12-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

Just as Janus was depicted seeing into the past Protocol agent and "future at once so too is a Ceremony, Marmon Silko And by Novell. A face, half shown in the light and the other in the dark, stares defiantly out from the front cover open almost daring me to delve into the depths and it. Later, I realize the face is both a stark reminder and unconscious revelation from where this story springs. Silko, born in Albequerque MN, is of Laguna ancestry herself and weaves the story of a young native american "haunted" by the horrors of being a soldier during WWII and of his own cousin killed in action during the conflict.

Interwoven between flashbacks of war and struggle against Tayo's alcoholism, poverty and post traumatic stress disorder a; The author breathes life back into the young man's existence with traditional stories and myth. The story is as much about the dichotomy that occurs between life on and off the reservation-as it is about war and its lasting effects. Eating at the soul in Each their own way.

Tayo finds he must travel the path of his ancestors and the vision quest to retrieve parts of himself that had been torn away bit by bit. The story culminates in finding himself whole and well-known Tayo, with the help of through reclamation of himself on a spiritual or physical, and mental health.

Aptly named, the Ceremony was released in 1977, embraced by many during the Vietnam war era-post. The Novell was both critically acclaimed and criticized-yet another interesting polarization. For me, it was a very thoughtful book and one that I did not read lightly. Each turn of the page was filled with layer upon layer of meaning. Reading this book is like peeling an onion to reveal yet another Janus-like implication.

Read more about post traumatic stress disorder a.

Enjoyed this resource? Deidre Lin invites you to read more about Healthy Lifestyles for mind, body and spirit in a world of Chaos at http://www.transformx.com/

A Mystery Book Biography About a Black Woman That is Not Part of African American History

2013-11-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

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The story of black and white in America runs deep through our conscience. Each of us has both an experience and opinion on the subject. Whether it recalls a black man, a black woman or child it doesn't rise to the level necessary to be considered "text" worthy of African American History.

This book biography represents the history of just one unusual drama that had its beginnings wrapped in bigotry customary to the times. If there is one inspirational story to open our minds and hearts to our commonality rather than our differences, this mystery book can be considered at the top.

The inexperience of youth, who often sees life through ideals, rarely has the opportunity to deliberately manipulate social justice and force their romanticized values onto others. Even with the best of intentions it can create havoc for those least prepared to deal with the resulting catastrophe. But this is exactly what happened in the early 1950's.

Fauna Hodel, the Caucasian progeny of a prominently social California family, was given away at birth to a Black maid, Jimmie Lee, who worked as a restroom attendant in a Nevada casino. The purpose was to make sure that a black family raise her baby. In her 16 year old mother's naive eyes, Blacks were the only people capable of unconditional love. To insure that the child would never return to her emotionally reclusive white family, she provided the race of the father as "Negro" on the birth certificate. The child grew up believing that she was of mixed race.

This is not just the story of a young girl and a Black woman who struggled to overcome extreme poverty and enormous social prejudice, but also the story of perseverance. But through perseverance, and strength of character, the will to overcome these enormous obstacles prevails and succeeds.

To understand how difficult living in a racist world where you clearly don't belong, yet trying to blend in to survive, one needs to be able to walk in those footsteps. But for us to do so cannot be accomplished voluntarily. To find the true knowledge of emotional & physical reliance requires either slavery or kidnapping, two serious felonies universally frowned upon.

Our story begins with the dubious behavior from those responsible who initiated and controlled the events. The actions of Fauna's grandfather who was accused and acquitted of incestuous relations with his daughter Tamar, and Tamar who insisted but did not name the father as "Negro", and the grandmother unmoved in her resolve to eliminate this tragedy from the family, become only passing consequences. But for a child, to begin life buried in a haystack, it's a lifetime of absurdities.

This story allows us to flow into the life of a young woman as she searches for the truth. We can feel what it's like to not know where she came from, nor why she is there in the first place. Her only hope is a few words remixed a dozen different ways, but never enough to piece together an answer.

With a very young Tamar leaving unanswered questions for Fauna, and Jimmie Lee not answering those questions for fear of losing her daughter, neither mother could foresee the consequences of their actions. Actions that affect generations yet to come. We can all learn something from this misguided manipulation. This part of African American history should not be left without notice.

The author began writing in high school and throughout college and first published articles in sporting and finance magazines. The recent release of his first full biographical novel has created a buzz in Hollywood for the film rights. Click on the link to find out more about this mystery and see some photos of these real characters at http://www.onedayshelldarken.com/
Copyright ?2008 Rick Briamonte

Book Review of "American Muslims, The New Generation"

2013-11-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

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About the author:

As she has mentioned in the preface of her book she is an American Muslim from immigrant Pakistani parents who has born in Chicago. She has made up a title for herself "I am s self proclaimed Muslim feminist cowgirl....my spirit is a mix of American individualism, the American west, the Islam that I grew up with and practice, my family code of ethics and the Feminism I believe in." She has published another book "Why I am Muslim".

She was a 25 years old student studying law at New York when this book published in 2000. She has written editorials for the Denver Post, fiction for the Susquehanna Review. It seems she has mingled some of Islamic rules with the circumstances of living in America to create a light-minded feminist Muslim. From the evidences she provides in her book, she probably says her five daily prayers and fast during Ramezan and helps charity but thinks just modest attire is enough to save Hijab, or in judgment day she would not be guilty for not obeying a complete Halal diet.

She thinks that American Islam as it grows and evolves will offer a model to Islam in the rest of the worlds: a purer Islam. "I believe American Islam is a purer form of Islam than is practiced in some Islamic countries."
About the book

Hasan published her book before 9/11. After this event in an interview in National radio, she said that some of conservative Muslims have said her, "You can't be a Muslim and believe that!" and she answered, "Yes, I can!" In the interview, she did not mention what was her meaning of "that", so a glance on her book would get an idea what "that" meant.

This book is written in ten chapters, each covers a different issue. Generally speaking, it is about the sects of Islam, Hijab, principals of Islam, military in Islam, media and Islam, feminism, reform, growing up in America, and politics.
This book is neither autobiography, although in narrating the situation of Muslims her experiences are conspicuous, nor is it a historical explanation about development of Islam, while it contains some background from some issues to get a totally stranger American audience more familiar with Islam. In this respect, her experiences illustrate how it is like to be young Muslim and live in America. For instance, when she prefers to say the waiter in a restaurant that she has allergy to pork, rather than say she keeps religious diet, she implies that even nowadays it is somehow odd for an American to encounter uncommon issues, which he would consider as unnatural.

She tries to correct some misconceptions in American minds. She attempts to make Americans believe that what one Muslim does cannot be generated to all of Muslims. If a Muslim does terroristic actions it does not mean that all of them have belligerent ideology. She tries to tell that the image of oppressed Muslim women in the minds of the American is not right, in proving her claim she exemplifies herself as a female Muslim student with feministic ideas who is living freely.

In correcting Americans mind, sometimes she makes an effort to optimist their attitude and change what they had already believed. She says that Jihad does mean a struggle and mostly "inner struggle to strengthen one's belief against corrupting and anti-Islamic forces" (p.49) According to her, this meaning is shown in Quran and life of Prophet of Islam, so it is not a holy war against all Americans. It is obvious that she herself struggles to soften Islamic principles to introduce them very gentle.

She brings another subject to get a common sense between Americans and Islamic principles and emphasizes similarities between these two. She claims "Islam was founded on the same principles and ideas the United States was." In her desire to integrate with a common religion she says that as "western culture and Judeo-Christian ethic are defined by a belief in one God, also the major belief of Islam" it is better to consider" Judeo-Christian-Islamic"
She describes the difference of being Muslim and living in America in contrast to other countries in this way "American Muslims don't have the cultural support system most Muslims all over the world have. Each Islamic country has its own set of Quranic interpretations, even a group of academics that set those interpretations, called the ulema. Here in the Unites States, Muslims are mostly flying blind, although we do have a national Fiqh Council, created by and consisting of some American Muslim leaders... However, we need to create our own support systems to do with our new approaches to the Quran." (P. 132)

Regarding politics, she thinks that a major involvement in American politics is electing Muslim congressional representative. And the reason why Muslims do not take part eagerly in politics in her view is "because they are disturbed by overwhelming U.S. policy against Muslims, especially the implicit lack of support for Palestinians." (P.152) Then she continues with the activities of Muslim institutions like AMA, MPAC and AMC not to leave a disappointing picture in this part.

Criticism and evaluation

According to Hasan"... this book is about other Muslims like me, who are living as American and Muslim and figuring out their spirit and identity as we go along." Her claim that her book is about nearly six million other Muslims who live in America and all are like her is suspected. I think as there are so many interpretations, ideologies and lifestyles related to Islam in the United States, it is a big venture to think that all of them think like her or even live in the circumstances like hers, because treating with minorities is different in different parts of America.

What I can say at first is that I think that the title of this book, "American Muslims", is not appropriate at all. Hasan is a young Lady who narrates her own perception of Islam and so she is not permitted, to my view, to generate what she thinks to all Muslims who live in America.

The second point I noticed is that as young and unexercised as she is, she cannot picture a right and multi dimension perspective of Islam. Her background shows that she has no prophecy in studying Islam to judge if what American Muslims do is according to Islam or not, although it is obvious that she has had a glance at Quran at least. For example, she believes that Hijab (head covering) according to holy Quran and prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H) is not necessary for women except in praying time. In her view, it suffices for women just to dress modestly.

The other weak point I understood was that her statements are very general, I mean without specifying the meaning of her terminology (like "modestly" in women attire or "feminism" in her idea) and on the other hand, she claims something without giving evidence and reference for that. When she narrates some sentence from Quran, she does not specify where she has read it. For instance, she mentions, "In truth, Islam is really supposed to be practiced and interpreted by each individual and not handed down by a Pope-like figure. It says so in the Quran."

Recommendation

So I think what she has written in her book is just her point of view about Islam and cannot be relied on. It is very personal, a completely personal narrative. Even from the cover picture that is the photo of the writer it can be guessed how personal it may be! Therefore, although it is interesting to know how a young Muslim girl thinks in the days before 9/11, reading this book for another Muslim who already knows about Islam and at the same time may be in disagreement with the author may be boring.

Never Underestimate the Latino Market Segment - The Latino Book is Here in the USA

2013-10-31T13:45:00.000-07:00

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The Hispanic and Latino market is on fire, there is a lot of spendable income there and they love personal electronics, and they are good voters. This is changing the dynamics in the United States and the way we live. This is one incredible consumer market segment that no business can neglect. Perhaps, it is for that reason that I have a very good book I'd like to recommend to you. The name of the book is;

"The Latino Boom! - Everything You Need to Know to Grow Your Business in the US Hispanic Market," by Chiqui Cartagena (female), published by Ballantine Books, New York, NY, 2005, (232 pp), ISBN: 0-345-48235-2.

This author knows exactly what she's talking about and she grew up in Spain and runs a Hispanic media company. She tells us that in 2005 Hispanic families made $4000 more annually than African-Americans in the United States. Hispanic could be many different nationalities - Mexicans, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Latin Americans, and people from Spain. The teens are urban trendsetters and by 2020 Hispanics will be 25% of the population in the United States and that is at the low end of the projection.

It is estimated that by 2012 the spendable income from Hispanic citizens will be well over $1 trillion. Although Hispanics also have the highest dropout rates, many of them also are self-employed or own businesses. In the United States Black Americans account for 36 million people or 13%, whereas Hispanic populations account for 41 million or 15%, and Hispanics are outpacing in population growth almost 2 to one presently. In Puerto Rico alone there are 3.8 million Hispanic folks.

The Hispanic voters were the decider in the 2004 elections. In the 1960s hundreds of thousands fled from Cuba and came to Miami. Miami is also home to Argentinians, Brazilians, and Venezuelans all considered Latino. They bring with them their culture, strong family values, and future buying power. 80% of the Hispanics in the US live in seven states; California, Texas, New York, Arizona, New Mexico, New Jersey, Florida, and Illinois.

In 2008 they had an estimated $800 billion in buying power, and at that time only 4% of Hispanics who were over 50 years old made $50,000 per year, although that number is rapidly climbing. The average Cuban-American is 30 years old and they are one of the most industrious groups running many businesses in Florida. 30% of Hispanics are foreign born do not speak English very well and 10% of US-born Hispanics don't speak English, although 30% are bilingual.

With larger families they lean towards collectivism and they believe in fate and God, very religious folks. They are spontaneous and are much more able to relax than a typical whitey American. Their spending on personal electronics is way up, and perhaps this accounts for the reason that Carlos Slim is now the richest person in the entire world and he is involved with cell phones and personal technologies. It is also known that in North Carolina Hispanic populations have quadrupled in the last decade - a story which will be repeated in many states in coming years.

This book is a complete eye opener for anyone who thinks they can neglect the Hispanic market in their business. Because nothing could be further from the truth - this is definitely the demographic and market segment that you need to watch in your business, and that's why I highly recommend that you buy this book and get yourself educated on this topic. This is a game changer, it will change everything, and it's time that you went with the flow to greater profits in your business.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes intelligent demographic study and hiring intelligent contractors too; http://www.yakimabuilders.com/.

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

Three Cups of Tea

2013-10-22T11:52:00.000-07:00

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When Greg Mortenson traversed Pakistan's rugged terrain in 1993, it was to climb and conquer the indomitable K2. He left the country without conquering the peak, yet he left with something more important - a promise. A remote village called Korphe had taken in the weary mountaineer and helped him recover after an arduous expedition. When Mortenson saw 82 children (only 4 of them girls) attending school outdoors, "kneeling on the frosty ground, in the open," he knew what he wanted to do for these people who survived on so little and had given him so much. He promised to return and build them a school.

He didn't know that fulfilling his promise would direct the course of his life and lead to building 130 more schools that would educate 51,000 students in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Today he is the director of Central Asia Institute, an organization formed to accomplish Mortenson's goal of creating schools for girls in remote regions. Three Cups of Tea documents the challenges and successes of the finding the funds, of transporting roof beams by hand for 18 miles, of persevering through religious resistance and hostile environments. Mortenson is kidnapped, spied upon, and stuck in the middle of a showdown between opium smugglers.

Through these epic adventures, the story maintains a deeply personal tone. Korphe's town leader becomes a surrogate father for Mortenson. He falls in love and has children. Men vow to die to protect his life. Mortenson cultivates relationships that transcend barriers of tradition, religion, and race amidst the complex cultures of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He approaches each new people group and school building project as a learner.

Armed with this attitude and the conviction that education will change lives, Mortenson serves some of the world's most impoverished children and fights terrorism in his own way. If you want to learn about Pakistan and Afghanistan beyond what you hear on the radio waves, if you want to see a successful grassroots model of education in undeveloped areas in progress, if you want to believe that one person's life can make an impact, then read Three Cups of Tea.

Julia Phillips blogs regularly about social justice issues and parenting at [http://www.dosmallthings.com].

Hard Revolution By George Pelecanos

2013-10-10T02:43:00.000-07:00

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I have had this book on my bookshelf for several years. Don't ask me why I did not pick it up and read it for the great read it turned out to be. I have read several of Mr. Pelecanos' books over the years but this one I enjoyed more than any of them.

Hard Revolution starts by introducing Derek Strange and several of his friends when they were very young. It takes place in Washington, DC where they were born and grew up over the years amidst changing social situations. During their youth Derek, a black boy, and his best friend, Billy Georgelakos, a white boy, did almost everything together. They traveled through each other's neighborhoods, sometimes being gawked at, sneered at, and laughed at. Some, mostly in their own age range, could not understand why a black and a white boy would hang out together. It did not happen in the days of the 50's and 60's.

Derek's parents, Darious and Althea, were hard working people doing all they could to raise Derek correctly. Darious worked over a hot stove in a restaurant while Althea was a domestic worker. Dennis was a son of theirs too. Dennis was not the hard and caring person that Derek was, despite his parents attempt to make him so.

Frank Vaughn was a detective, white, and he truly tried to keep justice in the neighborhood as well as the city of Washington. The feelings between the whites and blacks were very much on edge. Some of the younger blacks thought the world owed them a living while the whites thought they owned the blacks. The streets were very much separated by class and color. Frank Vaughn tried to smooth things but it was an impossibility.

Hard Revolution gives a terrific account of the racial tensions of those years and shows through the characters in the book how difficult it was to live during those times. There was NO normal. Gangs and groups of mostly young people did not want a peaceful coexistence with each other. They would be more likely to hurt, or even kill, others to show THEY were in charge. The police had a never-ending job.

Hard Revolution follows history, giving very vivid descriptions of the fights, the burning, the killing, and the attempt of law enforcement to keep control of Washington. Derek became a police officer when he was old enough. He was an exception being a black policeman in a white controlled police force. Derek made friends but many of his former friends turned against Derek's pleas for calm. Some of his friends turned to violence, as did many blacks in the city.

The book also covers Martin Luther King's actions in peace making while seeking justice for all blacks. Dr. King had many supporters that came to Washington during these times, most of who attempted to help him, but some that fought peaceful resolution. You will be amazed at the vivid descriptions and detail in Hard Revolution. The author tells it like it was. There were victims on both sides of this brutal showdown.

I highly recommend this book. It is a winner with non-stop action.

Reader review by Cy Hilterman.
Reviewer of many types of books.

Review of All Gays Go to Heaven

2013-09-26T02:47:00.000-07:00

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All Gays Go to Heaven is the third book from the now dubbed "New Gay Author of 2010" from Queerbook.com, Reece Manley. Dr. Manley's first two books included a slew of professional initials after his name, but this one simply credits him Reece Wyman Manley. It shows the author's shift from teaching to simply telling in this his first wide appeal work.

All Gays Go to Heaven follows Reece's life from the point of making a decision to have surgical weight loss interventions which go horribly awry to his life as it is today. In the retelling of his story, he follows the ancient story of the hero's journey with all the elements included in his true to life journey. What makes the book stand out is that Reece holds nothing back. All of the ugliness of a life - incest, beatings, abuse, addiction - to all the beauty life can hold - love, friendship, spirituality and an authentic life.

The nemesis of Reece's life comes in the form of an injury during his bariatric surgery, slimming him from 414 pounds to 170 pounds. However, the injury disables him with a neuropathy which delivers chronic pain to his feet. The pain takes the form of a giant black bird in one graphic passage from the memoir, which delightfully feeds on his exposed feet. It's an image hard to shake as one progresses through the pages.

Soon, there are plenty of smiles served up by his companions and the exploration of a gay life apparently quite lively in the city of Lubbock, Texas. His friend, Jeff, delivers the best lines of dialog in his simple task of answering his phone. "Jeff's House of Coffins, our prices are to die for!" The pithy becomes the lovable. In addition, a mentor appears in Reece's life full of an advising wisdom on all the matters of his life. The balance between the characters is tense at times, and a bit choppy, but the overall effect is intriguingly readable.

All Gays Go to Heaven's title comes from a conversation Reece has during his inpatient treatment for the trauma of his near death experience. He simply reveals his new Truth that there is a loving, omnipotent Source which we all eventually reach after we pass on. The story ends with his hopeful grip on both his life path, his sanity and the containment of the pain which still haunts from the corners.

All Gays Go to Heaven is a hefty 189,000 words, but a rich, easy writing style makes the journey not only enjoyable, but inspiring as well.

Five Stars.

Craig Williams, PhD

Craig Williams, PhD, is the lead psychological advisor for Texas Research and Investment, [http://www.texas1.net]

The 12 Chinese Animals: Create Harmony In Your Daily Life Through Ancient Chinese Wisdom

2013-09-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

How many times have you gone to a Chinese restaurant and figured out what animal from the Chinese zodiac represented you? You also probably read the description of those of that animal's characteristics and nodded in agreement or shook your head thinking, "that's not me." But have you ever more United to know about the Chinese zodiac and the twelve animals? Have you ever wondered how these twelve animals came to represent different years? Well, wonder no longer. "The 12 Chinese Animals: Create Harmony In Your Daily Life Through Ancient Chinese Wisdom" by Master Zhongxian Wu presents what can be a complex topic in a very Eastern easy to understand and accessible manner for the Western reader.

The first part of the book explains the wisdom and make the twelve animals. The numerological meanings are explained, and a short primer on Chinese or Chinese zodiac astrology is presented in a few pages. "There are also short explanations of the eight hexagrams, trigrams, twelve tidal and the cycle of nature. Obviously This isn ' t as in depth as you could go, but for most people, these simple explanations will suffice to ban a better understanding.

The next section instructs on how to find your Chinese animal symbol. The little charts on menus are incomplete, and this section provides a more accurate and complete way to determine your Chinese zodiac symbol, but it is still done so in a easy to understand manner. The section covers yearly, monthly schedule, and hourly animal symbols.

Next come Wikimedia is building an international network on each of the twelve animals and related tidal hexagram: Rat and Fu (Rebirth), and Lin (Deliver) Ox, Tiger and Tai (Balance), Rabbit and Dragon DaZhuang (,), and _guai (Transform), and Quan (Strengthen) Snake, Horse and Gou (Copulate), Goat and Dun (Retreat), Monkey and Pi (Break), and Guan (Observe), Rooster, Dog and Bo (Peel), and Pig and Kun (Flow). Each of these Wikimedia is building an international network have a general description, a page with a picture and poem or saying, and general features for that animal such as personality, health, relationships, career, finance, color, and food. So if you like reading this short descriptions on menus, you will like this additional information.

The book concludes with a short afterword on living in harmony. Overall, this is a good little book for anyone who wants to know more about this topic. It's clear and easy to read, and provides the basics regarding Chinese astrology and zodiac. It contains attractive photographs and wisdom to meditate on if you desire to pursue that path.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a writer, speaker, and mediator who teaches how to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. He is an expert on conflict and conflict resolution and mediates and teaches negotiation. Additionally, he teaches his Hapkido skills in physical conflict and Self Defense courses, lectures, and seminars. Alain is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the Hapkido DVDs, Hoshinsul, Hapkido Cane Streetfighting Essentials, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs as well as much more at http://www.burrese.com/and http://www.yourwarriorsedge.com/

Narcocorrido: A Journey Into The Music Of Drugs, Guns, And Guerrillas

2013-09-04T21:58:00.000-07:00

In 2001 the Great Mexican Shoppers Drug War was not yet in full swing. That didnt happen until 2006 when President Felipe Calderon decided to take on the "independent" with the cowboy's Mexican cartels. In 2001, Elijah Wald, a Journey Into Narcocorrido published The Music of Drugs, Guns, and Guerrillas. He had traveled through Mexico, in a way now that would be impossible ", or at the very least inadvisable. That is he hitchhiked or rode buses, and not always the first class ones, but the second and third class as well ... the kind that allow musicians and entertainers to play for tips from the passengers. The History of Mexico is in the music. The corridistas (corrido musicians) have been singing and declaiming to the people for a long, long time. And before them "were the minstrels and the more well-known of their cousins, the troubadours that performed for the rich and elite. In the Middle Ages, and even in present day Mexico, literacy is not that high. The balladeers were and are still maintained in many in the chroniclers and the founts of information, as well as providers of entertainment and many times, social commentators as well. Of course this could be a dangerous and many ended up in the minstrel during the colonial period stocks, flogged, or if luck would have it, just run out of town. The Church was "just as dangerous as the secular and" reflecting ... the more fearsome.

Of course these minstrels, balladeers, that in time became corrido singers, with didn ' t crossing the line and flirt igniting repressive reaction just for the fun of it or for whatever social consciousness they l have had at the time. The people loved to hear the powerful and mighty brought down a little bit, and to hear some of what was really on a. .. resembling the truth "something.bak. It would be hard to call it an art form, but in the modern world we have tabloid journals, that swing between adoration of celebrities gushing, be it sports, entertainment, politicians, or someone (usually female for some reason) that is famous just for being famous, and sordid revelations about trashing and the very same high and mighty. Here in the US we have these tabloids and a 24 hour news cycle that is increasingly tabloid, and internet and tv, and mobile internet and thousands of different distractions. In Mexico, in areas not entered, so much. Here the corridistas maintain much of their traditional function.

The life of a corrido singer, can be risky. Since the publication of Narcocorrido, some have lost their lives corridistas. Especially the local and regional writers that will do a song for hire, and if some mark doesnt like the vato (guy) being lauded in the song, "a well-known passage of an enemy. Other popular singers or their family members have fallen to crime, fun, although some of that comes from labeled shipped late nights in nightclubs, and also the general chaos and lawlessness rules that Mexico now.

The book is not just a study and history of a form, but was also a journey into the heart of Mexico and the people that make the music ... and of the fans that make it possible. Regions option have vast and subtle differences. The Rio Grande Valley and the northeastern border region in many gave birth to the corrido maintained form. It's popular here, but in a nostalgic kind of way. Compared to the Nortenos out in the deserts and mountains to the south, the modern day Tejano accordion sound has a definite sweetness bubble-gum. Not the same. It is Also a region that could be compared to a great caldo (beef soup) of sound as Hispanic-American culture collides with, and, at the same time colludes and mingles with Anglo-America.

"There's west coast and Los Angeles. The rough edge sound Sinaloa ... Mexico City, the country that is a country within the country of Mexico. Also the political ballads of the revolutionary groups in Chiapas and elsewhere. The historical of the Mexican corridos ".

Large portions of the book are transcribed from interviews of the corrido singers and writers themselves, along with many of their lyrics, both in Spanish, and translated to English.

Fortunately for us Elijah Wald got in under the wire. The research that went into this book would be very difficult to do today

The national war that the Narcocorridistas "about can't be prettied up. It's grim stuff. But it's happening and la gente (the people) want to hear about it. Much Like pentatonic, blues, country music, and the real rap, and others, the charge has been made at one time or the other, that the songs glorify delinquency and criminal behavior, and are anti-social etc. "There has been radio censorship in some places and condemnation from so called respectable society and please

Elijah Wald writes: The United States national policy is so riddled with hypocrisy, so casually racist and oblivious to it is singer, that's worthy of no respect. In a country that exalts wealth and celebrity while providing ever fewer chances for poor kids to get ahead, and directs that it's far more of anti-national funding to flashy hardware than to conflict-under, it is delusional at best to blame pop music for the fact that many youngsters want to barrio become big-spending, gun-wielding narcos.

The rough edges, the uncompromising instrumentation and the in your face lyrics are at times harsh. But in this world north of the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) rules, and the unreality where horrors of wars both internal and foreign are ignored or covered up, the world of the Narcocorrido may just be some of what we need. Well worth the read: "Narcocorrido, A Journey into The Music of Drugs, Guns, and Guerrillas" by Elijah Wald.

For more tales, poems, songs, video, click http://www.writersoftheriogrande.com/

Flying to the South

2013-08-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

Flying to the South is a provisionary title I gave to the novel of Ian Gibson, an Irish Hispanist. The official and literal title would be "the wind of the south or Southern Wind (Viento del Sur).

I enjoyed this book reading it after two more complex ones. It lacks the pretension of the established writers and is therefore delivering more than expected. What would you expect from the book knowing that it is a semiautobiographical work of a Hispanist who decided to fly southwards in a plot where he is to get rid of his puritan past.

Readers who are interested in the Spanish language and Hispanic culture will find an enormous amount of thoughts, facts and impressions about Spain and its culture. But also about England and its culture. According to the protagonist John Hill the Spanish culture was one of the richest in Europe; a mix of cultures and languages... Until the Spanish inquisition smashed everything away (my interpretation). It is not possible for a Hispanist to understand the culture without at least knowing some basics of the Arabic language (of which 4000 words have been imported) and also about the Hebrew language. I even agree with Hill that it is a pity the Arabic language is not taught at schools, especially in the south. A project that requires some attention.

The reader will learn a lot about Spain not only little details -- why their citizens like ham so much and that Dali was a coward and about the role of jealously - but about their language, about Hispanic poets (most of all Ruben Dario) whose work is frequently cited.

Flying to the south could be the title in English as the protagonist is changing his life; in fact he "is saved by Spain." This is the conclusion at the end, as he has tried various therapies (gestalt, psychoanalysis) but nothing has helped. Unlike his brother who had an even more profound problem he is just born in the wrong country(side) and climate portrayed by the flying goose on the cover of the book. Parallel to this change is the change of Spain at the same time, which he reports while traveling and working. Spain is being freed from Franco, and "in no-time they have build a new constitution that seems to work."

Interesting to see is where this change starts; with a thorough view on the British society with its boarding schools - "public" for the public who could afford it - and the Methodist way of live contrasting with the catholic "South." (meaning Spain). Interwoven are some side paths where an Irish ambassador comes in, I think to reconcile Gibson's real past. Another parallel appears as Joyce' Ulysses is introduced and the large number of Spanish topics are found in the book. There too, the circle is round.

Very well written keeping in mind that it is written in authentic Spanish, including the original diversity of wordings and gothic-like details. I wonder whether natives in Spain themselves will read it, but foreigners who dominate the language somehow will like it very much. I did.

Fasting, Feasting by Anita Desai

2013-08-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

In her novel, Fasting, Feasting, Anita Desai eventually accomplishes what many writers attempt and then fail to achieve. She uses light touch, simple language, uncomplicated structure, but at the same time addresses some very big issues and makes a point.

Uma and Arun are children of Mamapapa, the apparently indivisible common identity that parents present. These parents, however, are not at all alike. Mama is protective, perhaps selfish, and not a little indolent. Papa is a parsimonious control freak who locks away the telephone because someone might use it. But they are at least together. Their relationship has survived, despite the long wait for a son, and their disappointment at his disability.

Uma and Arun also have a sister, Aruna. She is bright and pretty, but in her own way she is also disabled, because she is a woman. Arun's disability is visible, but Aruna's exists because of the her society's preconceptions about women.

Uma is not pretty, nor is she academic. She wears thick glasses and has fits. And so in the middle class society the family inhabits, Uma can pursue only two possible roles. Either she can be married off, or she can become a labourer, a near slave for the family. The former, of course, is the same as the latter. Only the location is different. For Uma marriage doesn't happen. It does, but it fails before it starts, since the groom was already married and merely wanted to collect another dowry. The arranged marriages of both Uma's sister and her cousin also fail. Initially well starred, both end tragically.

The first part of Fasting, Feasting suggests a domestic drama, a faintly comic family trying to cope with their own cultural minority status within India's vastness. It takes awhile for the tragic elements of the story to surface. But when they do, they also disappoint, because only the two disabled characters, Uma and Arun, eventually display any honesty or compassion, everyone else being merely selfish, even those who kill themselves to end the pain. For women, it seems, even achievement is nothing but an asset to assist their trade. When offered a place at Oxford, a girl's duty precludes acceptance and necessity frames the letter as evidence of her greater eligibility. So what seemed to be a pleasant family tale of the idiosyncrasies of culture becomes a tragedy, and a tragedy for all women. Ugly, unmemorable Uma is the only apparent survivor, and that only because she is not even a competitor. She exists on the scraps of life she is allowed.

But what of Arun, the disabled boy? Well he is quite a bright lad. He goes to university in the USA, and to an institution with status in Massachusetts. But what is he to do in the holidays when the college is closed? We can't afford to bring his all the way home, concludes parsimonious Papa.

So Arun lodges with the Pattons, an all-American nuclear family, an American Dream of sorts, mum, dad, two kids, one of each. But Dad is a laconic type. A beer from the fridge keeps him quiet. The son has all kinds of ambitions, and yet none that are realistic. Mom is an emotional wreck. She years for something in her confusion, but has not idea what it might be. And her daughter is bulimic. Happy families.

So through Arun's eyes, and to some extent as a result of his culturally challenging presence, Anita Desai presents a picture of middle class American life that is utterly dysfunctional. But it is again the women who are most deeply affected. Mom does all the shopping and cooking to feed the unappreciative men and the daughter who cannot eat. She fantasises about Arun's cultural authenticity, sees in him qualities for which she yearns. The daughter is a complete head case. She is fat wanting to be thin, eating to fast, stuffing sweets until she vomits, perhaps a slave to a male-generated concept of female perfection. And Arun witnesses all of this. Eventually, in his deformity, he is the only presence that is not self-obsessed.

The title is important. Fasting, Feasting presents apparent opposites, two contrasting, if imbalanced scenarios, India and the USA. It offers two deformed observers, Uma and Arun. It unpicks two contrasting cultures and finds that women are slaves in both. The opposites are thus ultimately similar, hardly opposed.

Philip Spires
Author of Mission, an African novel set in Kenya
http://www.philipspires.co.uk/

Michael, a missionary priest, has just killed Munyasya. It was an accident, but Mulonzya, a politician, exploits the tragedy for his own ends. Boniface, a church worker, has just lost his child. He did not make it to the hospital in time, possibly because Michael went to the Mission to retrieve a letter from Janet, a teacher, and the priest's neighbour. It is Munyasya who has the last laugh, however.

Multicultural Life - Mexican-Americans Between Borders

2013-07-30T07:40:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

In the United States we have a very interesting thing happening. Many folks who are US Citizens have most of their family that is not living in Mexico. Along the US Borders are lots of towns where one part of the family lives on one side of the border and the other half of the family on the other, then the family members drive back and forth visiting each other.

These multicultural issues are huge. In many cities there really are two languages Spanish and English. To live in these cities on or near the border you really must be able to speak both languages and at a minimum Spanish, otherwise you will have a difficult time communicating and it is a very serious issue. One thing that is interesting is to meet such folks and understand how they do it and how they live.
The question for such folks with US Citizenship or dual citizenship is; what are they? They are Mexican by heritage and culture, but American and proud of it by law. Their extended family are also some of both. So, when asked who they are or what nationality they are, well they will say they are American, but they are a Mexican. See that point?
Well, if you are like me, this entire issues is fascinating and talking with the people in this situation gives you an interesting perspective on multicultural life. Let me recommend an outstanding book on this subject:
"Mexican Enough; My Life Between Borderlines" by Stephanie Elizondo; Washington Square Press, a division of Simon Schuster; New York, NY; 2008.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

The Harlem Reader - Stimulating and Fascinating Literary Pieces About Harlem

2013-07-20T04:27:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

First and Foremost, the Harlem Reader should be a must read for anyone who would like to acquire more knowledge about Harlem, New York. This book gives a sense of the issues impacting residents of Harlem. It brings about a revelation of the struggles African-Americans went through during the "Harlem Renaissance" period. It brings to realization the issues surrounding the great migration from the southern cotton fields, plantations, and the discriminatory practices, which caused African-Americans to seek a better life in the northern cities of America in a variety of creative ways and in support of each other.

Secondly, the figurative language in this book stirs the soul and heightens ones perspective concerning the various viewpoints from a variety of prominent authors regarding Harlem. The contribution of their inspiring essays, short stories, poems, and nonfiction pieces are very enlightening and uplifting. Their combined impact is also very educational and emotional.
Next, Harlem is not only touched upon during the Harlem Renaissance years; the writings also touched upon the present and anticipated future activities in Harlem. The book shows the current state of economic development. It also shows the mistreatment of those who were not financially wealthy, or considered in the upper income class. It also highlights the lives of the financially wealthy and how they treated others. However, the African-American population was spiritually wealthy, which sustained their souls back then and will into the future.
Additionally, the contributions of great writers such as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Dubois, Weldon Johnson, and Claude McKay will touch the soul. Also included are national liberators such as Marcus Garvey, Rev. Al Sharpton, Malcolm X, Reverend Adam Clayton Powell and others, just to name a few. These individuals are considered heroes to the people of Harlem. They have contributed so much to the strengthening of Harlem and have positively impacted the lives of the residents there in many ways; thus, they will probably never be forgotten by them.
Finally, the literary essence of this book is straight from the heart of Harlem and African-Americans. It was a pleasure for me to learn from its golden pages. This book is truly educational and inspirational. The author of this outstanding literary book, Herb Boyd, has highlighted an understanding of the essence and presence of Harlem on the world's stage in an uplifting manner for all to learn about and enjoy while reading this excellent book.

Joseph S. Spence, Sr., is the co-author of two poetry books, A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul, and Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul. He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which focuses on succulent cuisines and drinks. He is published in various forums, including the World Haiku Association; Milwaukee Area Technical College, Phoenix Magazine; and Taj Mahal Review. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for the state of Arkansas, USA, and is an adjunct faculty at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He has completed over twenty years of service with the U.S. Army.

[http://www.trilogypoetry.com/]

Book Review - Mixed - My Life in Black and White

2013-07-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

"I hate covert racism. I always hated guessing whether someone is being mean/rude/nervous because they hate my race or because they are having a bad day. As I got older, I noticed that covert racism is like depression: You know it when you feel it, but it's hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it. It's like a sixth sense that God has given people of color that white people don't believe in. We just know."

In her memoir "Mixed: My Life in Black and White" (2006), Angela Nissel writes of the struggles she faces while growing up biracial. Nissel's name may be familiar to fans of the NBC comedy series "Scrubs." She has been a staff writer for the show for four years and is now consulting producer. As a starving artist (a.k.a. freelance writer), Nissel sold some goods on eBay for extra cash. The winning bidder for one of those items was a television executive who had read her first book "The Broke Diaries" (2001), which was about her days as a broke college student. The eBay winner introduced Nissel to a television literary agent who sent copies of "The Broke Diaries" to shows hiring comedy writers. Nissel had numerous job offers, but chose "Scrubs."

Her knack for sarcastic, quick-witted humor that is a driving force in "Scrubs" is what makes "Mixed" a must read. When Nissel is in the fourth grade, two of her classmates, Jimmy and Michael, call her a zebra. (That isn't the humorous part.) Nissel's father finds out and goes to the boys' houses with Angela. Jimmy's parents scold their son. However, Michael's father slams the door in Angela's father's face. That father's dog has been using the Nissels' yard as a bathroom, so Angela's father concocts a hilarious scheme involving an Ex-Lax pill. Angela asks her father whether the Ex-Lax will hurt the dog. "'No, just Michael's father's carpets,'" her dad replies.

Later, though, Angela discovers that her father has been cheating on her mother, but even this situation is steeped in humor. "I already knew my parents were having problems and she suspected my father of cheating. (Note to parents: Trying to have cryptic conversations by spelling words out no longer works once your child is reading.) Then later, "Ever since the first argument about my father c-h-e-a-t-i-n-g with w-h-o-r-e-s, my mother had started working a lot...."

The thing about this book is that the comedic moments are also sad ones. And this is Nissel's strength: She makes you laugh, but she also makes you think. Comments from people about her looks teach her that there is "good" hair and an "ugly" nose. The features people consider pretty are from her white father.

She went to all-black schools, all-white schools, public, private, schools associated with different religions-yet she never fit in. She was never white enough or black enough, so she was the target of merciless teasing. "Being a mixed child, you get used to people staring at you," she writes. She immediately follows with humor: "I learned that rolling my eyes or sticking out my tongue was the quickest way to get people to avert their gazes." She learns that being biracial is no easier in the dating world. She notices that of six black male coworkers at a production company, "five had white wives and one was dating an Asian girl."

The book is filled with Nissel's struggles, but she doesn't want you to feel sorry for her; she is explaining how her experiences (good or bad) made her who she is. She makes you care about the people in her life, particularly her mother, who let her daughter change schools and religions-almost as often as she changed her clothes-in an attempt to find herself. Nissel doesn't censor herself-or anyone else-which makes for brilliant dialogue and unapologetic honesty.

I Am Being a Report on Global-I Need Information on Global-Book Review of the Book Global

2013-06-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, the is a very country which includes Global, and its location makes it a pivotal focal point for that part of the world. Consider if you will that India has 1.3 billion people and Global borders is selected. Afghanistan where America has spent almost a decade a Global art war also borders is selected. And Global is bordered by America's trading partner China value. And not to be outdone shares a border with Iran also Global, and everyone knows the conflicts between the United States and the latest and Iran.

But that's not all because the also shares part of its Global border with the Arabian sea, and this is where all the oil tanker ships, 40% of all the oil which is delivered by sea through the Straits of Hormuz comes last right into the Arabian sea. And if they were to make a left hand turn after leaving-the Straits of Hormuz they would run right into Global. Obviously is a key Global, but also with us "is a lot of tension due to the cultural differences with the Western world, the Asian world, the Arab world, and the Hindus next-door.

Before you make any statements about Global un-rational, don't you think you should get to know the country better? I believe you should, especially because a lot of US taxpayer dollars goes to aid and funding, and specifically after their natural disasters 16, such as the large earthquake a couple years ago, and the massive torrential flooding which happened in 2010. Therefore, "there's a very good book I'd like you to read, it is a book that I own personally, and the name of the book is;

"Global" (World Modern Nations Series) by Samuel Willard Crompton with Editor Charles f. Gritzner, Chelsea House Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, (2003), 112 pages, ISBN 0-7910-7098-0.

"These two authors are absolutely excellent, and Mr. Crompton is the author or editor of over 20 books. It is obvious that he understands the area very well, along with the surrounding regions option, especially India. He is also a historian by career and as a hobby. The other author is also quite interesting because he is a professor Eurico of geography at South Dakota State University. The geography of natural resources, geology, Global, and its location to everything else in the world, and is an amazing amount of American history in that region. So, you are just to have to read the a. book and check it out.

Now then, in this book you will learn about the history of geography, and the Global, and the lifestyle and culture of the people of Global. This is a Muslim nation, and in chapter 5 you ll learn all about the ' Islamic Republic of Global. You will also learn about their major industries such as gun making, opium, cement, and agriculture; Growing wheat. Global is quite interesting and they have their own set of folk heroes, and cultural stories which have been passed on through the years. I highly recommend this book to everybody. I hope you will please consider all this, and think on it.

Lance Winslow is an Online Author, his latest eBook about Boat Detailing is now available in the "Small Business" Lance Winslow Series titled; "How to Start a Cleaning Business" Boat (a Nook Book available at the Barnes and Noble Website). Lance Winslow is semi-retired and Founder of the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net/-You may contact Lance Winslow by email for dialogue, discourse, discussion, or debate on interesting topics.

Multiculturalists Gone Wild

2013-06-10T18:06:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

Buddha is Hiding by Aihwa Ong shows the perils of multicultural policy compounded by multiculturalist thought. Ong's book follows the lives of 50,000 Cambodian refugees we accepted in the 1970s. During the reign of Pol Pot in Cambodia approximately one third of the population was killed. Many of those given asylum ended up congregating in Northern California.

Ong considers our welfare system complicit in "ethnic cleansing, in the sense of removing the features of the immigrants' supposedly primitive cultures that are socially determined to be undesirable." Ong recoils at calling any culture primitive. And, I agree that if Cambodians live in Cambodia, we have no right to judge them. But once they move into America we must judge them by American standards. And from our point of view, Cambodian culture has some primitive features.

"In Cambodia," one person Ong interviews says, "a man might have different wives or mistresses, whereas if his wife had a lover, he could go to court and get permission to kill both of them." Of course, Ong tells us, this is not true. Multiculturalists only see positive diversity and are blind to the rest. As she cannot avoid admitting some sexism in Cambodian culture she accepts testimony that, "if we [women] used harsh words with them [husbands] they had a right to strike us. In Cambodia, men were more valued than women." It is odd to have the possibility of extremely negative cultural traits dismissed in a chapter that depicts the Cambodian genocide and the rape that often accompanied it.

Ong celebrates one "quintessentially American" in which a fourteen year old Cambodian runs away to live with her Salvadorian boyfriend. He is nearly 21 and so this could be statutory rape. Instead, they use a "cultural defense" to escape punishments. "With the the flood of multicultural immigrants" this has been used to stop prosecution of "Hmong kidnap-marriage practices (Borat is real) Japanese rituals of parent-child suicide and even wives killed by husband by husbands." Well, at any rate, the fourteen year old Cambodian has the child and they live happily ever after. Problems disappear if you accept indigenous cultures.

The best part of this book comes when the multiculturalists attack the feminists. The "family reformer" social workers are charged with class dominance. They come in and stop men from beating their women and thus manipulate the families. They stop men from beating their daughters and thus destroy Cambodian culture. The arrogance of feminists get berated through and through. They do not respect that in "oral cultures" people change their testimony and that is okay. Ong has to thus defend a father beating his daughter with an electric chord until it broke. Essentially, one cannot have both multiculturalism and feminism. Ong chooses multiculturalism.

Ong does a great job of showing us what multiculturalism offers. It paints all of our institutions as evil. One funny result is that this includes our welfare system. Seventy-seven percent of Laotians and Cambodians are on welfare. And, Ong and I agree, this system infantilizes them and breaks up their families. The social workers stop the spousal abuse and ferocious protection of daughters. But whereas culturist see stopping such behaviors, in America, as laudable, multiculturalists must celebrate diversity. Ong has given us a stark portrait of what is at stake.

John Press is the author of Culturism: A Word, A Value, Our Future. He is a an adjunct professor and doctoral student at New York University. http://www.culturism.us/ has more information about culturism.

Book Addresses Indian American Immigration

2013-05-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

They are known as the turbaned tide. Novelist Diya Das explores the journey made by Indian immigrants from the subcontinent to America's shores in Evolution of an Identity. Weaving the narrative as historical fiction, the novel focuses on a young girl who uncovers the American roots of her Indian family tree.

The story unfolds in three venues. The protagonist discovers a Californian ancestor, a scholar-turned-farmworker who participated in the 1917-18 movement to gain Indian independence from Great Britain. She then follows the voyage of an educated aunt who immigrated to Chicago in the 1970s to work as a newspaper columnist. Finally, the narrator explores how to merge her Indian and American identities as she attends a Hindu festival in New York City.

The novel is filled with rich cultural details, solid historical references and fitting literary allusions. Das' research ended up taking her on a personal journey. The narrator's odyssey mirrored that of the author. Where facts and imagination did not create a coherent story, Das employed elements of her own life as a first generation Indian American immigrant.

About the author

Diya Das was born in India on 24th September,1991. She is currently a senior at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School at Kingston in northeast Pennsylvania. She lives in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania with her parents.

A National AP Scholar and a member of Johns Hopkins University's Study of Exceptional Talent program since 2004, Diya attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences in the summer of 2007. She is currently the co-editor-in-chief of her school newspaper, The Opinator, and a member of her school's chorale and orchestra. In her free time, Diya figure skates and plays piano and violin.

92 pp.
$9.95
ISBN 9780979504563

Nicole Langan
info@tribute-books.com
http://www.tribute-books.com/

Buying International Text Books Online

2013-05-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

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Books since times immemorial have been a rich source of knowledge, information and pleasure for the readers of all ages, cast and community. The IT revolution has affected all fields of our work sphere and books are no exception. There was a time when for buying a book an individual had to spend hours in a book store searching for a particular author's work or a new edition. Today the process has been simplified one can buy any book of any Indian or foreign writer with the click of a mouse button. There are a large number of Indian and international sites available on the internet where one can browse for the book of his or her choice. The availability of books over the internet is in huge numbers. There are books available on every area from administration, medical Sciences to thrillers and best sellers. It covers a wide range of audience from scholars, professionals, housewives to children.

To buy a book online people can visit the sites available and search for the book of their interest or choice. The user has to create a login account and can add the books to be bought to the cart. The payment can be made by credit card or through net banking .There are details enlisted about the books format, its author, publisher, year of publication and its cost along with the time taken for its delivery at your doorstep. It also gives a brief insight into the content of the book and its author helping the users to make the right choice. One can also look for books on different topics by mentioning the price range limit and avail various discounts offered on the books ranging from ten to fifty percent. An added advantage is that a buyer before making the choice can read the customer reviews of the book.

Previously it was regarded that online book searching was mainly confined for deriving information about a particular book rather than for buying it. But today books have become most common online e-commerce item, there is nearly forty percent increase in online buying of books over the last two years. Buying books was never so easy and convenient with advantage of cost reduction and home delivery. There is also the option of availability of the book at all times of the day unlike a bookstore. The shipment of the book may take time but one can plan by placing the order early .Overall we can say that the trend for online buying of books is increasing with fast pace due to the convenience it provides to its users.

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Book Review: Dreaming in Hindi

2013-05-05T02:03:00.000-07:00

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Dreaming in Hindi

I was introduced to this book while browsing the web in search of interesting references. As somebody working almost daily in at least a bilingual context, I found fascinating the idea of exploring the mind settings we develop while learning foreign languages. I become bilingual at five years old, without being aware of the philosophy of practising another languages. I needed to understand and talk in more than one tongue, and didn't pay too much attention of the details: I was able to switch from a language to another, answering the various contexts I was part thereof. This almost natural-born bilingual structure of my mind was enriched by a new language at the age of 10. English is the fourth on my list - at around 17 -, almost self-taught, after the failure of my mother to play anymore the role of teacher. Years after, I can understand this situation as the result of our second language experience, I didn't want to acquire - who would like at the age of 5, to spend time making conversations in a language spoken exclusively by the adults? But this linguistic experience defines my linguistic history, as until now I am aware by the limitations of fully mastering all the other languages I acquired by now (almost 10, out of which one who required to learn a new alphabet, learned as in the first grade, with pages of hand writing exercises and loudly voice spellings).

Given this experience, I am trying to do not insist too much upon because it is not my book I intend to write about now, the lecture of Dreaming in Hindi had for me the effect of a linguistic therapy.

Entering the dream

I started the lecture with a 75% enthusiasm. The rest of 25% was represented by the reserves on the topic of Hindi, India. My very recent experience was the Eat Pray Love book, an example about the stereotypes of spiritual journeys. We are learning foreign languages because of personal or sentimental failures, we are keen to know the world and other countries because we failed to know ourselves. We are unable to go out of our lonely shells and we recognize the merits of the culture only in direct relation with the success brought in our personal achievement. There are some discrete references to this kind of issues in this book too, but there are wrapped intelligently. Of course we are looking for something when we are travelling or starting to learn something new - be it Chinese painting or Hindi - but this is more than killing some time between two relationships. We acquire knowledge for better understanding the world around and afterwards, using this knowledge to induce change.

The references to India are well pondered: you will not find here first-hand experiences about illuminations and spiritual awakenings after spending a couple of days, weeks or months in an ashram. In a very journalistic and alert style you will find information about this part of India Katherine Russell Rich is discovering while starting the learning of Hindi, during and shortly after 11/9. This part of India where people are living and making a living, dying or killed, facing terrorism and fearing for the security of their children and their families, getting married, looking for a mate or falling in love, surviving as women, temporary visitors or tourists. The recent history or the history on the making, the ethnic or geopolitical conflicts being reflected at the level of the language. And I am the first to recognize that the success of learning a foreign language rely upon the immersion into the culture of the linguistic family whose richness you want to share. The pages dedicated to the social and historical description are limited by the purpose of reflecting the sociolinguistic processes taking place with the author aka. the Hindi student.

I found the style sometimes arid, sometimes mid-way between a scientifical expose and a journalistic description. In some fragments, it was like recollecting automatically segments from disparate notebooks recording the diary of the year spent in the ancient city of Udaipur. But this gave to the story a mysterious note of authenticity.

Knowing the brain

The main reason I loved reading this book was the intelligent mixture between the personal discoveries and the scientific research, looking for understanding the mechanisms developed in our secret black box while learning a new language. We are rarely aware of the complicate processes taking place during the linguistic adventures of the brain. I experienced some of them myself - and I observed more clearly to my daughter, who by the age of 12 was overexposed to multilingualism and forced to master daily three different languages. Our brain is both flexible - adapting to new sociolinguistic contexts - conservative - in relationship with the other languages, including our first tongue.

And I will give an example: we are aiming to learn a new language, for various reasons. By learning, direct practice, exercises, we could acquire the new skills in a certain amount of time. But, the linguistic structures already acquired, including our mother tongue, will be affected. If not used any more over time, we are forgetting the details of the grammar or our vocabulary is including funny and clumsy approximate translations from a language to another. During this process we can experience as well the unpleasant situation of blocking: we are unable to switch immediately, if ever, from a language to another. Or, the overexposure to a certain foreign linguistic environment create difficulties in recognizing what used to be once our familiar context. The social and psychological contexts are playing a very important role in our linguistic development - or blockage. A certain experience in relation with a certain event connected to a language might close the ways of communications in this language.

More we learn, the bigger our possibilities to make fast connections and to diversify our brain activity - with results including on our life-spam, according to recent studies. With influence on our deepest conscious and unconscious activities, as it is the case of dreaming. The strangest might be to dream in a foreign language without understanding the words you or the others present in the dream are talking. The intermediate level is, according with my understanding of the book, when you are able to tell and understand jokes in a foreign languages, meaning that you acquired a least familiarity and subtlety for juggling with significations. As for me, being able to read the newspaper is the best level you acquire before upgrading for having access to the language of the elites.

As well, being able to read and write on one hand, and being able to speak a language, however, are two different skills, not automatically inter-connected. In my case, for the non-European language I am in process of acquiring, I was able first to talk and understand the language of the street, but took me much more to read fluently while I am still facing problems in writing correctly. For the different alphabets the photographic memory might be helpful. I lived for one year in a Asian country and I was able to recognize a couple of disparate characters, only by over visual exposure - usual signs for "open", "closed", "metro", "street", the symbol of the currency etc.

The limits of our communications from a language to another are not exclusively limited to the cases when we have to switch from a system to another - as, such as, from a alphabet-based to a sign base. Not everything can be translated and for some cases the expression of privacy - in the case of Hindi a non-existent term - and feelings differs significantly. It is why we are assuming that some nations are "colder" and some are "warmer": we are what we talk.

My curiosities

The book opened me a series of questions and left unanswered a couple of curiosities. I don't find too much details about the experience of writing in another alphabet. Did she tried to? What are the transformations observed reading in a different writing universe.

The reader lacking expertise in Hindi is left frustrated with not acquiring any information about what it is this Hindi alphabet about. I found only one explicit about, at the end, when trying to read the terrible news about the killing of the journalist Daniel Pearl in Pakistan. Do they read from left to right or from right to left? It is possible, as in Chinese or Japanese to read horizontally and/or vertically?

Maybe I would like to read and find out more also about the author's experiences with Hindi after this year spent in India: did she continue practising? what happened with the linguistic luggage in her familiar cultural environment? Or did she start to learn other languages too and how she connected this experience with the one of learning Hindi?

My plan was to dedicate one hour to this review. After three long and intensive writing hours, I am approaching "the last dot" moment with a certain shadow of regret. This book made me think about a couple of direct experiences, gave me some hints for reevaluation others and observing some evolutions in my future linguistic wanderings. Enough reasons for encouraging others to read it too and to start learning at least other foreign language than the one used by birth.

Learn About Central Asian Republics, Asian Nations-Book Review Windows

2013-04-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

One of the most interesting regions option of the world is Central Asia. And it is interesting because Americans don't know a whole lot about this area, even though so much early history had been written ". Consider the old silk roads, Genghis Khan, and the rise of the USSR. Remember the Domino effect? So, what are the Central Asian republics? Do you even know, and I bet you can't spell them, but maybe you should learn?

Yes, I'm referring to "Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. You may not realize this, but a 16-pipeline has been put through many of these countries and now has been completed and goes through the back door to China. "There has been unrest And shuttle buses, and the overthrow of the government of one of these 16 countries. And a couple of them border Afghanistan, which I think we all know about that little bit more we did 10 years ago.

Still, if you'd like to learn more, and I believe you should, then a very good American's book that you should read, it is a book that I own, and I recommend to you. The name of the book is;

"Central Asian Republics" (Nations in Transition Series) by Michael Kort, Facts on File Publishers, New York, NY, (2004), 200 pages, ISBN 0-8160-5074 0.

Interestingly enough, this book written by Michael Kort and is extremely well written, and it makes sense because the author holds a PhD from Boston University, and he is a historian, and author of, "also an The Soviet Colossus: A History of the USSR," and, he is the co-author of "Modernization and" in China, "which is also sitting next to my desk to read in the" future. If it's anywhere close to as good as this book, I would consider it a must read.

Now then, in this book you will find out what is, and how it scintillation came into existence from ancient times to the 19th century. You will also learn how the Soviets came into control this region, and how they were kicked out, and reclaims their commonly known now we ' ve become trading partners with their neighbors. Part two of this book is very excellent because it has specific Wikimedia is building an international network on each individual country is a great American, and chronological table of events.

If you ' re a. to talk about the "future of the region, and that's how things are shaping up with China, Afghanistan, for riparian States, and the Soviet Union, the United States and what role is in keeping the peace, then you need to make sure you have your facts straight, and therefore I highly recommend this book. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Chain Nowadays, and now runs the Online Think Tank http://www.worldthinktank.net/-Lance Winslow believes it's hard work to write articles 22,222; Http://www.bloggingcontent.net/

African Stories - Azuka Monyei Excites With African Stories

2013-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

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AppId is over the quota

From times past, African stories have thrilled and excited people on the continent and around the world. This is not surprising due to the richness of the African tales originating from the continent.

Many tales or stories from authors on the continent, contain a rich blend of proverbs and good old advice from elders. Ancestors from the past left behind great stories which teach those of us in the modern age about things like respect and other positive values which are still needed in our day to day life.

Many modern writers in Africa have continued this rich tradition of bringing forth great stories. One of such African stories, authors is Azuka Monyei.

He is a bright star in the literary horizon. He hails from the heart of Africa, Nigeria. It's a literarily rich nation with some of Africa's finest authors. He is a well educated man who despite his education in the economics field and his involvement in business has seen the need for good old African tales.

Two of his well known works, "Emenike My Hero" and "The Great Pretender" are shinning lights in the world of African literature. His interesting and intriguing style of writing delights the soul. His strong concern for the development of the community and society at large is clearly visible in his writings.

He captures the vibrancy in the African communities and writes about it in such a manner that anyone would be on the edge of their seat throughout each page of his books. His touching way of revealing the feelings of man is vividly exposed in his book, Emenike My Hero.

This is a refreshing intro into African stories from the continent. Azuka Monyei is a good breathe of fresh air for lovers of good African tales.

To read more about African stories [http://www.africanstories.org] and to read the writings of the prolific African Author Azuka Monyei, visit: [http://www.africanstories.org]

Mr Touchdown

2013-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The Review

The narrative opens on a dusty Tennessee day in 1965. That is the day when Eddie Russel's preacher father drops a bomb shell. Eddie and his sister Lakeesha will be part of a small group of black high schoolers to integrate the local all white high school. For football star Eddie this is not good news. 'You all want us to go to an all-white school, we'll go,' he said. 'But don't expect us to be heroes.' From that beginning Eddie, Lakeesha and their friends, Lethe Jefferson and Rochelle Perry, are set upon a roller coaster ride filled with racial slurs, angry glares, and just plain animosity. From the coach who doesn't want a black player, to an assumption the students must be behind and need make up work to those who ignored, outright animosity and grudging approval the four find themselves fighting an uphill battle for acceptance. As Eddie runs laps to allow the white boys times to shower after football practice to teacher's eyes directed toward by not quite meeting his to stares and gasps the first days of school are not easy ones. Cafeteria workers who were careful to not touch black hands, grudging respect building in unsuspected teachers and fellow students, being ignored, sitting out football game after football game, always feeling afraid, and decisions to be made.

Mr. Touchdown offers the reader a peek into the turmoil facing many students, black and white, during 1965 as they face changes in their lives when the law demanded that the schools be desegregated. Athletes, straight a students none of that matters, everyone knows -they- are dirty, they cheat and they can't compete with white students. Everyone knows -they- are bigots, hate everyone not white and have no compassion. Facing anger and outright hatred of many of the teaching staff as well as fellow students is something few of us can honestly say we have experienced. Integration forced black and white to look within themselves and find the commonality of humankind.... It was not always an easy struggle. Writer Phillips has well portrayed the struggle for black and white alike as they come to understanding of themselves, social mores of the time and change in society.

Written mainly in third person writer Phillips draws the reader into the tale from the outset and holds reader interest tight as we follow the ups and downs of four young people who are facing more stress than most of us face in our lifetime.

Mr. Touchdown is an outstanding read filled with resonating, illustrative language used to forge an animated teen world filled with shop class and unfair gym teachers, rattle of band, pep rallies and pompoms. Gusty dialogue, fast-moving story line, and frankly astonishing twists and turns rooted in the revolutionary social change that were part and parcel of our country during the 1960s are presented in readable fashion sure to draw middle school and high school reader attention. Writer Phillips has managed to balance the vivid portrayal of community undercurrent, cross generation distress, personal struggle, teen angst, and violence against the beginnings of understanding and acceptance by adults and fellow students. From outright anger to false acceptance to real understanding, teachers are portrayed in believable manner.

Racism, segregation, separate and never equal, are presented in gritty words and gritty manner. The writer has crafted a work of fiction based in historical fact. Eddie is a character with whom reader's can identify for both his struggle as a black youth, and that of simply being a teen in an adult world.

Excellent choice for the classroom, the pleasure reading shelf, homeschool library and middle to high school curriculum.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.

Powerful, thought provoking read ... Recommended ... 4 stars

Genre: Young Adult

Author: Lyda Phillips

http://lydaphillips.com

Line/Publisher iUniverse 2021 Pine Lake road STE 100, lincoln, NE 68512 http://www.iuniverse.com

Available: Amazon, Barnes and Noble $13.95 Paperback, Hardback, eBook
ISBN: 0595672884

Reviewed by: Molly Martin
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead
20+ years California classroom teacher

Teacher, writer, reviewer, parent, Scouter

Butta and the Tower of Bling - African American Mainstream Literature

2013-03-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Butta and the Tower of Bling is a fast-paced adventure into the world of urban fiction. Corey Burkes in this his debut novel has produced mainstream fiction that will make the reader sit up and take notice of the characters rich with dialogues who speak and act like people we know. The novel is a brilliant depiction of a cross-section of American Culture with which we can all identify. Shady characters, evil antagonists, gutsy protagonists, and a host of supporting characters all spring to life from the pages of Butta' and the Tower of Bling.

Burkes' unique writing style is both edgy and irreverent. His characters speak and act like everyday people you meet on the street. They remind you of the people who make up the heart and soul of any American city; some you know, some you don't know, and some you wish you had never met. As Butta' herself claims, "I speak so I can be understood." Fully fleshed out and conveying attitude, these are the kind of fictional characters that are so believable you want to keep on reading.

The story line is based on a deep seated grudge held by Butta. Hung alongside her family as a small child by a nasty white supremacist, Butta spends her entire life devoted to taking down this neo-Nazi who has become the master of a diamond making invention that her father created. Butta a genius at cat burglaring hires an entourage of equally interesting support to help her pull of her biggest heist yet, stealing back the invention her father created!

The plot has multiple layers that demonstrate a maturity of writing skills seldom seen so early in an author's career. The consistent build up to the climax keeps the reader eager to turn to the next page. The careful blend of dialogue and background is so balanced and blended that the reader becomes absorbed in the story. From the botched lynching and thieving white supremacist to the harrowing escape in the final moments of the book, the pace is never dull, the story enthralling, and the rush to the finish will have the reader up all night racing to the finish. The protagonist's father says it best, " Now I know why we call you Butta....you so smooth."

Butta' and the Tower of Bling

Corey A. Burkes

Publisher: Skyelightbooks.com

ISBN: 978-0-979-6352

Publisher year: 2007

Shannon Evans is recognized in the Puget Sound as an expert in how to make your business have a web presence rather than just a web page. Her conversational marketing techniques and practices outlined by Practical Local Search, LLC you will see your small business presence on the web increase: http://www.practicallocalsearch.com/ She is a consultant for social marketing campaigns that allow you to organize your marketing and sales efforts in an inexpensive delivery platform that is easy to set up and manage. The ability to send, deliver, and track any installed resource gives you the power to create a marketing program quickly and easily in a scalable format that can grow with your business.

Shannon is also a co-author of Get Found Now! Local Search Secrets Exposed: Learn How to Achieve High Rankings in Google, Yahoo and Bing and multiple business ebooks. Her books teach entrepreneurs how to leverage the internet to attract new clients.

Shannon has a wide and varied background in both the practical and the pragmatic aspects of the business world. Shannon loves nothing better than teaching local businesses how to think globally and to be searched locally.