First book of the New Year finished! Books Read:1

Well I have finished Great American Speeches. Overall, I throughly enjoyed going through the history of our nation via famous speeches. Some I found better than others, but I did learn a lot more about our history through those speeches. Many I recognized because they are quoted so often (Give me liberty or give me death, I have a dream, Nixon resignation speech etc.). Others I recognized from AP US History (Cross of Gold Speech). And others I had never heard of, but throughly enjoyed reading anyway (Mark Twain: The American Press and Mario Cuomo: A Case for the Democrats: A Tale of Two Cities etc). I learned several things from reading this book. One: History repeats itself-A LOT. Two: our nation has gone through some difficult and scary times. And three: many speeches that were made in this country have great quotes that should be remembered, especially during this time of unease in the States.

History repeats itself. This is a common phrase said frequently in our society. I believed it, but never really grasped how completely true that saying is. While reading many of the speeches I heard familiar phrases that I have been hearing a lot today. We need to work on health care, save the environment, problems with social security, housing market, unemployment, civil rights, wars in foreign nations, and mistrust in our government. While some of these may be more obvious than others (wars, mistrust, unemployment, civil rights etc). I was surprised by others. In a speech by George Meany called Labor Day Message made in 1953, he speaks about the problems of the age. Many of these problems sounded familiar to me-millions unemployed, people unable to pay for houses, millions with out health care, social security and war in Korea. What took me off guard was that when I learned about the 1950s was Korean war and the suburban home life and perfect American lifestyle. If this was made in the 1930s-I would not have been as surprised. What I have realized is that in 50 years the government hasn't been able to solve anything. We are still dealing with unemployment, housing prices, HEALTH CARE, and foreign wars. It really shows you that history does in fact repeat itself-and often!

There have been many difficult periods in our nations history. Revolutionary war, civil war, 1930s depression, vietnam war, and cold war. Somehow throughout all these periods we managed to get through it. Reading about what these people had to say during this times of turmoil gives me hope that maybe we will pull through our current crisis. Yeah we are still solving problems we've been debating for many, many years now, but maybe we will finally come up with a solution. Who knows? However, reading this book has made me more optimistic for the future than I have been in awhile. I hope I am right!

Lastly, there are many quotes in this book that I would like to share because they moved me or I found them interesting. Some you may recognize and others maybe not. Either way there are five that are my personal favorites:

Sojourner Truth: On Women's Rights 1851

"Nobody helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place. And aren't I a woman? ...I have plowed and planted and gathered into barns, and no many could head me. And aren't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man...and bear the lash as well. And aren't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother's grief, none but jesus heard me! And aren't I a woman?"

Mark Twain: The American Press 1873

"It has become a sarcastic proverb that a thing must be true if you saw it in the newspaper. That is the opinion intelligent people have of the lying vehicle in a nutshell. But the trouble is that the stupid people- who constitute the grand overwhelming majority of this and all other nations- do believe and are molded and convinced by what they get out of a newspaper, and there is where the harm lies."

Franklin Delano Roosebelt: First Inaugural Address 1933

"Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort"

John Gleen Jr. The Flight of Friendship 7 and the Space Program 1962

"As our knowledge of the universe in which we live increases, may God grant us the wisdom and guidance to use it wisely"

Mario Cuomo: A Case for the Democrats: A Tale of Two Cities 1984

"that a society blessed as ours, the most affluent democracy in the world's history, that can spend trillions on instruments of destruction, ought to be able to help the middle class in its struggle, ought to be able to find work for all who can do it, room at the table, shelter for the homeless, care for the elderly, the infirm, hope for the destitute."

Those are my personal favorite quotes. I hope you enjoyed them. I recommend this book for those who enjoy American History and want to read about it from a primary source. It will give you a new understanding of your history classes.

My next book will be Hungry: A Mother and Daughter Fight Anorexia by Sheila and Lisa Himmel. I am borrowing it from my mother who borrowed it from a co-worker. This book should be interesting for me on a personal and academic level. It's about a mother food critic (and a family who is focused on food) dealing with a daughter who has anorexia. It promises to be a good read.