---Brandon Sanderson
I would love to see everyone forget about political leanings for today, and just think of the worth of a human being. We have spent the last few years seeing politicians as the enemy and have somehow overlooked them as people. Several years ago I read Hard Choices by Hillary Clinton, and I realized that she is one of that special breed of people who truly devote their lives to public service. I am not saying that she never made a mistake. I am not saying that she never lied. I am not saying that she didn't make obscene amounts of money giving speeches. What I am saying is that she is indeed the "hero of her own story."
After reading Hard Choices I did research on her life. Interestingly, she grew up in a conservative home and began her political life working as a republican for Barry Goldwater. During her freshman year at Wellesley College she served as president of the Young Republicans. She did have her mother's heart though, and she believed strongly in social justice. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. seemed a turning point in her life of politics. While in Yale Law School she began offering free legal advice to those who couldn't afford it.
Once settled in Arkansas, her interest in protecting children and family law grew, and she was a co-founder of Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Each step that she took to her campaign for first woman president was taken in support of those who could not speak for themselves. I am not blinded by political beliefs when I look at Hillary. Instead, I look at her as a role model for young women who need to believe that they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up.
Batman, Superman, Spider-Man...most of our "heroes" as children are men. Look through history, both American and World, and it is the men who stand out. We don't read much about our "founding mothers" as we peruse our history books. Our daughters need to see that women can be heroes! One definition that Merriam Webster gives for hero is:
"A person who, in the opinion of others, has special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal."
I can think of few women who fit this description better than Hillary Rodham Clinton. Here is a woman who was able to influence almost 4 million people to form a group (Pantsuite Nation) who share her dreams and are stronger together. I will not cry over her lose, because that is not what she is doing. I am pretty sure that she is spending her days figuring out what she can do to help our President make this the kind of country that she wants to live in. She won't do it with violence, fear or disrespect, and she won't cry over what could have been. She will continue showing us the way to an inclusive America where there will be liberty and justice for all. I, for one, am going to join her.
I reviewed Hard Choices on this site a few years ago, and for the first time ever, I am going to repost a review. It wasn't my favorite book then, and it isn't now, but it was a well written book that gave me a bit of an insight into a woman who never hesitates to fight for what she believes in. If you haven't read it yet, I suggest that you do.
Speaking of a woman or child's need for protection and good legal support, Most Dangerous Place by James Grippando certainly strengthens the need for that support. The FBI says that the most dangerous place for a woman between the ages of twenty and thirty is in a relationship with a man. Isa Ingraham is arrested for the murder of the young man who raped her during her college days. She has been living in Hong Kong for many years and is returning to Miami for her daughter's medical procedure. Attorney Jack Swyteck, good friend of Isa's husband Keith, happens to be picking them up at the airport, and becomes involved in her defense. Grippando's series featuring Swyteck gets better with each new addition, and this one did not disappoint.
Before I sign off I want to remind everyone to send me your email address in the submit space on the right of this blog. This allows us to send you reminders when our weekly blog is posted. We will have another drawing for an Amazon gift card in January, and your email address is your submission.
As always, full reviews of both books follow this blog.
Happy reading,
- Beverly