Book chat

Thursday evening was the monthly meeting of the book discussion group at the library. I have been a part of this group since its beginning, just over a year ago. I enjoy reading books that I might never choose on my own and discussing the monthly book with other people who also enjoy reading. Five of the usual members were there, plus two new people. Since our numbers have dwindled over the year, it is good to see new people joining us.

I chose this month's book and led the discussion: Wait Till Next Year: Memoir by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Ms. Goodwin tells her story of growing up a Brooklyn Dodgers' fan on Long Island during the '40s and '50s. It is a tender, sweet book that tells of a period in the US that will likely never exist again, when life centered around your immediate neighborhood and the baseball team that you cheered for seemed to really be a part of the community. Ms. Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, has a damaged reputation due to charges of plagiarism in other books, but this book is delightful example of good storytelling.

One particular passage in the book really jumped out at me: "But thanks to teachers of uncommon skill and breadth, patriotism would never again mean unthinking adherence to things as they were. I would not confuse the temporary leaders of a country with the country itself." I read this passage aloud and a rather spirited discussion of patriotism ensued. One of the women asked if we thought that free speech had been suppressed in the period after the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, and I said yes. Another woman said that she thought it was not what you say but how you say it that is important, and somehow the Dixie Chicks were mentioned. I won't go into the entire discussion but what it boils down to is that two of the women believe that US citizens should never criticize - or "trash" in their words - the US in front of foreigners. I said that thoughtful criticism is not the same as trashing but then one said that there was a fine line between the two...I said that in my mind the line was much broader.

I was glad to finally see a difference of opinion in this group, because too often we all think the same about a book and the conversations aren't too complex. Although I heartily disagree with two of the participants, that is fine by me...no one got upset or rude, and thoughtful opinions were expressed.

And I don't see anything wrong with pointing out what I dislike about our country, no matter who is listening. I believe that our system of government works better than any other system in the world, and that the US is one of the leading countries in the world. But that doesn't mean that we still don't have room to improve and that we make mistakes. And I don't ever want the citizens of the world to think that everyone in this country is just like and shares the opinions of the President, whomever he or she may be. I certainly don't want anyone to lump me in the same category with George W. Bush - "That Man" as I usually call him.

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."