Phil Beck

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To live on edge all day long, not sure if tomorrow's experiences will be allowed by the nameless secret police patrolling your neighborhood and listening in on your conversations. Not aware that one of your neighbors has provided information on you or a family member. Knowing that the surest way to survive this genuine oppression is to participate in the surveillance on behalf of the state. Today's western proponents of socialism and communism would be afraid to sit through this nearly 2-hour story of the lives of others. But if they did, I wonder if they would be willing to understand that this account of communist utopia will be the eventual result if we abandon western democracy and the capitalist economic system.

The Lives of Others

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I had the fortune of having this title on our history book club reading list at the Milton Public Library. The author's skill at explaining to the reader that America's founding and declaration of liberty from British rule did not happen in short order. The book tells of America's first attempt in favor of independence about a hundred years prior to the war for independence that we celebrate today. Another interesting fact is that George Washington served in the British Army for many years. He didn't simply show up in 1776 to become a general to lead the fight. He paid his dues and proved his value to the independence cause. I should read this book again soon given the challenges we are facing now with the statue destroyers. Happy 4th of July everyone!

Seeds of Discontent: The Deep Roots of the American Revolution, 1650-1750