Well I'm in a somber mood this morning. I just finished reading David Baldacci's The Camel Club, a book that definitely does not make one proud to be an American. It doesn't even make one proud to be a human being, for that matter. It has a pretty involved plot, so I won't go into all that. If you want to know, read the book. (It's a very exciting and entertaining read, even if it does ratchet one's anxiety level up a few thousand notches.)
Suffice it to say that Baldacci pulls no punches in assessing why the US is trying to "bring feedom" to the Middle East. His descriptions of covert and illegal operations that just might be going on within our government will give you a case of permanent chillbumps. (There's a special forces training site called "Murder Mountain.") Also his literary suggestion that the differences in the world's cultures and relgions are so great that we're never going to love each other, is pretty depressing.
He offers hope in the form of one lunatic trained killer, with the strength and speed of Superman. But by the time you get to the end of this tale of conspiracy, murder, insanity, terror attacks, etc., the hope that is offered at the end seems tenuous at best.
And guess what else? They (whoever "they" are) have moved the Doomsday Clock two minutes closer to midnight after North Korea's stupid nuke tests. We are now five minutes away from the end. I think they also figured in climate change, global warming, and maybe even the price of oil for all I know.
It's all too, too scary, and I think we should do something about it. Humans are so smart (I mean, we went to the Moon for Pete's sake, or either a sound-stage studio in California). We've invented stuff like the wheel and computers and retractable dog leashes. IPODS smaller than the palm of your hand that can hold 2,000 songs--count 'em. Why the Hubble Telescope alone proves that mankind isn't completely stupid. Humans create art and music that can make you cry. And God loves us, people. God loves us. That means we must be worth a whole lot. So why don't we act like it? Let's get rid of the nukes and plug up the hole in the ozone. Wipe out poverty and crime and racial/religious hatred. Wouldn't that be a lot easier, and a hell of a lot more beneficial, than building some little gadget to hold 2,000 songs? Huh? Don't you think? Who do I talk to about this?
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On 01/22/2007, debbi said ...
I have only read David Baldacci's book, Wish You Well. I enjoyed it very much. I do ask myself what is going on in our world and how can people be so hurtful.
On 01/25/2007, Vivian said ...
Hi Susan! My husband and I read the book together and loved it! We just bought the next one and can't wait to read it! David Baldacci's books really make you think!
Vivian
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